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.
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.
Licence to Deliver Liquor 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 and liquor delivery (Licence to Deliver) licensees.
Applications are now being accepted from those interested in providing an AGCO Board-approved retail employee or Licence to Deliver liquor 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 and liquor delivery licensees. Individuals who currently hold a valid Smart Serve training certificate can sell liquor in retail settings and deliver liquor until their certificate expires. Once expired, they must recertify or obtain a new certificate from another Board approved training program that is applicable to their specific role and employment setting to continue to sell or deliver liquor.
Please return to this webpage to learn about new Board-approved training programs as they become available.