States › Missouri
Missouri Alcohol Server Training Requirements (2026)
Missouri has no statewide server training law, but some local governments require it. No statewide requirement; ATC offers free SMART online server training.
Key facts
| Status | Local rules only |
|---|---|
| Scope | No statewide requirement; ATC offers free SMART online server training. |
| Who must be trained | Not confirmed - see notes |
| New-hire deadline | No statewide deadline / not confirmed |
| Certificate validity | Not confirmed - see notes |
| Approved programs | Missouri ATC SMART (free) |
| Generic national courses accepted? | Not confirmed |
| Online allowed? | Not confirmed |
| Typical cost (published) | SMART is free |
| Incentives | ATC notes SMART training may help obtain a liability-insurance discount. |
| Notable local mandates | Kansas City (Ord. 250218, passed Apr 3, 2025): eliminated the individual liquor employee permit; every retail sales-by-drink licensee must at all times employ at least one manager/supervisor who completed ServSafe Alcohol or a director-approved comparable program, with the certificate kept on premises. |
| Recent changes | 2025-04-03: Kansas City replaced employee liquor permits with a manager-level ServSafe Alcohol (or approved equivalent) requirement. |
Official approved-course list ↗
Which course should I take?
- Not required statewide? Check your city/county first (see local mandates), then your employer and insurer. A nationally recognized course such as TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol is the most portable choice if you may move states.
Affiliate disclosure: Some course links on this site may become affiliate links (currently placeholders). If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which courses a state approves.
Frequently asked questions
Is alcohol server training required in Missouri?
Not statewide, but some local governments require it. Kansas City (Ord. 250218, passed Apr 3, 2025): eliminated the individual liquor employee permit; every retail sales-by-drink licensee must at all times employ at least one manager/supervisor who completed ServSafe Alcohol or a director-approved comparable program, with the certificate kept on premises.
Which courses are approved in Missouri?
Programs listed by official sources include: Missouri ATC SMART (free). Always confirm on the official list.
Sources
- Missouri ATC: Server Training official
- Kansas City Ordinance 250218 (PDF) official
- Kansas City Legistar: File 250218 official
- TIPS: Which States Require Alcohol Server Training? (2025) cross-check
- Responsibility.org Alcohol Service Training position paper (data as of Jan 12, 2026) cross-check
Notes
- NIAAA APIS could not be fetched (HTTP 403 to automated tools); APIS figures used only via a 2025 PMC article citing APIS (23 states mandate RBS in some capacity).
Spot an error or a rule change? Email us at [email protected].