California Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training

Overview

California RBS Training makes communities safer by promoting the responsible use and sale of alcoholic beverages. The course provides vital skills and knowledge that empower hospitality professionals to prevent alcohol-related incidents.

In addition to improving public safety and health, the course promotes higher professional standards in hospitality — including improved business viability.

Online RBS Training prepares alcohol servers to:

  • Identify the problems and facts attributed to alcoholic beverages
  • Prevent sales of alcoholic beverages to minors
  • Prevent sales of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated persons
  • Prevent violations of alcohol laws and rules

As of July 2022, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) requires this training and certification for all on-premises alcohol servers and their managers.

This includes any employee who:

  • Takes customer orders for alcoholic beverages
  • Pours alcoholic beverages for customers
  • Checks customer IDs for beverage service or entry into a licensed establishment
  • Delivers alcoholic beverages to customers
  • Trains, directly hires or manages alcohol servers at an ABC-licensed business

Before you start your training, you will need to register on the state's Responsible Beverage Service Portal and get your nine-digit Server ID number. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control charges a $3 non-refundable fee for registration. When you're ready to start your RBS Training, you will need to enter your unique Server ID number.

Course Details

Our online course is divided into five learning modules:

  • Module 1: Alcohol and Its Effects on the Body
  • Module 2: Alcohol and Society
  • Module 3: Regulations and Penalties
  • Module 4: Preventing Illegal Alcohol Sales
  • Module 5: The Role of Managerial Oversight

Course Testing Requirements

Each module ends with a brief quiz that you must pass before advancing to the next section. You must score at least 70% to pass, and you can retake each quiz as many times as you need until you receive a passing score. Your training includes a free digital study guide that summarizes the main points of each module.

The RBS Training course does not include a final exam, but after you complete the course you will need to take an alcohol server certificate exam through ABC's online certification system. After you finish your training and pass all module quizzes, we will report your course completion to ABC within 24 hours.

Within 30 days of finishing your training, you must take the online alcohol server certification exam on the RBS Portal and pass with a score of 70% or higher. You have up to three attempts to pass. If you do not get a passing score after three attempts, ABC requires you to retake the RBS Training course.

The certification exam is available in English and Spanish.

Student Support: We are here to help! Our trained customer support professionals are available to answer any questions related to the course. Contact us now for assistance.