If you’ve ever thought about working in a bar, serving drinks at a restaurant, or picking up shifts at a music festival, there’s a good chance that one qualification will appear in almost every job advertisement: an RSA certificate.
Completing a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course is one of the quickest ways to open the door to casual, part-time or full-time employment in the hospitality industry. Whether you’re a student looking for weekend work, someone changing careers, or you’re simply wanting more flexible hours, an RSA certificate can significantly expand your employment opportunities.
But what exactly is an RSA certificate, and what jobs can you get with one? In today’s article we’ll give a rundown of the different job opportunities an RSA certificate can provide.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is an RSA certificate?
An RSA certificate stands for the Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate. This certifiate shows employers that you’ve completed nationally recognised training in the safe and legal service of alcohol. In this course, you’ll learn valuable skills such as how to:
- Serve alcohol responsibly
- Recognise signs of intoxication
- Refuse service as required
- Check identification and verify legal drinking age
- Understand alcohol-related laws in your state or territory
- Help minimise alcohol-related harm
- Meet your legal responsibilities as someone serving alcohol
In Australia, anyone serving or selling alcohol generally needs to hold a valid RSA certificate. While the specific rules can vary between states and territories, employers almost always require staff to have completed RSA training before starting work.
It’s important to note that different RSAs are valid across different states. For example, while the RSA certificate NSW is valid in all states and territories, the RSA certificate QLD is only valid in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, the Australia Capital Territory, and Tasmania. Check with your state or territory if you’ll be wanting to use your RSA across multiple locations.
Why do employers require an RSA certificate?
Serving alcohol, of course, comes with legal responsibilities. Businesses can face significant fines, licence suspensions or other penalties if alcohol is served irresponsibly. Staff members may also be held personally responsible if they fail to comply with alcohol service laws. This is why holding a valid RSA is so important!
Hiring employees with RSA certification helps businesses ensure their team understands:
- Responsible alcohol service
- Customer safety
- Licensing laws
- When to refuse service
- How to handle difficult situations professionally
For employers, an RSA certifcate is often a legal requirement.
What jobs can you get with an RSA certificate?
An RSA certificate can qualify you for a wide variety of hospitality, tourism and event roles across Australia, which is great news for
Here are some of the most common RSA jobs.
Bartender
Perhaps the most well-known role requiring an RSA certificate is bartending. A bartender’s role involves preparing and serving alcoholic beverages, typically in a customer-facing position. Depending on the venue, they may also:
- Mix cocktails
- Pour beer and wine
- Operate tills
- Restock fridges
- Maintain a clean bar
- Monitor patrons for signs of intoxication
Bartending is popular because it offers flexible hours and opportunities to work in pubs, clubs, hotels and cocktail bars. This makes it a fun choice for university students, or those that wish to pick up extra hours while working a job during the day.
Bar attendant
Bar attendants perform many of the same duties as bartenders. Some venues use the titles interchangeably, while others have bar attendance and bartenders as separate roles.
Responsibilities often include:
- Serving drinks to patrons
- Processing payments
- Cleaning glassware
- Restocking stock
- Assisting customers
- Following responsible service requirements
Waiter or waitress
Many restaurants serve alcoholic beverages alongside meals. If this is the case, waitstaff will typically need to hold a valid RSA certificate. This includes roles that take alcohol orders, serve wine, or deliver alcoholic drinks to customers. Working as a waiter or waitress can be an excellent entry point into hospitality, and also lets you develop your customer service skills.
Restaurant supervisor
As you gain experience, an RSA certificate can also support career progression, such as becoming a restaurant supervisor. Responsibilities of a restaurant supervisor can include:
- Overseeing staff
- Ensuring alcohol is served according to licensing laws
- Assisting with staff training
- Managing customer issues (including those that involve alcohol service)
Hotel staff
Hotels employ a wide variety of staff, and some may require an RSA certificate. This could include:
- Food and beverage attendants
- Room service staff
- Bar staff
- Restaurant employees
- Banquet staff
- Functions coordinators
Many hotels offer opportunities for career advancement into management positions, so an RSA can be a good starting point for a career in the industry.
Club staff
Sporting clubs, RSL clubs, bowls clubs and licensed community clubs regularly hire RSA-qualified employees. These venues may employ:
- Bar attendants
- Food service staff
- Function staff
- Supervisors
- Event personnel
Bottle shop employee
If you’re selling takeaway alcohol, you’ll typically need an RSA certificate. Bottle shop employees assist customers by:
- Recommending products
- Operating checkouts
- Checking identification
- Refusing sales where required
- Restocking shelves
Large retailers and independent bottle shops frequently seek to employ staff that hold a current RSA certification.
