Choosing a bridging or refresher course can be confusing…
Here is a jargon free guide to help you choose which course you should be doing if you are moving interstate or want to stay current.
Each State has different requirements for the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA)
- Victoria (VIC) and New South Wales (click for our tips to pass courses) in particular have their own requirements, but NSW now allows online training.
- Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia (click for our tips to pass each course) Northern Territory, Tasmania and allow you to do a Nationally Accredited course which can be done online.
Tasmanian treasury and the A.C.T. allow online courses to a relatively small group of approved trainers. (click for Government listings of trainers)
>> Click here for information about our top recommendation for every State (except VIC which is classroom only).
If You Want to Work Interstate.
Most courses are designed to allow you to work in multiple States (except VIC).
Note: If you are moving (to or from) NSW or VIC – from our experience it is easier to do a new course in the state you want to work compared to trying to figure out which refresher or bridging course to do! Yes you will have to redo the course – but if you consider the time, money and energy figuring it all out – it is not worth it.
NSW and VIC have specific courses to meet the regulations in each State. Therefore, if you have done a course in that State and are moving to another it will not be recognised.
VIC is classroom only.
NSW can be done by online, and since 1 July 2018, you will also be issued with a National RSA Statement of Attainment (SITHFAB002) which means it is Nationally accredited and you can work in every state apart from VIC.
If you have an RSA certification from QLD (after 2013), WA, NT, SA and TAS you can work in any of the other 4 states. Just check your certificate has the “Nationally accredited” logo on it.
Nationally Accredited
To try and simplify things the Australian government has a database of Training Courses that meet National Standards.
NSW, QLD, WA, NT, SA and TAS are the States that require that you meet the do a course that is Nationally accredited.
NSW and VIC require additional content such as specific information about penalties and provisions as well as specific videos that the courses must show to be compliant.
Bridging Courses Online
Because the many courses are quite similar, in some States it is possible to do a bridging course if you move interstate. But as explained above if you are coming or going from NSW or VIC it is usually much easier and often cheaper to do this one.
- Going to work in QLD, NT, SA, WA? – If you want to work in these states and have a course this same group of states already, there is a good chance it is “nationally accredited” – Check your certificate. These states accept nationally accredited RSA certificates. Example: If you have a RSA from NSW or VIC for example it will not be ‘nationally accredited” and therefore you will most likely have to do a new one.
- Going to work in VIC? Victoria is the exception. The justice department in Victoria WILL NOT accept any RSA certificate if it’s been completed online. Despite this, there are some interstate RTO’s that promote that you can do their Queensland RSA and then do the Victorian refresher but we highly recommend you do NOT do this. However if you have moved interstate to Victoria, you may be able to do a classroom course for free if you have done your RSA in another State within three years.
- Going to work in NSW? – In 2018 the online NSW was made available and with it the ability to do a bridging course if you have a Nationally accredited RSA from other states. However fortunately there are now courses like this one online for NSW that we recommend.
- Going to TAS or A.C.T. These jurisdictions require that you do a course with a trainer that is on their approved list. Therefore even though you may have an RSA certificate from another State you will need to do a refresher with an approved trainer. You can do this one.
Refresher Courses
RSA refresher courses are required for some States and not others. This means that even if you have an RSA that is Nationally accredited and valid for both states you may need to it again.
- QLD, WA, NT, TAS – does not require a refresher although QLD does offer some free refresher training.
- NSW – every 5 years
- VIC – every 3 years
- A.C.T. – every 3 years
Refresher courses and bridging courses can sometimes be hard to find and the cost of the full course means that it is better often to just do the course again.
Please add to comments below for any updates to this section or questions you may have. I will respond as soon as I can, but please be patient. Each state has different requirements and these requirements are continually changing.
I had no idea that Victoria (VIC), ACT and Tasmania (TAS) required RSA course to be done in the class! Oh well I am from NT and I took an online test few weeks back. Hope I am on the right side!
Your all good – as I am sure you know NT is no worries!
