What is an RSA certificate, and do you need one?
The training you must complete before you serve alcohol — who needs it, what it covers, and what you end up with in New South Wales and Victoria.
Written byEdway
The short answer
RSA stands for Responsible Service of Alcohol. It is the training you complete before you can sell, serve or supply alcohol in a licensed venue. The nationally recognised unit is SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol.
Each state sets its own RSA rules, so what you end up with depends on where you work.
Who needs an RSA
Anyone who sells, serves or supplies alcohol in a licensed venue. That covers pubs, clubs, restaurants, bottle shops, stadiums and festivals.
It applies to volunteers too. If you are pouring drinks at a club or an event, you need the training even when you are not being paid.
There is no minimum age to do the training. You must be 18 or over to sell, serve or supply alcohol.
What the training covers
The course covers the liquor laws that apply to you and the licensee's responsibilities. It also covers serving alcohol responsibly, recognising and refusing service to intoxicated or under-age patrons, and reducing alcohol-related harm.
What you get in New South Wales
You receive a Statement of Attainment for SITHFAB021 and an interim certificate that covers you to work for 90 days.
You then apply in person at Service NSW for a NSW RSA competency card. The card is valid for 5 years. How do you get your RSA in NSW? walks through each step.
What you get in Victoria
Victoria has no competency card. Liquor Control Victoria issues an RSA Certificate of Completion, and that certificate is the document your employer keeps on site.
It is valid for 3 years. A free refresher every 3 years keeps it current.
It does not travel between states
An RSA is not like a White Card. It is state-regulated, so one state's RSA is not automatically valid in another.
New South Wales and Victoria each require their own. Moving between them usually means a short bridging course rather than starting from scratch, as long as your training is recent enough.
Next step
Choose your state on the RSA course page to see the study options and the documents you receive.
If your job in New South Wales also involves gaming machines, compare RSA and RCG — they are separate credentials.
Sources
- Liquor & Gaming NSW — training requirements for liquor and gamingWho must hold an RSA in New South Wales
- Liquor & Gaming NSW — competency cardsThe New South Wales competency card and its 5-year validity
- Victorian Government — RSA training (Liquor Control Victoria)The Victorian RSA Certificate of Completion and the 3-year refresher
- training.gov.au — SITHFAB021Unit code and official title
