So you’ve landed a job at a pub, or maybe you’re just trying to break into hospitality. Either way, someone’s mentioned you need an RSA certificate. Right, what’s an RSA online course then? And why does everyone keep banging on about doing it online?
RSA—The Ticket to Pour Drinks
Responsible Service of Alcohol. Bit of a mouthful, but basically it’s the certificate that proves you’re allowed to serve booze in Australia. No RSA, no bar work. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been pouring pints since you were tall enough to reach the taps—legally, you need this piece of paper.
Why Bother With Online
Classroom courses exist, sure. But who’s got time to sit in some stuffy room on a Tuesday morning? Online means doing it whenever—3am if that’s your thing. Pause it when the pizza arrives, finish it in your trackies, skip the commute. Done and dusted without leaving the couch.
What They Actually Teach
It’s not complicated stuff, but there’s a reason it exists. How to spot someone who’s had too many. When to cut someone off without getting a glass thrown at your head. Checking dodgy fake IDs. The legal side of things—what happens if you serve a minor or an already-drunk bloke who then causes trouble. Real situations that’ll happen on a Friday night shift.
Time Commitment
Four to six hours, give or take. Some people smash through it in three. Others take longer because they keep getting distracted. The beauty is nobody’s watching. Spread it over a week or knock it out in an afternoon—whatever works.
What It Costs
Anywhere from thirty to eighty bucks, depending on who’s running it. That’s a shift’s worth of wages, maybe less. Classroom versions cost way more, sometimes double. A few bosses will reimburse it, particularly if they’re short-staffed and need someone trained yesterday.
The State-by-State Headache
Here’s the annoying bit: got your RSA in Victoria? Means nothing in Queensland. Each state runs its own show with its own rules. Moving interstate? That’s another course, another fee. Absolute pain, but that’s how it works. Double-check which state’s version is needed before handing over any money.
Getting the Certificate
Finish the quiz at the end—usually multiple choice, nothing too brutal—and the certificate rocks up in your inbox within a day. Sometimes instantly. Save it, print it, email it to your new boss. It’s valid for five years, then the whole thing needs doing again.
Picking a Legit Course
This matters more than it should. Plenty of dodgy operators flogging worthless certificates that look official but aren’t. Stick with recognised training providers that state governments approve. Check a few reviews. Ask around. The bloke down the pub who got his RSA for twenty bucks from some random website? His boss probably won’t accept it.
An RSA online course is just one of those hoops to jump through. At least this particular hoop can be jumped while watching Netflix in the background.
