California RBS Certification Training

California RBS Certification Training

Medallion IconCalifornia State-Approved

Designed for on-premises alcohol beverage servers and their managers, this is the easiest training program to earn your state-required RBS Certification.

$19.99

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RBS Certification is now state law
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California state-approved training

California state-approved training

State-issued certification valid for 3 years

State-issued certification valid for 3 years

24/7, 12-month online course access

24/7, 12-month online course access

Available in English and [Spanish](https://www.userve.com/us/ca/alcohol-service/espanol-rbs-certification)

Available in English and Spanish

Student handbook with detailed course notes

Student handbook with detailed course notes

Practice quizzes after each lesson

Practice quizzes after each lesson

We make it easier to get your RBS Certification.

California State Approved
California State Approved
Approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Start in 30 Seconds
Start in 30 Seconds
Sign up in just a few clicks and get immediate online course access.
Built for Mobile & Desktop
Built for Mobile & Desktop
Access your course on mobile, desktop, laptop or tablet. Take us with you and train anywhere and anytime!
Get Certified in Hours
Get Certified in Hours
Finish training in just a few hours and get your certification quickly.
300K+ Happy Students
300K+ Happy Students
Successfully trained over 300K students in service and hospitality, with a 98% satisfaction rating.
Money-Back Guarantee
Money-Back Guarantee
We're confident you'll love our course! If not, we provide full refunds subject to our refund policy.
Get compliant today! RBS Certification is a state requirement starting July 1, 2022.

Get compliant today! RBS Certification is a state requirement starting July 1, 2022.

As of July 1, 2022, under the requirements of CA Assembly Bill 1221, all California on-premises alcohol beverage servers and their managers must complete RBS Training and pass the RBS Certification exam to legally serve alcohol. Userve’s state-approved RBS Certification Training Program will teach you everything you need to know pass your exam and get your RBS Certification in four modules that cover:
1: Social Impacts of Alcohol
Raise your awareness of both the positive and negative impacts of alcohol consumption and understand your role as an alcohol server or bartender.
2: Impacts of Alcohol on the Body
Understand the impacts of alcohol on the body so you can safely serve customers by avoiding over serving or serving alcohol to customers who are already intoxicated.
3: Laws and Regulations Related to Alcohol Service
Know your legal responsibilities and understand the laws and regulations specific to alcohol service — including the roles and responsibilities of the liquor authority, law enforcement and employers.
4: Prevention of Service to Minors and Intoxicated Customers
Learn techniques for identifying minors — carding strategies and beyond. Get tactics for effectively managing intoxicated customers and avoiding, or diffusing, tense situations.

Comprehensive alcohol server training made simple.

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Interactive Learning Experience

Courses built with the latest e-Learning technologies for an engaging learning experience.

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Expert Training Professionals

Lessons designed by experienced learning and development professionals.

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Study at Your Pace

Flexible courses built for your busy schedule with easy start-and-stop functionality.

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Free Additional Resources

Student Handbook with detailed course notes and handy posters and templates to use on-the-job.

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Unlimited Quiz Attempts

Practice quizzes after every lesson to ensure you understand the material.

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12-Month Access

Complete training in one sitting or choose your own training pace with course access for up to one year.

A satisfaction rating of 98% from students.

"Excellent course structure & quality of support."
Gerardo R.

Business accounts make training & compliance easy.

Overview

Our business accounts make it easy to get and stay compliant.

RBS Certification in California is state law. Ensure your staff is compliant with our state-approved RBS Course. Our Business Accounts make staff training and compliance hassle-free with a variety of features to support you:

  • Dedicated Account Manager Support
  • Compliance Advisory Services
  • Bulk Enrollment and Hands-on Help
  • Preferred Pricing
  • Student Progress and Success-Tracking

Learn More

Protect Your Brand

Your brand matters to us as much as it does to you.

Our best practice solutions are designed with your brand in mind. They ensure:

  • You're protecting your business from risks associated with food safety and alcohol service incidents
  • You’re protecting your customers’ safety and wellbeing
  • You’re keeping your customers’ trust
  • You’re staying protected–with features like compliance advisory services to keep you informed and on top of requirements
Upskill Your Employees

Your staff gets the most out of our training, so you get the most out of them.

Our learning experience has been designed to:

  • Engage your staff so they take in and retain the material 
  • Work on a mobile device to make it easy for your team to access and complete the training from anywhere at anytime
  • Ensure learner satisfaction–our exceptional student success rates speak for themselves and ensure you get the most value from your investment
Gain Peace of Mind

The information and support you need, when you need it.

Our team of dedicated individuals gives you the peace of mind you need, by providing:

  • Compliance advisory services for the most current information on government mandates
  • Guidance on training requirements
  • Hands-on account management support, including help with student enrollment
Save Time and Effort

Your time is valuable, so we make things as quick and easy as possible.

We recognize how busy you are, so we make managing your organization's training as simple and efficient as possible through:

  • Bulk student enrollment – and preferred pricing while we’re at it
  • User-friendly account management tools that make admin a breeze
  • Student progress and success-tracking tools for timely status reports
  • Hands-on help should you need it

Frequently Asked Questions

RBS Training and Certification

What is Responsible Beverage Service Training?

In accordance with California Assembly Bill 1221, which created the Responsible Beverage Service Training Program Act, all servers of alcohol, as well as managers of servers, are required to obtain RBS training and a valid RBS Certification by July 1st, 2022. The deadline had previously been extended in June 2020, with the passing of Assembly Bill 82.

