Responsible Service of Alcohol training

You need a current RSA Certificate of Completion (RSA certificate) if you want to supply alcohol at a Victorian licensed venue or location with one of these licence types:

• general
• on-premises
• late night
• packaged liquor.

This applies if your job will include any of these tasks:

• taking orders or payment for alcohol
• pouring or serving alcoholic drinks
• stocking alcohol in view of the public
• removing glasses containing alcohol.

You also need an RSA certificate if:

• you are applying for a permanent licence or licence transfer (except a BYO permit or pre-retail licence)
• your licence has a special condition that requires it.

Read about training for licensees and when you might get an exemption from RSA training requirements.

You must complete RSA training either:

• before you start supplying alcohol
• within one month of the date when you first supply alcohol.

The approved Victorian RSA course includes the national training unit 'Provide responsible service of alcohol (SITHFAB021)'.

It also includes topics specific to Victoria, including:

• Victorian liquor laws
• drink spiking
• ID checks and preventing secondary supply
• use of prone restraint (holding a person face down on the ground)
• harm minimisation strategies
• compliance and enforcement.

New sexual harassment and assault module

RSA training, including the RSA Refresher course, now includes a module to help you recognise, prevent and respond to sexual harassment and assault at a licensed venue or location.

When you complete your RSA Provide responsible service of alcohol SITHFAB021 course with an approved RSA course provider:

1. Wait a few working days for the course provider to send us your course completion details.
2. When they do, we email you a certificate number so you can create an account on the Liquor Control Victoria Learning Hub.
3. You are then prompted to complete the:
   • pre-training survey
   • training module Sexual Harassment and Assault: Recognise, Prevent and Respond
   • post-training survey.
4. After you complete all of these, you can download your RSA Certificate of Completion.

In Victoria, you must complete an RSA course that we have approved. Check the list of providers who can deliver this course.

Training can be in person or online.

Look for the ‘Liquor Control Victoria Approved RSA Provider’ logo on training websites and advertising. It looks like this:

RSA Certificates of Completion look like this:

If you have lost your RSA certificate, you can get a new one for free by completing the RSA Refresher course.

To access the course, you'll need your RSA certificate number. To get your number, email us at contact@liquor.vic.gov.au with:

• your full name and date of birth
• when you completed the original course
• the name of the training organisation.

Once you complete the refresher, you get a new certificate to download.

If you want to change your name on your certificate, email us at contact@liquor.vic.gov.au with your:

• full name
• date of birth
• certificate number.

There is no cost to update your certificate when you change your name.

We may ask you for identification documents.

The RSA Refresher course:

• is free
• takes about 90 minutes to complete
• is available online.

To access the course, you'll need your original RSA certificate number.

It's on the top or bottom of your certificate, depending on when it was issued.

Missing certificate number

If you do not have your certificate number, email us at contact@liquor.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window) and tell us your:

• full name
• date of birth
• when you completed the original course
• name of the training organisation where you did the course.

We will verify your details and provide the number.

After you complete the course

After you complete the refresher course and have your certificate, give a copy to your employer.

They need to keep it on site in case liquor inspectors or Victoria Police ask to see it. They can be fined if they do not do this.

1. Log onto the Liquor Control Victoria Learning Hub.
2. You are then prompted to complete the:
   • RSA Refresher course
   • pre-training survey
   • training module Sexual Harassment and Assault: Recognise, Prevent and Respond
   • post-training survey.
3. After you complete all of these, you can download your RSA Certificate of Completion.

The RSA Refresher Certificate of Completion looks like this:

To apply, your interstate RSA qualification must:

• have been done through a training organisation approved by the interstate liquor licensing authority
• be no older than 3 years
• permit you to work in any class or type of licensed premises.

If your interstate RSA certificate does not meet these requirements, we will decline your application. Allow 10 working days for us to process your application.

Apply for the bridging course through RSA Online Services.

If you want to use a Victorian RSA certificate in another state or territory, most will accept the Statement of Attainment that a registered training organisation issues when you complete the course.

You do not need to do a bridging (RSA Refresher) course if you are supplying alcohol at a producers' event.

Producers' events are one-off or short-term events that accept either a:

• current Victorian RSA certificate
• Statement of Attainment from the Nationally Accredited Training unit (either SITHFAB009A, SITHFAB201, SITHFAB002 or SITHFAB021).