Event staff
Australia is home to thousands of events each year, including:
- Music festivals
- Sporting events
- Food festivals
- Agricultural shows
- Community events
- Corporate functions
Many temporary event staff work in licensed bars or beverage service areas where an RSA certificate is required. Event work is particularly popular among students and people looking for casual employment, as it is generally a short-term commitment.
Functions and wedding staff
Wedding venues, conference centres and function spaces often hire casual staff to serve food and beverages during private events. These roles may include:
- Beverage attendants
- Bar staff
- Cocktail servers
- Banquet attendants
- Event assistants
Weekend weddings can provide consistent casual income throughout the year. This form of employment is also great for students.
Casino staff
A casino can be a very fun place to work, and many roles within licensed casinos involve alcohol service. Depending on the position, employees may work in:
- Bars
- Restaurants
- VIP lounges
- Entertainment venues
- Function areas
An RSA certificate is commonly required alongside a Responsible Service of Gambling certificate, and any additional venue-specific training.
Cruise ship hospitality
For Australians interested in travel, hospitality experience combined with RSA training can help when applying for certain cruise ship hospitality positions.
While international cruise operators often require additional qualifications and training, RSA knowledge demonstrates experience in responsible alcohol service.
Brewery, winery, and cellar door staff
Many breweries, wineries and distilleries operate licensed tasting rooms. For this, staff will need to have a valid RSA certificate. These employees may:
- Conduct tastings
- Serve beverages
- Have in-depth knowledge and explain or recommend products
- Process purchases
- Host visitors
These roles are particularly popular in Australia’s wine regions and tourist destinations.
Can an RSA certificate help you find casual work?
Absolutely. One of the biggest advantages of obtaining an RSA certificate is access to lots of different casual employment opportunities. Industries that frequently hire RSA-qualified casual workers include:
- Hospitality
- Events
- Tourism
- Catering
- Festivals
- Sporting venues
These roles often offer:
- Evening shifts
- Weekend work
- Public holiday penalties
- Flexible rosters
- Seasonal employment
This flexibility makes RSA jobs particularly attractive for university students, travellers, and anyone seeking additional income.
Is an RSA certificate enough to get a job?
An RSA certificate is an important qualification, but employers often look for additional qualities as well. You’ll need to show that you have additional skills that make you more employable. These may include:
- Strong communication skills
- Friendly customer service
- Reliability
- Teamwork
- Professional presentation
- Willingness to work nights and weekends
For entry-level hospitality roles, many employers are happy to train staff who have the right attitude and a current RSA certificate, so don’t let a lack of experience stop you!
Do different states have different RSA requirements?
Yes. Although the core principles of responsible alcohol service are similar across Australia, each state and territory has its own legislation and licensing requirements. This means that not all RSA certificates are valid across all states and territories.
If you move interstate, you may need to complete additional training or obtain recognition for your existing qualification. It’s always worth checking the specific requirements before accepting a job in another state or territory.
How long does it take to get an RSA certificate?
An RSA is a short course, and many approved RSA courses can be completed in just a few hours, although the exact duration depends on your state or territory and the training provider.
Some states allow eligible students to complete their training online, while others require face-to-face study or have additional assessment requirements. Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll receive a Statement of Attainment that shows employers you’ve met the training requirements needed to work in licensed venues.
Who should get an RSA certificate?
Whether or not an RSA certificate is worth getting depends on what your employment goals are. An RSA certificate can be worthwhile if you’re interested in working in:
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Clubs
- Event management
- Catering
- Functions
- Entertainment venues
It’s particularly valuable for:
- School leavers
- University students
- Eligible backpackers
- Career changers
- Anyone seeking flexible or casual employment
Why choose Express Online Training for your RSA certificate qualification?
Express Online Training offers RSA training for each state and territory. With our courses, we provide local support 7 days a week, including until late on weekdays. Our fully online courses mean you won’t need to have any venue visits in order to complete your certification. The course can be paused and resumed at any time, with your progress automatically saved, so you can jump between completing the certificate on mobile, tablet, or computer. The interim certificate is issued the same day you pass, so you can download it to show to any potential employers. We also offer Afterpay, so eligible students can pay for the course in 4 interest-free instalments.
An RSA certificate is a highly-valuable entry-level qualification for anyone wanting to work in Australia’s hospitality industry. From bars and restaurants to hotels, festivals, sporting venues and liquor stores, countless employers require staff to understand the responsible service of alcohol, and hold the relevant certificate. Completing an RSA course can open the door to a wide range of casual, part-time and full-time roles. It also gives employers confidence that you understand your legal responsibilities.
