Frequently asked questions
Responsible Beverage Service
California Responsible Beverage Service
FAQs about the California Responsible Beverage Service training course.
Who needs to take an RBS training course to get RBS Certification?
If you are an alcohol server in a licensed premises in California, the law states that you must have RBS certification.
An alcohol server is anyone employed or contracted by an ABC on-premises licensee to
serve alcoholic beverages for consumption, or supervise alcohol servers.
This includes anyone who:
- Checks patron identification
- Takes patron alcoholic beverage orders
- Pours alcoholic beverages
- Delivers alcoholic beverages to patrons.
Is the RBS course approved by the California ABC?
Yes, our RBS course is approved by the CA Dept of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Upon completion of this training, students will be granted access to the Alcohol Server Certification Exam on the ABC’s
RBS portal to complete or renew their RBS certification.
Do I need to register with ABC before taking the RBS course?
Yes,
you must register as a server on the ABC
RBS portal and pay the registration fee ($3) before starting this training. If you are recertifying / already have an ABC RBS portal (server) account, please use your existing Server ID Number to enroll on this course.
How will ABC know I have completed the RBS course?
Your course completion is tracked via your
last name and
Server ID Number. These must exactly match those in your
RBS portal account.
When you purchase a course or enroll on a course purchased for you, enter your last name and nine-digit Server ID Number exactly as they appear in your RBS portal account dashboard.
Once you have completed the course, we will notify ABC within 24 hours with these identifying details and this will open up access to ABC’s Alcohol Server Certification Exam on the RBS portal.
Do I need to take an exam after the RBS course?
Yes. To gain RBS Certification, after completing our online RBS training course, you must pass ABC’s Alcohol Server Certification Exam on the
RBS portal.
Does the course fee include the California ABC RBS portal fee?
No. The course price covers our training program. Students must pay a separate, non-refundable
$3 registration fee directly to the California ABC when registering for certification or recertification on the
RBS portal.
Do I need my Server ID Number to enroll on the RBS course?
Yes. You will need your Server ID Number (created when you register(ed) on the RBS portal to enroll on this course. Your Server ID Number, and your last name, are used to match your course completion to your RBS portal account and ABC’s Alcohol Server Certification Exam on the RBS portal.
You can find your Server ID Number in your RBS portal account Dashboard.
How long do I have to take the exam after completing RBS training?
From the date your training is confirmed on the
RBS portal, you will have 30 days or 3 attempts to take the ABC Alcohol Server Certification Exam, whichever comes first.
Can employers track their staff's RBS course progress?
Yes. Our group training plan provides corporate employers with a Group Leader dashboard to track staff enrollment, course completion progress, and exam readiness in real time.
How often do I need to recertify for RBS?
RBS Certification lasts 3 years. Servers are eligible to renew their certification 90 days prior to the expiration date.*
*Do not enroll on RBS training outside of the 90 days renewal phase as the completion of your training (“training confirmation”) will not reach your account on the RBS portal and so you will not be given access to ABC’s Alcohol Server Certification Exam.
ABC Certified Server Training
About ABC Certified Server Training
FAQs about our services
What is ABC Certified Server Training?
ABC Certified Server Training is an online learning platform built specifically to train, upskill, and certify alcohol servers.
Created by hospitality professionals for hospitality professionals, our system combines deep industry expertise with advanced learning technology to deliver fast, engaging, and mobile-friendly training that fits the fast-paced kitchen or front-of-house workflow.
Our founding team has 25+ years' experience in the alcohol industry and includes an internationally recognized leader in skills-based hiring.
Is ABC Certified Server Training an approved RBS training provider?
Yes, we are an ABC-approved RBS training provider in California.
Our RBS course will fully prepare you for the mandatory state Alcohol Server Certification Exam to gain your official RBS Certification.
What does ABC Certified Server Training provide?
FAQs about identity verification in RBS training in California
What is my Server ID Number?
Your
Server ID Number is a nine-digit number that is unique to you and is how the California
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) tracks RBS training course completion and matches servers to their RBS Portal account and Alcohol Server Certification Exam.
Where do I find my Server ID Number?
To
find your Server ID Number:- Login to your RBS portal account. If you don't have an account, you can register here.
- Go to your RBS Portal dashboard.
- Your Server ID is in the Server Certificate Details area. It is a nine-digit number called ID Number.
