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Certificates

I lost my RSA certificate

I completed an approved RSA/RCG course three years ago, but I have lost my certificate.
What can I do?
You will need to contact the training officer who ran the course to obtain a copy of your certificate.

If you cannot obtain a copy, you will be required to undertake the course again with one of the RCG or RSA approved course providers to satisfy the mandatory training provisions.

Is my certificate valid?

I completed an approved RSA or RCG course in 2005. Will I have to do the course again?

No. People who completed a course approved by the Liquor Administration Board prior to 1 June 2008 are deemed to be the holder of a recognised RSA certificate. This includes courses previously conducted by the former Tourism Training and Employment Centre (also known as the Tourism Training Centre), and the Centre for Retail and Wholesale Training.

The Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority will be undertaking a review of RSA training in 2008-09. That review will examine a number of issues relating to the RSA training scheme, including the need for refresher training.

Refresher training is under consideration and you may wish to update your certificate by undertaking the course from one of the approved training providers.

I completed my responsible service of alcohol (RSA) course in July 2002. At that time I received a Statement of Attainment. My boss is telling me I need to get a certificate so he can put that in the RSA register. Is that correct?

No. People who completed an RSA course prior to 5 December 2003 through a Board approved training provider are deemed to be holders of an approved RSA certificate. This can be in the form of a "certificate", "statement of attainment" or "transcript of academic record".

I have completed a course which is restricted to a particular class of licence (eg. liquor store). Will this certificate be recognised if I work in a hotel or club?

No. The certificate has been limited because the course does not cover essential elements of responsible service that are applicable to hotels or clubs.

The other option available to you are to undertake the course with a training provider whose course is recognised across all classes of licence.

Will the RSA training conducted by the Sydney Casino be recognised for the sale, supply or service of liquor in a licensed venue such as hotel or club?

No. Anyone who has undertaken a course conducted by the casino will be required to undertake an approved RSA course.

I hold a RSA certificate from a training provider who is not on the list of approved training providers. Where do I stand?

Anyone who has completed an unapproved RSA course will be required to complete the course through an approved training provider.

I completed a RSA course interstate before I moved to NSW. Will this be recognised?

No. A RSA course approved by the NSW Casino, Liquor & Gaming Control Authority will need to be completed to work in the NSW liquor industry.

Do I require a certificate?

Directors at our club regularly serve behind the bar. Do these directors have to be RSA trained?

Yes. The training requirements apply to any person who sells, supplies or serves liquor, this includes club directors.

I work at a winery that conducts wine tasting and cellar door sales to people visiting our winery. Will I have to do the course?

Yes. Only those working in the wholesale/producer sector ie wholesale and producer licences (that do not have a cellar door facility) are exempt.

The mandatory RSA training requirements apply to licensees and staff in all retail liquor venues, including a producer licence with cellar door sales and/or where wine tasting occurs.

We are a small sporting club that has a limited licence, which allows us to sell liquor at our home games. All of the people working in the canteen are committee members or volunteers. Do they all have to hold a recognised RSA certificate?

Yes. All volunteers involved in the sale, supply or service of liquor must hold a recognised RSA certificate.

I have been approached by a liquor distributor to host a promotional event for a new liquor product.

The distributor will organise sales reps to distribute free samples of the product to patrons. Do the reps have to hold a recognised RSA certificate?

Yes. Any person who sells, supplies or serves liquor on licensed premises as part of a promotional activity is taken to be a permanent staff member and must hold a recognised RSA certificate.

Offences apply to the serving staff ($1,100 maximum) and the licensee ($5,500 maximum). A copy of that person’s recognised RSA certificate must be held in the register.

Certificates and your employer

My employer has asked to keep my original recognised RSA certificate. Is this right?

No. The licensee must take a copy of the original recognised RSA certificate which is to be kept in the Responsible Service of Alcohol Register. The licensee will certify on the copy that they have sighted the original certificate, which you must retain.

RSA register

I have a high turnover of casual bar staff working in my venue. Do I have to keep updating the Responsible Service of Alcohol Register each time I hire new staff?

Yes. The keep and maintenance of a Responsible Service of Alcohol Register is already a condition of a licensed venue.

You are required to continue to retain a certified copy of all employees’ (past and present) recognised RSA Certificates in the Register.

Distance learning options

Is there an approved course that can be undertaken by distance learning (ie online)?

Yes. TAFE (NSW) through its distance learning unit, OTEN, conducts an approved RSA course.

Working without certification

What will happen if I work in a bar and don’t have a recognised RSA certificate?

You will be committing an offence (maximum penalty $1,100).

In addition, the licensee commits an offence where serving staff are employed without a recognised RSA certificate (maximum penalty $5,500).