he National Drug & Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) is taking professional education to the next level with an expanded and enhanced NDASA University.
As the educational arm of NDASA, NDASA University plays an important role in advancing the association's mission to promote safe and drug-free workplaces and communities through education, training and excellence in drug and alcohol screening services. NDASA University provides industry professionals, employers and service agents with convenient access to professional training designed around today's workplace drug and alcohol testing environment.
Now, NDASA University is entering an exciting new chapter with a new look, an expanding course catalog and an enhanced online learning experience designed around the needs of today's students and industry professionals.
A New Look for NDASA University
Education is constantly evolving, and the way professionals learn is changing with it.
The updated NDASA University experience is designed to make professional training easier to find, easier to navigate and more engaging to complete.
Students can explore available programs, preview training opportunities and access courses through an online learning environment that allows professionals to learn on their own schedules and at their own pace. NDASA also continues to combine online education with opportunities for live instruction from experienced industry leaders.
The goal is simple: make high-quality industry education more accessible while creating a better experience from enrollment through course completion.
An Expanded Training Catalog
The new NDASA University isn't just about appearance. One of the most significant developments is the continued expansion of the training catalog.
NDASA University already provides education for many of the professionals who play critical roles in workplace drug and alcohol testing programs, including collectors, technicians, Designated Employer Representatives (DERs), supervisors, C/TPAs and other service agents.
The growing catalog includes training and professional development opportunities such as:
- Certified Professional Collector Training for Urine (CPC-U) — DOT Qualified
- Certified Professional Collector Training for Oral Fluid (CPC-OF) — DOT Qualified
- Certified Professional Collector Trainer (CPCT-U) training
- Designated Employer Representative (DER) training
- DOT agency-specific DER training
- Breath Alcohol Technician (BAT) training
- Screening Test Technician (STT) training
- Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors
- Consortium/Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA) training
- Non-DOT collector and DER training
- Conflict mitigation and other professional-development programs
The current NDASA University catalog reflects a broader approach to education that reaches beyond a single job function and supports professionals throughout the drug and alcohol screening industry.
More Specialized Training for Industry Professionals
One important direction for NDASA University is providing students with education that more closely reflects the responsibilities they encounter in the real world.
For example, DER education can be supplemented with training addressing individual DOT modes, while collectors can pursue training specific to urine or oral-fluid specimen collection. C/TPAs and other program administrators can expand their understanding of program management and regulatory responsibilities.
This allows professionals to build their education based on the services they provide and the clients or employers they support.
Rather than viewing education as simply completing a course, NDASA University is working to create learning pathways that help professionals continue developing throughout their careers.
A Greater Student Experience
An effective online course should do more than present information on a screen.
The enhanced NDASA University experience is focused on making education practical, understandable and applicable to the student's day-to-day responsibilities.
Courses can incorporate structured lessons, knowledge checks, assessments, downloadable resources and other learning tools designed to reinforce important concepts.
For students, that means an opportunity to move beyond simply memorizing regulations and instead develop a stronger understanding of what the requirements mean, why they matter and how they apply in real-world situations.
That distinction is particularly important in the drug and alcohol testing industry, where the decisions made by collectors, DERs, supervisors, C/TPAs and other professionals can directly affect regulatory compliance, workplace safety and the integrity of the testing process.
Education Built Around Professional Standards
NDASA describes its training programs as professional development designed to promote industry best practices and regulatory compliance. Its broader training program supports professionals throughout the testing process, from specimen collectors and alcohol technicians to MRO team members, DERs, supervisors and third-party administrators.
That commitment remains at the center of the expanded NDASA University.
Technology can improve how education is delivered, but the value of professional training ultimately comes from the quality of the information being taught.
NDASA University combines the convenience of online education with the knowledge and experience of professionals who understand the drug and alcohol testing industry.
Supporting Both New and Experienced Professionals
The expanded catalog also provides opportunities for professionals at different stages of their careers.
Someone entering the industry may need foundational training to understand collection procedures, terminology and regulatory responsibilities.
An experienced collector may be ready to pursue advanced professional credentials or become a trainer.
A DER may need a deeper understanding of a specific DOT agency.
A growing drug and alcohol testing company may need to train staff in C/TPA program management, collections, alcohol testing or employer support.
NDASA University's expanding educational model makes it possible to serve each of these learners within one professional training environment.
Advancing the Industry Through Education
The drug and alcohol screening industry continues to evolve. Regulations change. Testing methodologies develop. New professionals enter the field. Employers increasingly depend on knowledgeable service agents to help them understand complicated compliance responsibilities.
Education must evolve with the industry.
The expansion of NDASA University represents an investment not only in courses and technology, but also in the professionals responsible for maintaining the integrity of workplace drug and alcohol testing programs.
Better education develops better-prepared professionals. Better-prepared professionals provide better services. And better services support safer workplaces and communities.
That directly supports NDASA's mission of advocating for safe and drug-free workplaces and communities through education, training, advocacy and excellence in drug and alcohol screening services.
Welcome to the Next Generation of NDASA University
A new look. New courses. More specialized training. And a greater student experience.
Whether you are beginning a career in the drug and alcohol testing industry, expanding your professional qualifications, training employees or building the capabilities of your organization, NDASA University is designed to provide education that can grow with you.
This is more than an expanded course catalog.
It is the next generation of professional education from NDASA University.
Explore the growing training catalog and discover what's new at NDASA University.