What Is An RSA Course?

In Queensland if your job requires you to sell or serve alcohol to consumers you must have a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate. Upon the successful completion of an RSA training course, you receive the RSA certificate. The RSA training course can be done online or face-to-face.

A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) must deliver the training. RTOs are approved upon accreditation by individual state and territories' liquor governing bodies. In Queensland the Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing (OLGR) approves RTOs to deliver the RSA training that is relevant to Queensland.

The RSA training teaches employees of the liquor industry when it's appropriate to refuse someone service, how to prepare alcoholic drinks responsibly, how to serve the drinks responsibly, how to assist patrons to consume a responsible amount and how to help patrons who have been adversely affected by their alcohol consumption. Who needs an RSA?

In Queensland everybody involved with the sale or service of alcohol must have an RSA certificate. Liquor licensees, if an individual, must have also completed RSA traning. As well as bar staff, glassies, room service staff and floor staff. Bottle shop attendants, food and beverage attendants, bistro staff and approved managers are also required to have an RSA certificate in Queensland. Generally, if you work in a licensed venue, you need to have completed your RSA training.

Existing staff were required to obtain the RSA certificate after January 1, 2009. However, if you're new to the industry you have one month from the day you started work to obtain your RSA certificate.

How do you get an RSA certificate in Queensland? RTOs are able to deliver RSA training online or face-to-face. Both methods of RSA training delivery, online and face-to-face, contain the same content and modules. However the nature of delivery means that online the course takes approximately two to three hours to complete and the face-to-face training can take up to six hours to complete.

There are benefits to both online and face-to-face RSA training. If you're uncomfortable using a credit card on the internet, or with computers in general, the face-to-face training could suit your individual needs. While if you're time-poor or want to finish the course in a few different sittings, the online RSA training may suit your needs. Large companies have occasionally conducted in-house RSA training, so that all staff would receive an RSA certificate at the same time, however this is becoming less common.

Things to Consider When Choosing an RTO: As mentioned previously RTOs must be approved, in Queensland, by the OLGR. The National Training Information Service (NTIS) and the OLGR have this information available on their websites.

Not all RTOs provide the option of online or face-to-face training, some organisations are online only or face-to-face only. After deciding which mode of RSA training would suit you best, ensure your chosen RTO can deliver it in that fashion. The RTOs will be able to provide you with this information.


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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 Queensland and for further information click here RSA Brisbane