FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We know you have questions and we are here to help. Below are the most common questions Alcohol Servers and Managers have about the new California alcohol training requirements.
California Alcohol Server AB 1221 Questions
What is the California RBS?
Responsible Beverage Service training teaches servers to responsibly serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption and mitigate alcohol-related harm in California communities. View the RBS requirements and deadlines in our multi-language flyer.
How to get my RBS Certification?
The California ABC requires that you register as an Alcohol Server on their site. There is a $3.00 registration fee for the State of California. The link to register is abcbiz.abc.ca.gov.
The state will provide you with an Server Identification Number. You will need to enter this number to start our course. Once your training has ended you will receive instructions via email on how to take the ABC exam. Our school will upload your training to the state and you will receive an email from the ABC/RBS portal notifying you that your exam is ready. You must then successfully complete the exam in order to receive your RBS Certification.
Your RBS certification is valid for 3 years from the date you passed the exam and should be renewed prior to expiration.
What if I fail the RBS exam, can I retake?
Everyone must take a final test on the State of California Alcoholic Beverage Control site. The test consists of randomly generated 50 question and you must pass with a score of 70% or better in order to receive their 3-year certification. You get 3 chances to pass the exam. If you fail all 3 attempts, you are required to take a new training course and pay an additional $3.00 application fee to the state. Sorry…State of California rules not ours.
I enrolled and paid for the course but I still can’t log in.
What we see is most of the time there is a typo in the email address. Feel free to email or text us and we will confirm the email address we have on file with your username, email to [email protected]. Sometimes it also helps to clear the cache in your web browser’s internet history.
Technical & Content Support
Technical support or content support from certified trainers are available Monday through Friday 10AM to 6PM. Technical and certified trainer support can be reached by:
EMAIL: [email protected]
Text: (669) 999-0097
Do you offer bulk purchases for businesses?
Yes! If you have 5 or more employees then we suggest going to our “Group Purchase” page where you can save more but also you’ll have better management of your employees staying compliant with their Alcohol Training. We have a very user friendly interface allowing management to track their employees training progress and up coming expirations for recertification.
Who is required to have an alcohol server certification in California?
As of July 1st, 2022, the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control does require anyone who serves alcoholic beverages as a California bartender, server, waiter, or manager to take a California RBS course with an ABC-accredited alcohol training provider like Serving Alcohol.
How long do I have to take the RBS exam?
You have only 30 days from the date you complete our training to access and complete the ABC RBS exam.
How much is California RBS certification?
$3
The exam costs $3 and is included as part of your registration in the RBS Portal. Once training is confirmed by a training provider, you will have three attempts within 30 days of your confirmed training to pass the exam with a 70% or better.
Taking Our RBS California course
Can I take the RBS exam without taking the RBS training course?
No. You must register in the RBS Portal, take training from an authorized RBS training provider, and pass the exam within 30 days of your confirmed training.
How long is the RBS Certification valid for in the State of California?
Your RBS Certification is valid for 3 years from the date you passed your California RBS Test.
How many questions in the RBS exam?
Students are allowed 3 attempts to pass the 50 question final exam with a score of 70% or better in order to receive their 3-year RBS certification. This a test you take on the California ABC website and the 50 questions are randomly chosen each time.
How long is your RBS course?
We believe we offer the fastest online Responsible Beverage Service course there is!
The convenience to learn when and where you have time. Available online 24/7.
Our self paced course means just that. You control how fast you wish to complete the course. Because we are a California Approved provider, all of our courses meets or exceeds required length and course content.
Will I be notified when my certification is expiring?
Yes. You will be sent reminder emails 90, 60, 30, and 10 days before you expire. The emails will be sent to the email address associated with your account in the RBS Portal. You will receive a final notification when your certification has expired. If you have been added to an RBS server roster, the License Administrator will also be notified that your certification is expiring.
RBS California
Please reach out for any additional questions you may have.