Does Southwest Airlines Drug Test?

Drug Testing by Position

Drug Test Type and Process

Southwest requires all applicants to pass a pre-employment drug screen that tests for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and phencyclidine (PCP). The test is a standard urine sample collected at a third-party clinic, not at your face-to-face interview. Flight attendants are tested at the Conditional Job Offer (CJO) stage, before training begins, because they perform safety-sensitive functions under federal regulations. Ramp agents and other new hires go through a comprehensive employment screening that can include employment history and education verification, a driving-record review, a criminal background check, and a drug test. A Medical Review Officer reviews any non-negative result and asks about legitimate prescriptions before reporting to Southwest. For pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and ramp agents, this testing is required by federal law at every Southwest station.

Marijuana Policy

Southwest is an FAA-regulated air carrier, so marijuana is disqualifying for safety-sensitive positions regardless of your state's cannabis laws. Under DOT rules (49 CFR Part 40), a state medical or recreational marijuana card cannot excuse a positive THC result — the Medical Review Officer must report it as a violation, even in fully legal states. CBD products are risky too, since many contain enough THC to trigger a positive, and DOT does not accept CBD use as a defense. If you are applying for a flight attendant, pilot, mechanic, dispatch, or ramp position, stop all cannabis and CBD use well before your screen, because THC can remain detectable in urine for days to several weeks depending on how frequently you use it.

Tips for Applicants

Apply through Southwest's official careers site and be ready to complete your drug screen promptly once you receive a Conditional Job Offer — flight attendant training classes have fixed start dates, so timing matters. Bring a government photo ID to the clinic and disclose any prescription medications to the Medical Review Officer, not to Southwest directly. Airport roles also require TSA fingerprint-based background checks for badging. Southwest is known for a strong culture and hires people with records for many ground and customer roles, but be honest on your application, since the screening includes background and driving-record checks. Random testing continues for safety-sensitive employees, and a prior DOT drug violation generally requires completing the federal return-to-duty process before you can work a safety-sensitive job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Southwest Airlines drug test new employees?

Yes. Southwest requires all applicants to pass a pre-employment drug screen for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. Flight attendants, pilots, mechanics, and ramp agents are federally required to be tested under FAA/DOT rules.

Does Southwest Airlines drug test for weed?

Yes. Marijuana is part of Southwest's pre-employment screen. Because Southwest is FAA-regulated, cannabis is prohibited for safety-sensitive roles even in states where it is legal, and a state medical or recreational marijuana card does not excuse a positive result.

When and where does Southwest drug test you?

The drug test is done at a third-party lab, not at your face-to-face interview. Flight attendants are tested at the Conditional Job Offer stage before training begins. Complete the screen promptly within the window your recruiter provides.

What type of drug test does Southwest use?

Southwest uses a standard urine drug test collected at a third-party clinic, screening for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP. A Medical Review Officer reviews any non-negative result before it is reported to Southwest.

Does Southwest Airlines do random drug testing?

Yes. Safety-sensitive Southwest employees — pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, and ramp agents — are subject to unannounced random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment, plus post-accident and reasonable-suspicion testing under FAA rules.

What does Southwest's background check include?

For roles like ramp agent, Southwest's screening can include employment history and education verification, a driving-record review, a criminal background check, and a drug test. Airport badging also requires a TSA fingerprint-based criminal history check.