People with paper RSA or RCG certificates
Latest news - expiry dates of paper RSA/RCG certificates announced
The expiry dates of paper RSA and RCG certificates over the next five years has been announced. If you work in the NSW hospitality industry and work in roles that require you to have an RSA or RCG qualification including as a licensee or approved manager, you must complete a new RSA/RCG course and obtain a photo competency card before the expiry of your paper certificate(s).
See the expiry dates on this page to find out when your paper certificate becomes invalid.
Existing paper RSA and RCG certificates continue to be valid as evidence of competency until they are phased out in stages over the next 5 years (see stages below). Holders of expired paper certificates can be fined by NSW Police or inspectors from the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing.
The first group of RSA/RCG paper certificates to be phased out are those issued before 1 January 2001. These paper certificates will be invalid from 1 July 2012.
Before their certificate expires, paper certificate holders need to:
- Complete an RSA/RCG course with an approved registered training organisation in NSW. See the list of approved RSA training organisations and approved RCG training organisations.
- The training provider will provide the course graduate with an interim certificate which is valid for 90 days from date of issue. This can be used as temporary evidence of competency (even if the paper RSA/RCG certificate has expired) so that a person can continue to work in hospitality roles in NSW which require this competency for up to 90 days.
- As soon as the training provider has issued the interim certificate, the graduate should take their interim certificate and sufficient documents which prove their identity (the types of acceptable ID documents are detailed on the interim certificate) and go to their nearest participating Australia Post outlet to apply for their photo competency card. Not all Australia Post outlets in NSW take competency card applications – please check the Australia Post locator on this web page to find the one nearest to you.
Australia Post will take a photo of the applicant, process the application, and the card will be sent directly to the applicant within 3 weeks by the card manufacturer. For details applying for your competency card see our fact sheet.
Transition dates for expiry of RSA/RCG paper certificates in NSW
| RSA and RCG paper certificates issued | Expiry date |
|---|---|
| Prior to 1 Jan 2001 | 30 June 2012 |
| 1 Jan 2001 – 31 Dec 2006 | 30 Jun 2013 |
| 1 Jan 2007 – 31 Dec 2008 | 30 Jun 2014 |
| 1 Jan 2009 – 31 Dec 2009 | 30 Jun 2015 |
| 1 Jan 2010 – 21 Aug 2011 | 30 Jun 2016 |
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What if I lose my paper certificate, can I get a photo competency card?
No. If you lose your RSA or RCG paper certificate, you need to contact the approved training organisation with whom you did your course. The training organisation will provide you a reissued paper certificate (for a fee) if your original paper certificate has been lost, stolen or damaged. The reissued paper certificate will specify the original date on which it was granted and the date it was reissued as a replacement.
Only graduates from an approved RSA or RCG course in NSW from 22 August 2011, can apply for a photo competency card.
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