Hi Just wondering if you could help me. If I did my RSA in WA 2 years ago do I have to do any bridging/new courses to work in QLD?
Hi, First you will need to check if the RSA you did was also approved for QLD – most are not. If you just have the “nationally accredited” RSA which is suitable for WA (but not a QLD accreditation) then you need to do a bridging course from National to QLD or just do the QLD one from scratch. Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions! Quinn
UPDATE – QLD joined the list of nationally accredited courses in July 2013
Hi, i have a vic rsa certificate. Can i use it to work in nsw or do i need to get an nsw one? Thanks.
Hi Tom,
Unfortunately you will have to get NSW too. NSW, VIC and QLD all have state specific courses. Some courses however do structure it so that you are doing multiple courses at the same time – but because Vic is a classroom only course this is not the case.
Cheers, Quinn
Hi,
I did my NSW RSA in 2012 and got a competency card with it. If I am moving to QLD do I just need to do a QLD refresher to have a valid RSA in QLD?
Thanks 🙂
Hi Ashley, First check if your course is on the National Register – see link above – it is unlikely but possible. If it is you don’t have to do anything! Since it is probably not here is a link to the course I did (and can highly recommend) – Should only take you an hour – http://store.ulearnportal.com/ProductShowcase/QueenslandBridgingRSA.aspx?pgid=a0d45afe-f749-48ec-93af-ccf2c4bf078e&ag=10 Good Luck and welcome to the sunshine State! 🙂 Cheers, Quinn
Hi Quinn,
I have a RSA for NSW, its about 3 to 4 years old. Now I need a RSA for Queensland, SA, WA, ACT and Victoria. Is there a Bridging course which covers all these states?
From what I understand so far is that if I would do a bridging course for Queensland, it would be valid for SA and WA as well, right? And for Victoria and ACT I would have to do separate courses? I think Victoria offers a bridging course, not sure about ACT. Do you know more?
Sorry for all these questions but this is really confusing… 🙁
Thanks
Katrin
Hi Katrin,
There are lots of questions here but I will do my best.
There will not be a bridging course that covers all those states. I pretty sure that there is no course that even covers all those states.
For example, Victoria has its own requirements and you can do a bridging course IF your RSA is less then three years old – https://liquor.justice.vic.gov.au/rsa_refresher/BridgingCourseApplication.aspx
Sounds to me like you will have to do an RSA that is accredited for Victoria (classroom).
If I were you, I would simply do one for Vic, one for QLD, SA, WA and one for A.C.T. Here is the course I did – they have a 5 States package – NOT Vic and NOT A.C.T but I think you are going to have to do them both separately anyway… I guess the alternative is searching around for someone who does a bridging course for QLD, SA, WA and another for ACT – but I think the time you spend doing that might be better spent just getting fresh ones.
Probably not what you wanted to hear but I hope it helps! The good news is that you will be pretty awesome at RSAs.
Quinn
My daughter has NSW RSA & RSG Certs…but they’re out of date. I believe she would only havre to do the first two modules to refresh. She lives in a Vic’ NSW border town.
The complete course would cost her $310 which she can’t afford…The refresher would be around $45. Will NSW accept the Refresher/Bridging completed online?
Hi Merv,
For the NSW certificates if they are out of date you can not refresh them for NSW – http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/photocard_certificate.asp You probably worked that out.
So, for bridging from Vic to NSW however you are quite right, “People with a valid interstate RSA qualification issued within the previous five years, will only have to complete the first two modules of the NSW RSA online course with one of those providers to obtain their NSW RSA qualification.” – http://www.olgr.nsw.gov.au/courses_rsa_interstate_training.asp
Not sure about costs, I looked at the guys I recommend and they are $130.
$45 seems too good to be true because they have to give $70 to the NSW OLGR by way of a fee.
Hope that helps.
Hi,
I got my VIC RSA about 5 months ago and now live in WA. I did a classroom course and wondered if there was a way to change my certificate in order to work in WA? I understand that I might have to do a refresher course but do I need to pay for an entirely new RSA and do the online exam bits?
