Valid certification is legally required under the Registrar’s Interim Standards and Requirements for Liquor and applies to:
- Every person involved in the sale, service, sampling or delivery of liquor or in taking orders for the sale of liquor;
- Security staff employed by the licensee or used by stadiums; and
- Employees selling or serving liquor from motorized vending carts, as well as course marshals, for Golf Course Endorsement holders.
All AGCO Board-approved training programs provide licensees and their employees with the knowledge needed to sell, serve and deliver liquor safely, responsibly, and in compliance with the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019, its regulations and the standards and requirements established by the AGCO Registrar.
It is recommended for all liquor licensees to keep a copy of their and their employees’ certifications. AGCO Inspectors may ask a licensee for proof of a staff member’s certification at any time.
AGCO Board Approved Programs
The AGCO Board has approved two types of training programs.
- Liquor Retail Training Programs – approved only for individuals involved in the sale, service and delivery of liquor or in taking orders for liquor at a licensed retail store (such as a licensed grocery store, convenience store or offsite winery retail store).
- Smart Serve Training Program – approved for all liquor licensees and their employees, including bars, restaurants and retail stores.
It is your responsibility to know which training program applies to your specific role and employment setting.
Liquor Retail Training Programs
Licence to Serve
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $14.95 + HST
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years.
- Offered in English and French
Liquor Retail Employee Training
Liquor Retail Employee Training
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $19.95 + HST
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years.
- Offered in English and French
Safe Selling – Retail Alcohol Sales Training
Safe Selling – Retail Alcohol Sales Training
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $19.95 + HST
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years.
- Offered in English and French
Acts of Service
Acts of Service: Responsible and Compassionate Retail Sale of Liquor
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $100.00 + HST
- Available in-person in the Ottawa region
- Certification valid for five years
- Offered in English and French
CannServe Standard
CannServe Standard — Liquor Retail Worker Training Program
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $19.95 + HST
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years.
- Offered in English and French
Selling Alcoholic Beverages Responsibly (SABR)
ID Please SABR — Ontario training program
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $19.00 + HST
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years
- Offered in English and French
StoreServe Certification
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $13.99 + HST | $9.99 + HST for recertification
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years
- Offered in English, French and Hindi
Smart Serve Retail
Smart Serve Retail Online Training Program
This course only applies to retail licensees and employees working in a convenience store, grocery store or offsite winery retail store setting.
- $24.95 (no HST)
- Available online
- Certification valid for five years
- Offered in English, French and Korean
Note: individuals with only a liquor retail training certification are not permitted to sell, serve, deliver or take orders for the sale of liquor outside of a retail store setting.
Smart Serve Training Program
Smart Serve
This course meets the training requirements for all liquor licensees and employees (such as bars and restaurants including grocery and convenience stores).
- $44.95 (no HST)
- Available online and in-person
- Valid for 5 years
- Offered in English, French, Chinese, Korean, Punjabi and Spanish
Requirement to hold a Valid Training Certificate
In Ontario, all liquor training certifications need to be renewed every five years. This means that individuals must retake their training after five years to keep their certificate valid.
Open Call for Additional Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs
To support the province’s plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace, the AGCO is offering more options for social responsibility training programs for liquor retail employees.
Applications are now being accepted from those interested in providing an AGCO Board-approved liquor retail employee training program.
For application information, visit the ConnectAGCO webpage.
Smart Serve will continue to be the only AGCO Board-approved training program for the broader liquor sector, including for liquor sales licensees and their employees. Staff who currently hold a valid Smart Serve training certificate can sell liquor in retail settings until their certificate expires. Once it expires, they must recertify with Smart Serve or obtain a new certificate from another Board approved liquor retail employee training program to continue to sell liquor in a retail setting.
Please return to this webpage to learn about new Board-approved liquor retail employee training programs as they become available.