Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) certification
California | California requires servers who pour or serve alcohol at restaurants and bars, and their managers, to pass ABC's RBS exam within 60 days of starting. It lasts 3 years. Put it near the top. Source | Required by law |
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TABC seller-server certification
Texas | Texas law does not require it, but most bars and restaurants ask for it: an employer whose staff are certified within 30 days of hire gets legal protection if someone sells to a minor or an intoxicated person. It lasts 2 years. Source | Often asked for |
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BASSET certification
Illinois | Illinois requires everyone who sells or serves open drinks, or checks ID at the door, to complete BASSET training within 120 days of starting. It lasts 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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MAST permit
Washington | Washington requires a MAST permit within 60 days for anyone who serves or mixes alcohol at a restaurant or bar: Class 13 for servers 18 and over, Class 12 for bartenders and managers 21 and over. It lasts 5 years. Source | Required by law |
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OLCC alcohol service permit
Oregon | Oregon requires an OLCC alcohol service permit to mix, serve or sell drinks at a restaurant or bar. Since March 31, 2025, you must finish the course before you serve. It lasts 5 years. Source | Required by law |
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Utah alcohol server training
Utah | Utah requires staff who serve alcohol to complete an approved alcohol training and education course before their first day of work. It lasts 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Alcohol server permit
New Mexico | New Mexico requires everyone who sells or serves alcohol to hold an alcohol server permit within 30 days, and to retake the course every 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Server permit
Tennessee | Tennessee requires a server permit to serve liquor, wine and high-gravity beer at restaurants and bars, within 61 days of hire. Permits issued since January 2025 last 2 years. Source | Required by law |
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Alcohol server education card
Alaska | Alaska requires everyone who sells or serves alcohol, or checks ID, to complete an approved alcohol server course within 30 days of being hired. It lasts 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Responsible alcohol sales and service training
Montana | Montana requires everyone who sells, serves or delivers alcohol, and their supervisors, to complete approved responsible alcohol sales and service training within 60 days of being hired, and again every 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Alcohol server training
Rhode Island | Rhode Island requires everyone who sells or serves alcohol, their supervisors and staff who check ID to complete certified server training within 60 days of starting, and to recertify every 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Alcohol server training
Vermont | Vermont requires every employee who sells, serves or delivers alcohol to complete approved training before starting that work, and again at least every 2 years. Source | Required by law |
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Bartender (operator's) license
Wisconsin | In Wisconsin, only someone with a municipal operator's (bartender) license, or someone 18 or older working under that person's direct supervision, may serve alcohol. A new license needs a responsible beverage server course. Source | Often asked for |
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Alcohol server training
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming | Server training rules differ by state and city, so check with your state's alcohol agency. Where it is not required, a course such as ServSafe Alcohol or TIPS still shows you can check ID and stop service safely, and many employers ask for it. | Helps you stand out |
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Food handler card
California, Texas, Illinois, Oregon, New Mexico | Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. A food manager certificate also counts for the person who holds it. California requires food employees in restaurants, bars, cafes and similar places to get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire and keep it valid. It lasts 3 years. Grocery and convenience stores are exempt. Since 2024 the employer pays for the course and the time it takes (SB 476), and cannot require you to have a card before you are hired. Texas requires food employees who work with unpackaged food to complete an accredited food handler course within 30 days of hire. A card with no expiration date is good for 2 years. Illinois requires restaurant food handlers to complete accredited food handler training within 30 days of hire and repeat it every 3 years. Oregon requires food service workers to get an Oregon food handler card within 30 days of starting work. It lasts 3 years, and cards from other states are not accepted. New Mexico requires food employees to pass a food handler test and hold a card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Utah requires food handlers to finish approved training within 14 days and get a food handler permit from the local health department within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Washington requires food service workers to get a Washington food worker card within 14 days. The first card lasts 2 years, and renewals last 3 or 5 years. Florida requires public food service establishments to train every food service employee through an approved program within 60 days. Training lasts 3 years. Alaska requires food workers who handle unpackaged food to hold a state food worker card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Food handler card
Utah, Washington, Florida, Alaska | Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. California requires food employees in restaurants, bars, cafes and similar places to get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire and keep it valid. It lasts 3 years. Grocery and convenience stores are exempt. Since 2024 the employer pays for the course and the time it takes (SB 476), and cannot require you to have a card before you are hired. Texas requires food employees who work with unpackaged food to complete an accredited food handler course within 30 days of hire. A card with no expiration date is good for 2 years. Illinois requires restaurant food handlers to complete accredited food handler training within 30 days of hire and repeat it every 3 years. Oregon requires food service workers to get an Oregon food handler card within 30 days of starting work. It lasts 3 years, and cards from other states are not accepted. New Mexico requires food employees to pass a food handler test and hold a card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Utah requires food handlers to finish approved training within 14 days and get a food handler permit from the local health department within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Washington requires food service workers to get a Washington food worker card within 14 days. The first card lasts 2 years, and renewals last 3 or 5 years. Florida requires public food service establishments to train every food service employee through an approved program within 60 days. Training lasts 3 years. Alaska requires food workers who handle unpackaged food to hold a state food worker card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Source | Required by law |
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Food handler card
Arizona, Nevada | Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. Arizona has no statewide card, but Maricopa County (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and nearby) requires food employees to get a food handler certificate within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Other counties set their own rules. The Southern Nevada Health District (Las Vegas and Clark County) requires food safety training for a food handler card before you start work. It lasts 3 years. Other areas set their own rules. Source | Often asked for |
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Food handler card
All states except Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington | Rules differ by state, county and city, so check with your local health department. Many kitchens ask for a food handler card even where it is not required, and a short online course is enough. Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. | Often asked for |
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