The Responsible Service of Alcohol in Western Australia

In Western Australia all staff selling or serving alcohol must complete the nationally accredited unit of competency 'Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol', otherwise known as an RSA certficate. This is a nationally accredited unit of competency, meaning it would be valid, in part, in other Australian states and territories.

Other Australian states and territories do require abridged course modules, on top of the nationally accredited RSA course, in order for you to be lawfully able to work with your RSA in those states and territories.

The Western Australian liquor governing body, the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor, accepts the nationally accredited unit of competency 'Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol', as a valid RSA certificate.

Who needs to have an RSA certificate in WA? Western Australia's Liquor Control Act says licensees, approved managers, supervisory staff, bar staff and all those involved in the sale or supply of alcohol throughout the state are required to undergo mandatory RSA training.

The licensee is also required to keep on the premises a training register, which details when each individual employee commenced employment at the venue, undertook the RSA training, the name of the RSA course provider and the state or territory in which the RSA certificate was obtained. Without this register the licensee could face fines of up to $5,000.

Registered Training Organisations: RSA course providers are referred to as Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). RTOs are rigorously audited and accredited by authority bodies prior to being able to deliver the RSA training and subsequent certificate.

The national RSA training course is the applicable RSA certificate deemed appropriate by WA's liquor authority, the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor. Therefore, to work in the sale or service of alcohol in Western Australia, you can complete the RSA training in any Australian state or territory.

In Western Australia your RTO needs to be accredited to deliver the national RSA 'Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol' training course. You can find out if your RTO is accredited at the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website.

RTOs can deliver RSA training, and upon successful completion the RSA certificate, online or face-to-face. Online the RSA course generally takes between two and three hours to complete. While face-to-face the course can take up to six hours to finish. Online and face-to-face RSA courses contain the same training modules and content.

The RSA certificate is more than a license to become a bar attendant, as the Liquor Control Act goes on to say - the responsible service of alcohol is seen as an important element in changing Western Australia's drinking environment. The mandatory RSA training provides consumers with safer venues that actively practice harm minimisation tactics.


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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 for further information click on RSA WA