Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training is the foundation that qualifies you to sell, serve or supply liquor.
To sell, serve or supply alcohol in NSW, you must complete an RSA training course provided by an approved training provider. If you are new to the liquor industry or your RSA competency training took place more than five years ago, you need to complete a full training course.
The RSA course includes the national unit of competency SITHFAB002 – Provide responsible service of alcohol and NSW specific elements, covering a range of topics including:
Please note, your role may require additional training. If your work duties involve gaming machines, you may also need Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) training.
Only a registered training organisation approved by L&GNSW (an ‘approved training provider’) can conduct RSA and RCG competency card training and issue certificates.
RSA training applies to:
To obtain an RSA competency, you need to complete an RSA course through an approved training provider. RSA courses may be offered in a classroom or online
The price charged for an RSA training course varies between approved training providers. The amount you pay for your course includes the cost of your NSW competency card.
Upon successful completion of an RSA course, you will receive an interim certificate. This certificate is valid for 90 days and allows you to work immediately.
To obtain a NSW RSA competency card, present your interim certificate to a Service NSW centre and complete a 100 point identification check. Service NSW will send your card to your nominated address via mail. Please allow up to one month for its delivery.
Keep your contact information up to date to receive essential updates and reminders. Visit the Competency Card Self Service Portal to update contact details, renew with a renewal number, order replacements for lost or stolen cards, and add a privacy endorsement.
You can obtain a digital competency card via the Service NSW app. The app is available via download from iTunes® or the Google Play™ store. Once you have the app, you’ll need your competency card holder number to add your competency.
Visit Service NSW to learn more about the NSW Digital Competency card.
NSW RSA Course Handbook PDF, 2820.01 KB includes the most recent changes to liquor laws.
There are different work requirements to sell, serve or supply alcohol in NSW that you need to know about if you don’t permanently live in NSW, but want to work here.
If you do not permanently live in NSW, but want to work here to sell, serve or supply alcohol, you must have completed an approved interstate RSA course within the last 5 years from another Australian State or Territory. You do not need to complete the NSW RSA Bridging course or hold a NSW competency card if you have completed an approved interstate RSA course.
Note: If you work as security staff or an RSA marshal in a licensed premises in NSW, regardless of whether you live permanently in NSW or not, you are required to hold a NSW competency card displaying the RSA endorsement. You can obtain the NSW competency card by completing the NSW RSA Bridging course.
Refer to the RSA bridging course below for more information
An approved interstate RSA course is either a full RSA training course or an RSA refresher course offered in another State or Territory by:
This depends on your role:
The RSA Bridging course will inform you of the NSW-specific requirements in relation to refusal of service, signage, compliance and harm minimisation strategies.
For example, your obligations for refusal of service to an intoxicated person in NSW licensed premises may be different to that of other jurisdictions. In NSW, an RSA practitioner who identifies a customer as being intoxicated, must stop service and ask the person to leave the premises.
Refer to NSW RSA bridging course for more information.
Present your approved interstate RSA certificate to a prospective employer (hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs etc). Your prospective employer may want to keep a record of your RSA details, verify your interstate RSA certificate, and sight your photo identification.
When working in NSW, you are expected to understand and comply with your obligations to supply liquor responsibly under NSW laws. You must present your RSA certification for inspection by either Police officers or Liquor & Gaming NSW inspectors if asked.
Yes, you are eligible to work in NSW if your QLD RSA certificate is less than 5 years old, unless you move permanently to NSW. However, voluntarily completing the online RSA bridging course offered by Liquor & Gaming NSW will help you understand your obligations under the NSW liquor laws when working in NSW.
Yes. If you intend to work in a role involving sale, supply or service of liquor at a venue in NSW but you permanently reside in another State or Territory, you may work in NSW so long as you have completed an interstate RSA within 5 years. However, if you permanently move to NSW or your role involves security or RSA marshal duties, you must complete the online NSW RSA Bridging course and obtain a competency card to work in NSW. Refer to the RSA bridging course below for more information.
You must complete the RSA bridging course and hold a competency card to work in NSW if -
You must hold one of the following approved interstate RSA certificates:
The NSW RSA Bridging course is a quick and easy way for people who hold a current interstate RSA certification or endorsement issued by another State or Territory to work in NSW.
The bridging course covers a range of topics including:
Note: If you do not meet the eligibility requirements to complete the RSA bridging, you will need to complete the full NSW RSA course with an approved training provider. Refer above for more information on completing the full RSA.
The RSA bridging course is delivered online, and you will need a MyServiceNSW account to complete it. If you do not have a MyServiceNSW Account use the ‘Sign up with Service NSW’ link when you click through to start the course.
If you already have a MyServiceNSW Account use your details to ‘Log in with Service NSW’ and then you will be taken to the course.
Start the online RSA bridging course now
If you have already started the RSA bridging course, but have not finished, login to your MyServiceNSW Account to complete the course.
The amount you pay for the course includes the cost of your NSW competency card. Refer to the fee schedule here.
Complete the online course at your own pace. Once completed, you will receive an RSA bridging course completion certificate by email.
Note: This certificate confirms you have completed the course, but does not allow you to sell, serve, or supply alcohol in a licensed premises in NSW. You must apply for your NSW RSA competency card at a Service NSW centre first.
Take your course completion certificate, identification documents and interstate RSA certification to a Service NSW centre so they can:
If your identification documents are successfully verified and your interstate RSA certification is validated, Service NSW will provide you with an RSA bridging interim certificate. This certificate is valid for 90 days and allows you to start work immediately.
Note: Identification documents required are listed on the back of the completion certificate. Please ensure you have the required documentation, as the cost of your bridging course will not be refunded if you can’t be successfully verified.
Your NSW RSA competency card will be sent to the address you nominate, via mail after you have obtained your RSA bridging interim certificate from Service NSW. Please allow up to one month for its delivery.
Visit Service NSW to learn more about the NSW digital competency card.
You are required to renew your NSW RSA competency every five years. To renew you need to complete the RSA Refresher course.
The RSA Refresher course covers a range of topics including:
There is a multiple choice assessment at the end of the course to test your knowledge, where you will be required to get a 100% mark to pass.
Anyone who wants to retain their RSA competency should complete the RSA Refresher course.
Your expiry date is on the front of your NSW competency card. If we have your email and/or mobile number, we will notify you 90 days before your competency expires that you need to complete an online refresher training course.
If we don’t have your contact details, update them on the Service NSW website.
If you don’t receive a reminder 90 days before your card expiry, you should contact L&GNSW so we can update our records and give you access to the refresher course.
Note: Completing a full course through an approved training provider prior to the expiry of your competency card will not extend the expiry date on your current card.
You only have to pay the cost of issuing a new competency card with the renewed competency. Refer to the Fee Schedule.
After you complete the Refresher course, your updated competency card will be sent to your nominated address via mail. Please allow up to one month for its delivery.
The NSW Government has introduced a new and improved Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) tiered training framework in consultation with industry bodies to reduce incidents of gambling related harm. For more information visit the RCG training page.
T: 1300 024 720 | Monday to Friday | 9am - 4pmE: competency.card@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au