Thanks,
Dan
Hi Dan, You can’t change your certificate unfortunately. The Victorian RSA is very specific to that state. The good news though is that a WA RSA course follows the “Nationally Accredited” guidelines automatically! That means the course is relatively cheap and you will also get through it relatively quickly (especially since you have already done the Victorian one). To see if a bridging course will suffice check your course is “SITHFAB009A” or “SITHFAB201” – this should be on the certificate itself. Make sure who ever you choose is in the National Register – http://training.gov.au/Training/Details/SITHFAB009A and you should be all set. You might save $15 or so for the refresher. Might be easier to do one from scratch (using a course you are confident is going to be good) and not worry about ensuring everything matches up. Hope this helps!
hi, could you help me? I can’t seem to find information on this anywhere else that’s of any use.
I have a current NSW RSA, but in January I need to work in ACT. How could I go about this? Do I have to do a bridging course? If so, do you know roughly how much it might cost me?
Thanks mate
It was a classroom corse.
(Sorry I forgot to put that in)
No worries – unfortunately classroom or online is the same. Check you certificate to make sure it is not approved for ACT as well. This is highly unlikely, but possible.
Hi Ester, I do not know of any bridging courses (although there may be – please let me know if you find one and I will post it) so from what I can tell you have to do one from scratch because ACT has its own set of laws governed by the liquor act 2010 – http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2010-35/current/pdf/2010-35.pdf Courses seem to range $65-$75 and you can do them online. Some courses can also be Nationally Accredited which means they are good for QLD, SA, NT, SA and WA. Hope that helps!
I just booked TAS RSA course. And I have a plan to move to VIC next year. So after moving, can I still use TAS RSA certificate in Vic or should I apply a bridging course to get Vic certification?
Hi Mari, You will need to get a Vic RSA. Fortunately Victorian RSA do have a bridging options – so yes you should do this! Make sure it is in a classroom though. See link above in main text for more information about Vic bridging.
Hi, i did my RSA in NSW earlier this year through NOVASKILL and received the certificate and competency card. However, i am now trying to look for work in QLD. I looked at the government training website but couldn’t make much sense of it.
Will i need to do a bridging course or is the NOVASKILL course valid in QLD?
Thanks
Hi Dusty, Very unlikely that novaskill will be suitable because most NSW RSA courses are not “Nationally Accredited” therefore I would just recommend you do a QLD course. You can do a bridging (you will need to email your certificate) – Bridging costs $30 for the course I like the best – https://www.rsacoursesonline.com/tcp/ Let me know if you have any questions about it via the contact form. Have fun in QLD!
Hi,
I just completed my NSW RSA course online and received my certificate i am yet to get the competency card because i have just decided to move to VIC instead. Can i still do a bridging course in VIC without getting the competency card? Can i still do a bridging course in VIC and have it recognized even though my NSW course was completed online? sorry for all the questions!
Thanks heaps. Rachel.
Hi Rachel, For the Victorian bridging courses, they want proof that you have done the NSW course. You submit this proof through the actual training companies themselves. Not exactly sure what they need I am afraid, but worth a shot I would say. If you can get the card – then good idea to get it.
Hi, I’m in Byron bay and looking and getting my rsa so I can work at the falls festival in byron,do you know or have a link which would direct me in the right place as there’s so many to choose from?
If there was one that would allow me to work in NSW and Queensland that would be great but if not that’s not a problem, NSW will do
Thanks
Gareth
Hi Gareth – Easy – https://www.rsacoursesonline.com/tcp/ You can choose from a multiple state course of just go with NSW only. I have actually used this company myself to do an RSA, and recommend them highly. Quinn
Hi, I did my rsa in qld about 10years ago. Do I have to sit the class all over, or is there an update course I can do?
