Is My Interstate RSA Valid in Queensland?

Moving to Queensland for work, or picking up shifts over the border, raises a fair question: does the RSA you already have still count? Every state manages liquor licensing its own way, so it is reasonable to expect you might need to start again.

Usually you do not. What matters is the paperwork you were given, not the state you trained in.

Can I use my interstate RSA in Queensland?

Yes, provided you hold a Statement of Attainment for the nationally accredited Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol unit. Business Queensland’s RSA certification guidance says this directly: an interstate RSA qualification can be used in Queensland if it is a Statement of Attainment from that nationally accredited course.

The Statement of Attainment is the certificate a registered training organisation (RTO) issues when you are assessed as competent in a unit. It is what gives the qualification national recognition, and it is what a Queensland employer, an OLGR officer or a police officer will ask to see. Worth knowing if you trained interstate: Queensland does not issue a card with it, the way some other states do.

Which unit codes does Queensland accept?

The current unit is SITHFAB021 Provide responsible service of alcohol. Queensland also accepts the older versions of the same unit:

• SITHFAB002
• SITHFAB009A
• THHBFB09B

Unit codes change each time the training package is updated, so an older code is not a problem on its own. Look for one of these codes on your Statement of Attainment, along with the RTO’s name and number.

When would an interstate RSA not count?

There are two situations to check for.

The first is age. RSA training completed before 2002 is not valid in Queensland, whichever state it was done in, and needs to be completed again.

The second is the type of document. Some states issue their own state-based certificates, cards or approvals on top of, or instead of, the national unit, and a statement of attendance is not the same thing as a Statement of Attainment. If all you can find is a card or an attendance slip with no national unit code, it may not meet the requirement.

Before assuming you need to retrain, contact the RTO you trained with and ask for a copy of your Statement of Attainment. If you cannot remember which RTO certified you, Queensland’s guidance is blunt about the outcome: you will need to do the course again.

One more place to check. Many qualifications, such as a Certificate II or III in Hospitality, include the RSA unit within them. If you did the unit as part of a qualification, the transcript showing it is valid here too.

Does it matter if I did my RSA online?

What counts is the Statement of Attainment, not the delivery mode. But this is exactly where interstate certificates go wrong, and Business Queensland warns about it directly: many online courses do not meet Queensland’s requirements even though they charge a fee and claim to give you the right certificate.

So check the document rather than the receipt. If an RTO assessed you and issued a Statement of Attainment for one of the unit codes above, you are fine. If the course was not delivered by an RTO, or it issued something other than a Statement of Attainment, it will not be accepted here, whichever state you did it in.

Does it work the other way, from Queensland to another state?

Not always. Other states set their own rules for people working in their venues, and some require extra state-specific training or a state-issued card even if you already hold the national unit. If you are heading interstate, check that state’s liquor regulator before your first shift.

What if my interstate RSA is not valid here?

You will need to complete the RSA again, and the usual Queensland deadline applies: RSA training must be done within 30 days of starting employment. That applies to everyone working in a licensed venue here, including international travellers and students. The course has no prerequisites, and once you hold a Statement of Attainment it does not expire. We explain that in more detail in whether an RSA or RSG certificate expires in Queensland.

If the venue also has gaming machines, check whether you need an RSG as well. An interstate gaming certificate is a separate question from the RSA, and our guide to RSA vs RSG covers who needs which.