What Jobs Drug Test Before Hiring?

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Of the many questions we’re asked about workplace drug testing policies, “what jobs drug test before hiring” and “how often do companies drug test” are among the most common. So let’s discuss the prevalence of drug testing as part of the hiring process.

Do most jobs drug test? Not officially. As of 2019, only 1.47% of US job postings mention that pre-employment drug tests are required, and only 0.66% mention regular drug testing. Yet, because the rate of workforce drug positivity hit a fourteen-year high in 2018, an increasing number of companies are requiring employees to comply with testing policies.

Join us as we take an in-depth look into requirements, laws, and what kind of jobs drug test prior to employment.

Drug tests determine whether a prospective employee uses illicit substances or uses alcohol or prescription medication inappropriately. Companies that drug test have several different testing methods at their disposal, including:

In places that drug test, urine testing is most common because it’s the least invasive and is the approved methodology for federally mandated drug screening. Negative results take around a day to process, while additional testing on non-negative results takes a few days. Urine-based drug tests can take place as little as a week before onboarding.

Jobs that drug test use urine samples to check for the presence of controlled and illicit substances, including:

Pre-employment screening is rarely a blanket requirement within companies that drug test. Testing is usually restricted to safety-sensitive positions or government roles where alcohol and drug abuse can lead to public endangerment or increased health and safety risks.

Jobs that require drug testing vary depending on the industry and the organization’s needs. There are no federal laws that prohibit pre-employment testing, although several states regulate the types of drug tests employers can demand. You can learn more about state-by-state regulations on the American Civil Liberties Union website.

Pre-employment drug testing is strictly confidential. Regulations protect against the public release of the results, and employees usually have to sign a release for their employer to access them.

Here are two different legal authorities for jobs that drug test:

That’s not to say that all government employees are subject to pre-employment drug testing. EO 125645 instructs each agency to develop their own drug-free workplace program, so most will have similar policies and test for the same drugs. However, what jobs require drug testing remains company and position-dependent based on roles and responsibilities.

There is no definitive list of jobs that require drug testing. However, industries that are more likely to conduct pre-employment screening than others include:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued guidance on what should be deemed a testing designated position (TDP). The majority of companies follow these guidelines, although ultimately, authority rests with each individual employer.

Specific job roles that are regularly classed as testing designated positions and require pre-employment checks under either the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act or EO12564 include:

Roles that are not classified as testing designated positions, but may still be required to test to ensure essential duties are not performed while under the influence, include:

Both lists above are not exhaustive and are subject to change. While it helps to know what jobs drug test before hiring, bear in mind that even in non-TDP roles, an employee can still be tested once their contract begins. Employers can require a drug test for existing employees if they have reasonable suspicion that an employee is abusing substances.

Need help navigating drug testing rules and regulations or conducting drug and alcohol screening for your organization? Partnering with Checkr gives you access to our team of fair chance hiring experts and the technology you need to make your pre-employment drug screenings faster, easier, and more compliant.

Contact our team today and discover how to grow your employee base with confidence using our AI-powered approach to fair background checks for all.