2025 Medical Review Officer Online Course with Live Discussion (Includes Digital Syllabus)-Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Pdf Summary

The 2025 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) Medical Review Officer (MRO) Comprehensive Course and Resource Manual provide extensive training and reference material for professionals involved in drug and alcohol testing within the workplace. The course prepares physicians to meet federal qualifications and certification standards for MRO roles mandated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).<br /><br />Core topics include fundamentals of drug testing procedures, MRO duties and responsibilities, workplace substance use epidemiology, substance use disorders, treatment and rehabilitation, and collaboration with Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). The syllabus details specimen collection protocols, focusing on urine, oral fluid, and hair testing, emphasizing integrity, chain of custody, and federal compliance requirements.<br /><br />The training stresses the critical role of the MRO as a gatekeeper interpreting laboratory-confirmed results, conducting donor interviews, verifying legitimate medical explanations, managing cases of adulteration or substitution, and reporting safety concerns to employers while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism. It clarifies that marijuana remains a Schedule I drug federally; thus, MROs must not verify drug tests as negative based on medical or recreational marijuana use, nor accept CBD products as a valid medical excuse.<br /><br />The course underscores regulatory frameworks involving DOT agency variations, random testing mandates, refusal-to-test definitions, and consequences. Practitioners learn procedures for managing split specimens, specimen validity testing, and proper reporting timelines, including compliance with FMCSA Clearinghouse requirements.<br /><br />Advanced topics cover toxicology, pharmacology of drugs of abuse, and interpretation nuances, including recognition of prescription medications that may produce positive results. The course also addresses alcohol testing procedures, including use of breath and saliva testing devices, with emphasis on federal standards and evidentiary requirements.<br /><br />Business aspects provide guidance on establishing and managing MRO practices, including staff training, legal liabilities, recordkeeping under HIPAA, marketing strategies, contractual agreements, and ethical codes of conduct.<br /><br />Up-to-date resources, federal regulations, and proposed changes are included to assist MROs in staying current, such as the integration of oral fluid testing, hair testing developments, electronic signature allowances, and the impact of evolving drug scheduling and workplace policies, ensuring proficiency in a complex and dynamic field.

Keywords

ACOEM 2025 MRO Course

Medical Review Officer training

drug and alcohol workplace testing

federal MRO certification standards

DHHS and DOT regulations

specimen collection protocols

substance abuse epidemiology

drug test result interpretation

DOT random testing mandates

MRO legal and ethical responsibilities