Hi Nick, “QLD – requires that you do a refresher course every three years”, so Yes you need to do it from scratch. No worries though – I did this course recently and I thought it was awesome compared to others I have done – https://www.rsacoursesonline.com/best-online-rsa/ – Also compared to your class 10 years ago, I think you are going to find this is quite fun and informative. In my review I also made note of the hardest questions and took screenshots of the answers – Cheers!
Hi, I completed my RSA in QLD in June 2012, I was wondering if this certificate is valid in WA or if I have to do a WA RSA additionally- Cheers
Good question Kirsty,
QLD recently joined the list of states that allow RSA to be Nationally Accredited. WA is on that list too.
BUT that was after recently. Chances are yours was not Nationally Accredited – many courses were just QLD specific.
When I did one of my QLD courses for example I got two certificates – One that said Nationally Accredited and one just for QLD.
Best thing to do I think is ask the trainer if the QLD courses they were running (at the time) were Nationally Accredited – if so get them to send you a copy.
If not – check out the one I recommend. At least you will breeze through it!
Hopefully you don’t have to worry. Enjoy WA.
Cheers!
Hi I have a qld RSA certificate is it valid I Tasmania
Sorry afraid not.
Hi ive just moved to nsw, currently have my rsa and rsg plus my rmlv will i have to do my rsa again even if im a registered manager?
Hi Wayne,
Most likely yes. The RSA in NSW is specific to NSW and it is highly unlikely you will have done a course that was accredited in NSW if you did it in another state.
Hi Quinn,
I am currently organising for my staff to do RSA in different states. We are based in Tasmanian and all have our RSA for here. I need to know if they need to do a bridging course for work in Perth as well as Brisbane and Adelaide. I understand now with the new laws having been bought in to NSW you have to do a class and it is the same for Victoria. Thanks or your help!
Courtney
Hi Courtney, Well QLD, SA, WA and NT are all “Nationally Accredited” so you only one course is required. If you have to do NSW as well I would highly recommend the online course offered here – https://www.rsacoursesonline.com/tcp/ called the “5 States Package” – this will save a lot of money ($70 of this $130 goes to the NSW government). Vic is classroom only. Probably not worth messing with working out what is required for each state as far as bridging goes, but if you had the time I guess you could – even then you would probably not save money if you have to do NSW. Let me know if you have any questions – this is one of the courses I have done. Cheers, Quinn
Thanks! Really appreciate your help.
Courtney
Your welcome – glad to help. Just though of something else … Worth considering also that the NSW cards need to be picked up within a certain timeframe so timing may be a factor.
Hi Quinn, cannot find my answer.
We live on the NSW / VIC border
My son obtained his NSW RSA through a registered club in 2009
Can he do a bridging course for VIC or does he have to do a new course because he did the original one 5 years ago?
Thanks
Hi Jenny, Basically – Yes you’ve got it – He has to do a new one from scratch by the sounds.
Hi Quinn,
I have my RSA for VIC and am moving to QLD I need to do a bridging course is that correct? Can this be done online?
Thanks
Hi Samantha, That is correct! Cheers, Quinn
Hello, I just recently moved to ACT and I did my RSA in VIC so I was wondering if either I could work in ACT with that RSA or there was any bridging certificate to get without having to do it all over again in ACT (which can be done online apparently) ?
Thank you for the help.
Brice
Hi Brice, Victoria is specific to Vic, so I am afraid you will most likely have to do it all again. Cheers, Quinn
Good evening.
I just completed my RSA & RSG in NSW & was told by my trainer it was a Nationally Accredited course
I’ve just started work in Qld & been told by my supervisor that I need a bridging course??
Who’s in the right ?
It is possible that your NSW courses were Nationally Accredited – if so you need a Nationally Accredited certificate to show your current employer. I would contact the original trainer and ask for it – then just show you current employer – job done!
Hi!
I have just moved to WA from Victoria, is there a bridging course for these states? And if so, could you please link me..?
As i really don’t want to sit it again!
