What jobs can you get with an RSA?

Bar, pub and restaurant work

Most people do an RSA so they can work in a licensed venue. The roles it opens up include:

• bar attendant in a pub, club or hotel
• bottle shop attendant
• waiter or food server in a licensed restaurant
• winery or brewery staff
• festival and event bar staff

Venue managers need it too. So do staff at stadiums and other places that serve alcohol. In NSW, Liquor & Gaming NSW also names other roles that need RSA training, such as some security staff and RSA marshals.

Serving drinks in bars, pubs and restaurants is a job that needs you to be quick on your feet and a good seller. An RSA training course is the first step to getting there.

In NSW, working on a gaming floor or paying out winnings needs a separate course, the RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling). Many club and pub staff hold both. You can add an RCG certificate to further enhance your employment opportunities. Our guide on RSA or RCG explains the difference.

Short courses Melbourne venues ask for

Have you pictured yourself behind a busy bar in Melbourne, serving cocktails, taking café orders or working the buzz of a big event? An RSA certificate is your entry ticket to Victoria's hospitality industry.

In Victoria, the RSA is a short course you do self-paced online. It takes about 6 hours of study. You have 2 months from enrolment to finish it. Because it is an RSA course online, you can study around your shifts.

Victoria works differently from NSW. There is no card. When you finish, Liquor Control Victoria issues a Certificate of Completion after you complete its Learning Hub steps. Your employer keeps a copy on site. The certificate is valid for 3 years, and the refresher is free. That keeps your RSA renewal simple.

That certificate is what lets you work in Victorian bars, bottle shops, restaurants and event venues. Many people do it before looking for casual hospitality work in Melbourne.

Gap-year and working-holiday bar work with NSW RSA training

Bar work is a common job for people on a gap year or a working holiday. Part of the challenge of a gap year is to live and work in a foreign land, getting to know the culture, the people and travelling around the country. Working in bars and clubs will help you form a network of new friends and give you an instant social life. You will meet new travelling companions and have a useful qualification to help you get work as you go.

If you plan to work in NSW, you need a NSW RSA. NSW RSA training is run in a classroom in Sydney or self-paced online.

After the course you get a Statement of Attainment and an interim certificate that lasts 90 days. You then visit Service NSW with your ID to get your competency card. The card is valid for 5 years. Our guide on how to get your RSA in NSW walks through each step.

You need to be 18 or over to serve alcohol. You can do the training younger, but in NSW under-18s cannot serve without the regulator's approval.

An RSA from one state does not automatically work in another. NSW and Victoria each need their own. If you plan to move between states, read what an RSA certificate is before you book.

What RSA certification proves to employers

An RSA shows you have been trained to serve alcohol responsibly. In NSW, it shows you hold a current competency card. In Victoria, it shows you hold a current Certificate of Completion.

Holding an RSA also signals professionalism. It demonstrates to employers that you are committed to safety, aware of your legal responsibilities and prepared to handle challenging situations responsibly. Employers look at your experience, availability and attitude as well.

Think of the RSA as the ticket that lets you be considered. With it, you can apply for most hospitality roles that involve alcohol. Get in touch with us to learn more about our online and in-person RSA training.

The RSA course is delivered and issued by Edway Training (RTO 91401) in both NSW and Victoria. The price is on the course page.

Next step

Choose your state and how you want to study, then pick a date or start online. Go to the RSA course page to book. Sign up for RSA training today and start applying for hospitality work.