California RBS
Certification Training

1. Register on RBS Portal
   • Create an account on the California RBS Portal
   • Pay the $3.00 fee
   • Save your Server ID, use it to enroll in a training course
2. Enroll in RBS Training
   • Go to 360training and choose the TIPS California RBS course
   • Enroll using your Server ID
   • Finish the 2–4 hour course
3. Pass the State Exam
   • 360training reports your course completion to ABC
   • Get exam access email within 48 hours
   • Pass the ABC exam with 70%+ to get certified

IMPORTANT: Your Server ID is required to enroll in training. It connects your training and exam results to your certification. Training is self-paced and required before you can take the state exam. You must complete the state exam within 30 days of finishing your training.

Yes! You can take California RBS training online through approved providers. Online RBS alcohol certification courses are designed to be flexible, allowing you to complete the required material at your own pace from any location.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control website lists approved training providers, including 360training's Premium California RBS Training Alcohol course.

Anyone who serves alcohol in California — including bartenders, servers, and managers — must complete RBS certification to comply with the state's Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) law. If you're working at an establishment licensed to serve alcohol, you’ll need to complete RBS training and obtain your California alcohol server certification.

Yes. In 2017, California lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 1221, which created the Responsible Beverage Service Training Act. The regulations are designed to reduce the risks of harm from alcohol in California communities by ensuring that anyone who serves alcohol understands the dangers of underage drinking and over-serving intoxicated customers.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is responsible for the new program. It requires RBS training for on-premises licensees, managers, and alcohol servers.

You may, for example, be required to complete a Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs (LEAD) class for a certificate of completion.

We always recommend double-checking with local regulations, as well as confirming training requirements with your employer. And as of now, Learn2Serve by 360training does not offer either RBS or LEAD training.

Mandates for AB 1221 have been effective since August 31, 2021.

You will need to renew your certification every three years to remain compliant.

Most RBS training courses take about 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, depending on the provider. After completing the course, you'll take the ABC exam. The full process can usually be completed in under 24 hours, but the actual RBS certification may take up to 24 hours to reflect in the system once passed.

The cost of RBS training varies by provider but typically ranges from $8 to $24. Some platforms offer RBS certification California packages that bundle exam preparation with the official training, keeping prices affordable — often around $17 to $22.

Yes — to be valid, your RBS certificate must come from a provider approved by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). Make sure your course leads to an official California alcohol server certification and prepares you for the ABC-administered exam.

First of all, the state-specific, state-approved course is required by law in California, so you will be compliant with regulations.

Plus, the reason for the alcohol server training is to ensure you have the knowledge and techniques to keep customers safe from drunk driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 10,327 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in California from 2003 to 2012.

To become a bartender in California, you’ll need to complete an approved RBS certification course and pass the state exam. While there's no specific bartending license California requires, the RBS license is mandatory for alcohol service. You can find step-by-step guidance here on how to meet the state’s bartending requirements.

Once you can get an RBS alcohol certification, you can serve at many different on-premises establishments, such as:

• Bars
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Event spaces
• And more…

You can find more information on California’s Responsible Beverage Server Program website, including a section on frequently asked questions.