Thank you
Hi Tori – Good question… I was unable to find any. I think it is because the Victorian one is not nationally accredited and you need to do one that is – Here is the one I did and I recommend – It’s all online and you have a fair idea what to expect so you should be able to do it pretty quickly – http://www.rsacoursesonline.com/tcp
hi i HAVE JUST MOVED TO WA FROM NSW!! CAN I USE MY NSW RSA IN WA ???
Unfortunately not I am afraid. Silly but true.
Hi, i work actually in the QLD but i got my RSA in the Victoria, is it possible to tranfer it ? or someting like that ? Thank you.
No, Victoria has it own way of doing things unfortunately. Easier to get one from scratch. the good news is that they are relatively inexpensive in QLD.
Hey,
I have my RSA from NSW and I’m now in Queensland and wonder if I can use it here. I did mine online 2012 with onlinersa.com.au and can’t figure out if my card is Nationally accredited.
For the link for bridging course for QLD, it says I have to send them a copy of my current RSA but there is no link or email address. Would you be able to help with that?
Cheers, tiina
Hi Tiina, It most likely is not nationally accredited – Vic and NSW do their own thing but there were one or two courses (aimed at backpackers) in NSW that at one stage enabled you to do NSW as well as nationally accredited states like QLD. With regards to, “For the link for bridging course for QLD, it says I have to send them a copy of my current RSA” – which link are you referring to – Can you share the URL or email me if you prefer?
Hi
I have my QLD rsa which I got online in 2010. I am now living into Victoria and understand that there is no way of transferring that over? I’m living in a rural area and can’t get to a classroom. Is there any other options?
Hi, Victoria runs its own system – but as you probably read you can do a free classroom refresher instead of the whole course. Sorry no online options for Vic. Crazy but true.
I am a vic accredited licensee. I am looking at jobs in Queensland. Do I need to redo my rsa for qld to work in a ber just as an employee, not licensee.
Hi Jessica, Yes. The Queensland RSA courses meet the needs of Queensland laws (and by default NT, SA, WA and SA) but Vic sings it’s own tune I am afraid. Check out the one I like most – I am sure you will at least enjoy doing it, even if it means that you will be covering a lot of concepts you are very familiar with. You should fly through and you might find the differences pretty interesting!
Hi I did Qld RSA. Now I moved to NSW. Is that valid in NSW
Hi Ali,
NSW sings its own tune. With QLD you can work in NT, SA and WA. Some courses incorporate multiple States, but they are few and far between.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I did my RSA in NSW, but now I am going to work in WA. Do I have do do a RSA for WA or there’s a bridging course?
Hi Sabrina, Unfortunately you will have to do it all again. Fortunately it will allow you to work in QLD, SA and NT as well.
Hi, I did my RSA in NSW and i’m going to work in Queensland. Will i only need to do a bridging course or do I have to do it from scratch?
Hi Matt, From scratch I am afraid. The good news is it is a lot cheaper and you will be quite familiar with a lot of it. Welcome to the sunshine state!
Hi. I did my RSA in SA through tafe in class. Would I need to do a bridging course or re do it again to work in Qld thanks
Most likely the course you did was Nationally Accredited so you should be all set for QLD – just check the certificate.
Hello,
I have a VIC RSA and I have now moved to QLD, I have heard mixed comments regarding whether I can do a bridging course or whether I have to do a whole new RSA for QLD. Would you mind clearing it up for me? I just don’t want to pay to do it all again to find out I could have done a bridging course – thanks!
The Vic courses are not Nationally Accredited so you have to do the QLD one I am afraid.
Hello, I have a VIC RSA and need to work every few month in TAS, do I need to do a TAS RSA please?
Yes
Hi there,
I did my RSA in Perth about 8 years ago and have worked in the industry ever since. I moved to Sydney four years ago and got myself a NSW RSA but now I am moving back to Perth and am wondering if I can use my old WA RSA or my current NSW RSA, or do I have to re-do my WA RSA?
Cheers
Your answer is here http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/rgl/mandatory_training.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Please have a good read through.
