Getting a Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate in Australia

In the past the only way to obtain a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate was via face-to-face training by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). More recently with the ever-evolving advent of the internet you can get your RSA training course and certificate online. As with the face-to-face training, the online providers are also registered as RTOs. Online learning, or e-learning, has become more and more prevalent in today's society, with many people being time poor and wishing to complete their studies or training modules from the reliability and convenience of their own homes. The face-to-face training may be suited to some however, like those who are not confident with computers, don't have access to a computer and/ or the internet or those who have learning difficulties.

Online and in person the RSA training course and subsequent RSA certificate are provided by the RTO in full. If you're doing the RSA training online all you need is a reliable computer, internet and access to a printer. The RSA certificate is important, and a requirement in almost every Australian State and Territory, to deem whether a customer should be refused service, to teach staff how to responsibly prepare and serve alcohol, how to help patrons affected by the consumption of alcohol and also how to ensure the safe consumption of alcohol by customers. The RSA is more than a license to be able to work behind a bar, it's a tool used industry-wide to enable and ensure a safe and responsible attitude toward alcohol consumption. Generally all staff dealing with the sale or supply of liquor are now required to have the RSA certificate across Australia. It's a nationally accredited course with the exception of New South Wales and Tasmania, where it's required that you undertake additional modules.

How to Decide on an RSA Training Course Provider: When deciding on your RSA training course provider it's essential to consider the following; check the provider is an approved RTO, this information can be found at the National Training Information Service (NTIS). Second, while an RTO might be an accredited trainer according to the Queensland Government, it may not have been accredited as an RTO by the Northern Territory Government, for example, so depending on the State or States in which you need a valid RSA certificate, check each State's liquor authority or alternatively, the RTO should be able to provide this information too.

Another thing to consider is what type of training the RTO provides, is it face-to-face or online training? Both modalities are beneficial to different individual needs. The online course takes approximately three hours to complete, while face-to-face it can take longer - up to six hours generally. Occasionally employers dictate which type of training they'd like you to undertake in order to obtain your RSA certificate, so that's another thing to consider.

The RSA training course is pivotal to Australian social responsibility and should not be taken lightly, when choosing a provider you should take the time to know they're an accredited RTO and that they can offer the training service you require.


------

James Knight writes on behalf of various businesses to help consumers find valuable information about products and services. For further information about this topic see RSA Online and click here for further information on the RSA Course