Good question. If BAT training consisted of showing which buttons to push to use the instrument, our training would last only a few minutes. However, BAT training is much more than learning which button to push to start a breath alcohol test.
BAT training must follow the curriculum established by DOT. Students learn the rules and regulations regarding alcohol testing, which we accomplish using self-study materials prior to class. Students in our BAT classes learn about alcohol physiology, get hands-on practice using the alcohol testing instrument they are training on, learn the various display messages and error codes for each instrument, receive detailed knowledge of the Quality Assurance Plan, and learn how to perform Accuracy Checks. Students also perform seven mock tests as required by the DOT BAT curriculum. Students take a written test at the end of class to demonstrate they have learned the material.