Hi Quinn,
I read over everyone’s questions first to see if anyone had the same situation but no luck. I read above that there may be free classroom courses in VIC if you have your RSA in another state and moved here. That is my case – I got my RSA in NSW 9 months ago but it was done online so I’m unable to do a bridging course. Now I’m here in Melbourne and needing a VIC RSA but don’t have much money. Do you know which companies I can look into that might provide free classroom training to obtain a new VIC RSA as you mentioned?
Thanks,
Miriam
Hi Miriam, I appreciate you looking. Here you go – https://liquor.vcglr.vic.gov.au/rsa_refresher/ Cheers! Quinn
hi there I am trying to get a copy of my rsa I did the course in Tasmania it was a nation wide certificate and I am not sure how to get a copy or where to even start to find it if any body could help me that would be fantastic
Hi Caleb, You have to get it directly from the trainer who initially issued it. They may charge an admin fee for this. Cheers! Quinn
hi there!
I have a current RSA for QNL and diferents states but i have moved to NSW and i would like to know if i could do an easier one instead of doing the entired course again
cheers
Clara
Afraid not Clara – you will need to do it again – fortunately you can do it by email
Hello.
I have a current NSW RSA and a VIC bridging RSA and now I am in WA.
Do I have to pass a online bridging RSA WA course?
Thank you
Afraid so – if you can find one. Fortunately doing the WA from scratch is cheap and allows you to work in pretty much every other state. Also where did you do you Vic bridging course? I would like to perhaps promote it.
Hello,
I have a QLD RSA, a SITHFAB201. I will be moving to the ACT soon.
Do I need to get an ACT RSA?
Also, I have a QLD RSG, do I need to get an ACT RSG?
Hi there, can you tell me whether someone who did their RSA in the NT is qualified to work in the NT?
Yes – The NT RSA is also the National RSA – QLD and WA are included
Hi, i got my RSA – SITHFAB201 in QLD sep 2015, can i use this in NSW?
Thanks
Afraid not – NSW is completely separate
Hi, I have done a QLD RSA course in 2017 and now live in Tasmania. Will that transfer over or do I need to do the Tasmania course and/or bridging course?
Cheers.
Hi Chris, Check out http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/liquor-and-gaming/liquor/responsible-service-of-alcohol “The Commissioner has determined that he will recognise courses from any Australian jurisdiction that deliver the national competency ‘SITHFAB002- Provide responsible service of alcohol’ or its earlier versions SITHFAB201 and SITHFAB009A, conducted by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).” – You should be good to go.
hi apologies as I know this has been answered before but I wanted to get an up to date answer. my nephew has been working in a pub in NSW and obtained his RSA certificate I believe on line in October 2017. he is coming to QLD to work is his RSA still valid?
Hi Carol, QLD and NSW have different training and are not suitable unfortunately.
Hi just inquiring about the RSA and Approved Managers I’m from Queensland and have both I’ve just recently moved to West Australia do I now have to redo or do a refresher course for these or can they be used as is.
They should be Nationally Accredited (just check) in which case you are fine.
Hi i have my nsw rsa, rcg but i want to work in vic but how do i do that??
Hi Claude, You have to do a completely new one for Vic I am afraid and you have to do it in a class room when you get there.
Hi Quinn,
I am a student who hold the visa 500. I have a RSA in NSW, which is not valid in Tasmania.
I tried to apply for a RSA course, but all of them require that the students must NOT hold visa 500. I have no idea if I can get the RSA in Tasmania.
Thank your
Hi Paul, You will need to find an in class CRICOS approved RSA provider when you are in Tassie I believe as we do not know of any online. Hope this helps! Quinn
Hi! I Have a RSA and RSF from VIC and I want to work with them in NSW. What is better: validate them or make a online/presencial course again, please?
Just need to do them again I am afraid.
Hey there,
I have a RSA in NSW, recently done through TAFE NSW,
Im moving to SA, will it be vallid..? or will i need to do a bridging course?
Sorry – no. Need to do one for there.