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You may need to do certain types of training if you:
- are applying for a liquor licence
- are applying to transfer a liquor licence
- hold a liquor licence
- are the responsible person in charge of a licensed venue or location.
We may also require your staff to complete training, depending on the licence type and the work they do.
Licensee training needs
If you are applying for any licence type, except a pre-retail licence or BYO permit, you must complete:
When you apply, you must upload evidence that you have completed or booked this training.
This can be either your Certificate of Completion or enrolment confirmation.
We cannot make a decision on your application until you have completed the training.
Training based on applicant type
Your training requirements depend on who is applying.
Individual: You must do new entrant and RSA training.
Partnership: All partners must do new entrant and RSA training.
Company or co-operative:
- At least one director or the responsible person in charge (who may also be a director) must do new entrant training.
- The responsible person in charge (who may also be a director) must do RSA training.
Incorporated association
- An executive committee member or the responsible person in charge (who may also be an executive committee member) must do new entrant training.
- The responsible person in charge (who may also be an executive committee member) must do RSA training.
TAFE, university or municipal council: In most cases, the responsible person in charge must do new entrant and RSA training.
Who else needs to do training
Nominees
If you have nominated a person to be a nominee on your licence, they must do new entrant or RSA training.
Directors
If you have directors, you must always have at least one who has done new entrant training. If you remove the only director with new entrant training, and want to add a director, the incoming director must complete new entrant or RSA training.
Person or entity subletting part of a licensed venue
The person or entity subletting part of a licensed venue must do RSA and/or new entrant training following the same rules that apply to your applicant type.
For example, if the subletting entity is a partnership, all partners must do new entrant or RSA training.
If you hold one of these licence types, as the licensee you must complete an RSA Refresher course every 3 years:
- general
- on-premises
- late night
- packaged liquor.
Licensees and the responsible person in charge of a late night (general) or a late night (on-premises) licence must complete the Advanced RSA training course within 6 months of:
- us granting the late night licence
- recording a demerit point in the demerit point register.
If you have a general licence or on-premises licence, you also need to do Advanced RSA training within 6 months of the demerit point being recorded in the demerit register.
William Angliss Institute provides the Advanced RSA training course online and in person.
When you have completed the training, let us know by emailing your Advanced RSA Certificate to contact@liquor.vic.gov.au.
You can apply for either:
- an extension of time to comply with RSA training requirements (except Advanced RSA training)
- permanent exemption from RSA training requirements, granted in rare situations.
You must be the licensee with one of these licence types:
- general
- on-premises
- late night
- packaged liquor.
There is no fee to apply.
How to apply
1. Download the information kit, which includes the application form:
Exemption from the Responsible Service of Alcohol Training Requirements form(opens in a new window)PDF 180.11 KB2. Complete and sign the form.
3. Email the form to contact@liquor.vic.gov.au.
Staff training needs
Your staff may be legally required to complete certain types of training, usually Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training.
Find out what training they must do before they can supply alcohol at your licensed venue or location.
Your staff need a current RSA Certificate of Completion (RSA certificate) to work in your licensed venue or location if you have one of these licence types:
- general
- on-premises
- late night
- packaged liquor.
This applies if their job involves any of these tasks:
- taking orders or payment for alcohol
- pouring alcoholic drinks, serving or delivering them to a customer
- stocking alcohol in view of the public
- removing glasses containing alcohol.
The RSA certificate must be for a course that we have approved.
Staff must keep their certificate current by doing an RSA Refresher course every 3 years.
Read about RSA training including:
- approved course providers
- what staff learn
- RSA refresher course
- interstate RSA training and certificates
- lost certificates.
Responsible person in charge
Your responsible person in charge must do the RSA Refresher course every 3 years if you applied for your licence as either a:
- company
- incorporated association
- co-operative
- TAFE or university
- municipal council.
If your staff are required to have RSA training you:
- must keep a copy of their current RSA Certificate of Completion at your licensed venue or location
- can keep photocopies or digital certificates
- must be able to make the certificates immediately available if liquor inspectors or Victoria Police ask to see them
- do not need to keep copies of the RSA Statement of Attainment, which course providers issue when a student completes the course.
To be valid and current, the certificate must be:
- no more than 3 years old
- for an RSA course that we have approved (explore the list of approved course providers).
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