Alcohol server training rules, state by state
Who has to be trained, how fast new hires must certify, how long certificates last, and which courses are approved - for all 50 states + DC, with links to the official source for every fact.
Map
Mandatory statewide (18)Voluntary / incentives (24)Local rules only (5)No requirement (4)
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Tile colors reflect the statewide rule for line servers. "Voluntary" states may still require managers or licensees to train - open the state page.
Recent changes
- Connecticut: 2026-01-01: Mandatory permittee education (2025 HB 6854).
- Delaware: 2026: 'Bartender Bill' made server training renewable every two years.
- Missouri: 2025-04-03: Kansas City replaced employee liquor permits with a manager-level ServSafe Alcohol (or approved equivalent) requirement.
- Montana: 2026-01-01: separate 1-hour off-premises and 2-hour on-premises courses; third-party delivery training rules (MAR 2025-292-1).
- Oregon: 2025-03-31: no more serving on a pending application.
- South Carolina: 2026-01-01: mandatory training took effect; deadline extended to 2026-05-01 by J.R. 5261 (signed Mar 9, 2026). 39,361 certificates issued as of Mar 9, 2026.
- Tennessee: 2025-01-01: new server permits valid 2 years instead of 5 (Public Chapter 961 of 2024, TCA 57-3-708).
All states
| State | Status | New-hire deadline | Valid for | ⚠ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Voluntary / incentives | 30 days | - | |
| Alaska | Mandatory statewide | 30 days | 3 yr | |
| Arizona | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | |
| Arkansas | Voluntary / incentives | 30 days | - | |
| California | Mandatory statewide | 60 days | 3 yr | |
| Colorado | Voluntary / incentives | 90 days | 2 yr | |
| Connecticut | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | ⚠ |
| Delaware | Mandatory statewide | 30 days | 2 yr | ⚠ |
| District of Columbia | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | |
| Florida | Voluntary / incentives | 30 days | - | |
| Georgia | Voluntary / incentives | - | 2 yr | |
| Hawaii | Local rules only | - | - | |
| Idaho | Local rules only | - | - | ⚠ |
| Illinois | Mandatory statewide | 120 days | 3 yr | |
| Indiana | Mandatory statewide | 120 days | 3 yr | |
| Iowa | Voluntary / incentives | - | 2 yr | |
| Kansas | No requirement | - | - | |
| Kentucky | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| Louisiana | Mandatory statewide | 45 days | 4 yr | |
| Maine | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | |
| Maryland | Voluntary / incentives | - | 4 yr | ⚠ |
| Massachusetts | No requirement | - | - | ⚠ |
| Michigan | Voluntary / incentives | 180 days | - | ⚠ |
| Minnesota | Local rules only | - | - | ⚠ |
| Mississippi | No requirement | - | - | |
| Missouri | Local rules only | - | - | |
| Montana | Mandatory statewide | 60 days | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| Nebraska | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| Nevada | Mandatory statewide | 30 days | 4 yr | ⚠ |
| New Hampshire | Voluntary / incentives | 45 days | - | |
| New Jersey | Local rules only | - | - | |
| New Mexico | Mandatory statewide | 30 days | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| New York | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr | |
| North Carolina | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | |
| North Dakota | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | |
| Ohio | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | |
| Oklahoma | Mandatory statewide | 14 days | 2 yr | |
| Oregon | Mandatory statewide | 0 | 5 yr | |
| Pennsylvania | Mandatory statewide | 180 days | 2 yr | |
| Rhode Island | Mandatory statewide | 60 days | 3 yr | |
| South Carolina | Mandatory statewide | 30 days | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| South Dakota | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | |
| Tennessee | Mandatory statewide | 61 days | 2 yr | |
| Texas | Voluntary / incentives | 30 days | 2 yr | |
| Utah | Mandatory statewide | 0 | 3 yr | ⚠ |
| Vermont | Mandatory statewide | 0 | 2 yr | |
| Virginia | Voluntary / incentives | - | - | |
| Washington | Mandatory statewide | 60 days | 5 yr | ⚠ |
| West Virginia | No requirement | - | - | |
| Wisconsin | Voluntary / incentives | - | 2 yr | ⚠ |
| Wyoming | Voluntary / incentives | - | 3 yr |