California Responsible Beverage Service Training

Online RBS Training for California Alcohol Servers

If you serve alcohol in California, completing Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training isn’t optional — it’s the law. Since July 1, 2022, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) requires all alcohol servers and their managers to complete an approved RBS training program and pass a state alcohol safety certification exam. Our interactive, fully narrated course helps you meet these requirements with ease.

What Is RBS Training?

RBS is a California-mandated alcohol awareness program that aims to reduce alcohol-related incidents and promote responsible beverage consumption. It prepares employees and supervisors to serve alcohol responsibly by educating them on how to comply with state alcohol service policies, recognize signs of intoxication and prevent sales to minors.

The training covers a wide range of topics, including local laws, the effects of alcohol on the body and your responsibilities as someone serving drinks or managing alcohol service. At the end of the course, you’ll be better equipped to protect consumers, employees and your establishment.

What You’ll Learn

The curriculum aligns with the state's RBS learning objectives, arming alcohol providers with responsible drinking practices and tools to ensure customer safety. The lesson plans are engaging and informative, perfect for newcomers seeking initial training or veterans renewing their certifications. Among the topics covered are:

An overview of California’s liquor laws and regulations
Alcohol service regulations, responsibilities and liabilities
Common signs of intoxication
Verifying customer age and ID authenticity
Preventing overservice
Handling high-pressure situations effectively, including refusal of service to an inebriated person and de-escalation
Techniques for providing responsible alcohol service

Who Needs to Take This Class?

Anyone working in a licensed establishment that sells or serves alcohol for on-site consumption must complete an RBS alcohol server training program and ace the state certification exam. This includes:

Bartenders and other employees who pour or mix drinks
Waiters, servers and staff who take drink orders or deliver alcohol to tables
Hosts and hostesses, bouncers and security personnel who check IDs or are involved in alcohol service procedures
Managers and supervisors who oversee alcohol service or training
Event staff at private venues where liquor is served

The rule applies to all on-premises license holders, such as restaurants, bars, breweries, nightclubs, hotels, stadiums, tasting rooms and even temporary event spaces. New hires must complete the program and ace the state exam within 60 days of their start date.

How to Obtain RBS Certification and Associated Costs

Before you sign up for a class, you must register on the California RBS Portal and pay a small non-refundable fee. The fee covers the cost of the state certification exam.

Once registered, you’ll be issued a unique nine-digit Server ID number. You’ll need to enter this number when purchasing our course.

Here’s how the certification process works:

Register on the RBS Portal and receive your Server ID
Enroll in a course from an approved alcohol server education provider
Complete the program at your own pace
Take the state-administered exam

After you conclude your training, we'll report your course completion to ABC within 24 hours. To earn your RBS card, you must take the online alcohol server certification exam on the RBS Portal within 30 days of completing your required training course. ABC will email you a link to sign up for the exam.

To pass the state exam, you must score at least 70%. You get three chances. Fail all three, and you'll be expected to retake the RBS course.

Course Overview

Our program is approved by California ABC and is offered entirely online. It’s self-paced and mobile-friendly, allowing you to complete it when and where it’s most convenient for you.

The course is segmented into five training modules, each structured to build your understanding of responsible service and reinforce safety best practices.

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

The content is designed to support your skills development in key compliance and service areas, helping you to contribute to a safer and more professional work environment. All five modules include comprehensive training materials, such as real-world examples and review questions.

While there’s no final exam, each module ends with a short training evaluation. You must pass with a minimum score of 70% before continuing to the next section. You can retake the quizzes as many times as you need until you pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our California course.

How long is this course?

The course takes about two hours to complete. However, it’s self-paced, which means you can start, stop or resume your course at any point.

Will I be given a final exam?

There is no final exam for this RBS course, but within 30 days of finishing your training, you must take ABC's online alcohol server certification.

You have three chances to score at least 70%. If you fail, you must retake the training.

How long is the RBS certification valid?

Once you’ve finished the course and passed the ABC-administered exam, your certification will be valid for three years. You’re responsible for renewing it before expiration to maintain compliance.

Do I get a copy of my state certificate?

Seller Server Online provides a certificate of course completion, which you’re able to download and print immediately after finishing the training program. ABC doesn’t issue a physical or downloadable RBS certificate.

Is the RBS card the same thing as a bartending license?

No. California RBS certification is a legal requirement from the state, but it’s not equivalent to a bartending license or a mixology credential. The state doesn't issue or require a formal bartending license.