The purpose of the training is to arm servers with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively serve alcoholic beverages and, by extension, reduce harm related to alcohol in local communities. Userve has been accredited by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and is therefore an approved provider of online Responsible Beverage Service training.

Do I need to get RBS Certified?

As of July 1, 2022, all California on-premises alcohol beverage servers and their managers are required by law to have RBS Certification.

An alcohol server is defined under AB 1221 as anyone who checks customer ID for alcohol service or entry to an ABC on-premises licensed establishment, or takes, pours or delivers alcoholic beverage orders to customers.

What do I need to do to get my RBS Certification?

You'll first need to register and get your unique Server ID on the RBS Portal. Once you have your Server ID, you can complete the training course and take the state exam to get your RBS Certification.

For a breakdown of all the steps, view our Step-by-Step Guide to Getting RBS Certified.

How long is my RBS Certification valid for?

RBS Certification across California is valid for 3 years from date of issue. One it expires, you'll need to renew your certification by retaking the RBS Certification Training and rewriting the state exam.

Certification Information

What will I get as proof of certification?
After passing the exam, the state department will provide you with a certification number as proof of RBS Certification. Your certification number can be found in the RBS Portal.
What happens if I lose my certification number?

You'll be able to find your certification number in the training history section at the bottom of the RBS Portal page. Our team is also here to help. Just contact us and we'll be more than happy to assist you.

What is my Server ID number and how do I get one?
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issues two very similar numbers to each person signing up for the state RBS exam. One is an application tracking number and the other is the Server ID number.
The server ID number appears under “Server Certificate Details” on your ABC Portal dashboard, or within the content of the email you receive from ABC when you sign up for the RBS Certification exam.

Employer Information

I am an employer. Do my staff need to get RBS Certified?

According to Assembly Bill 1221, all servers of alcohol and their managers must obtain California RBS Certification. For more information on Userve business accounts, including bulk enrollment and volume discounts, please contact us.

Am I required to maintain records of certifications?
Yes. Licensees are required to maintain records confirming that required employees have valid RBS Certification. In addition, licensees must make such records available to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) upon request. When ABC begins enforcing this requirement sometime on or after September 1st, 2022, they may request to see records of RBS Certifications.
Currently, ABC does not issue physical or downloadable certificates. The agency issues what is referred to as a digital certificate wherein the server is issued a certification number that is valid for three years. ABC is in the process of creating a way for licensees to verify online that their servers are RBS-certified using the server's certification number and last name. This is projected to be available as the legal requirement for mandatory statewide training gets closer. If you wish to maintain records of certifications prior to the launch of the new system and further instructions from ABC, servers may go on to their ABC dashboards and capture and print out a screenshot of the Server Certificate Details box and their name from the Server Profile box on the left side of the page for the licensee's records.
Am I able to monitor the progress my employees are making toward completing the online course?
Yes! Userve's business solutions include access to a Management Portal that allows you to track student progress and completion of the RBS Training Program.

California RBS Certification Exam

What do I need to know about the state exam?
You'll get access to the state exam through the RBS Portal within 24 hours of completing the course. You'll then have 30 days and 3 attempts to write and pass the exam.
The exam includes 50 multiple choice questions and you must score at least 70% to pass.
What happens if I fail the state exam?
You will have 30 days from the completion of Responsible Beverage Service Training and three attempts to pass the exam with a 70% or better grade. If that criteria isn't met, you will have to retake the RBS Training Program and exam.
Does Userve offer the exam directly?
The online RBS Certification exam is state-administered by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). It is the last step in getting your state-required RBS Certification.
How do I request support for my state exam?

For questions related to the California RBS exam, you can reach out to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control by email at: headquarters@abc.ca.gov.

What's Included?

How long does the RBS Course take?
The training course takes most people approximately 4 hours to complete. Keep in mind that you can train at your own pace and start and stop as often as you like.
What does the course include?
Userve's Responsible Beverage Service Training program is a convenient way to meet California's RBS Training requirements. Our RBS Training is compliant to the state department's curriculum requirements and will provide you with everything you need to know to pass the state exam and get certified.

Our Online RBS training features:

  • 100% online training and course materials

  • Additional course resources including a Student Handbook, Glossary of Terms and practice questions to prepare you for the California State RBS Exam

  • Access to the RBS training course for 12 months from date of enrollment

To learn more about Userve's RBS Certification Training Program, please see the additional FAQs or contact us to get all the information you need about California Responsible Beverage Service Training.

Do I get to keep the additional course resources?
Our California Responsible Beverage Service Training comes with a variety of resources to help you as you complete the course. These include: Student Handbook, Glossary of Terms and BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) Charts for Males and Females. These are downloadable for you to continue to use after your RBS training is complete.
Can I get help if needed?

Of course! If you have any questions about the course, training requirements or general enquiries, contact our Student Support Team.

Course Requirements

How long will I have access to the course?
You have 12 months from the date of enrollment to complete the training program, including all course lessons and practice tests.
What languages is the RBS course offered in?
Our Responsible Beverage Service training is currently offered in English and Spanish.
Can I do the course all online, or is there a practical component?
For your convenience, the RBS training program is 100% online.
Can I do the course on a mobile device?
Yes! Like all Userve training, our Responsible Beverage Service Training Course is 100% online and can be completed on your mobile device.

Can't find the answers you're looking for? Visit our Userve Help Center for more information.