What is a competency card?
A NSW competency card is a physical and digital card that includes your details, your photo and is valid for 5 years. You are able to download your digital competency card onto your smartphone or tablet.
The competency card demonstrates that you’ve successfully completed the mandatory training required for your role in the liquor and/or gaming industry. You must be able to present your card if requested by the police or compliance officers when working in jobs that require it.
Fines can apply if you are not able to present your competency card.
What is an 'endorsement' or 'competency'?
An 'endorsement' is the proof of training for a given competency that is reflected on the competency card.
The 'competency' is the qualification you have gained, such as the Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA).
A competency card can hold multiple endorsements.
How to apply for and get your card
Does my role require a competency card?
You must have a competency card if you:
- sell, serve, or supply alcohol
- are a licensee of a business
- work with gaming machines, including hotel licensees, club secretaries, and approved managers.
- are a Responsible Gambling Officer
- are a director of a company that owns one or more hotels and have an operational role in the business
- are a club director, unless you have completed a Responsible Gambling Board Oversight (RGBO) course approved by L&GNSW, or
- work as a crowd controller, bouncer, or RSA marshal.
Complete the training required for your role
Visit Get started in training to find out what training you need to do for your job role.
To get your first competency card you must pass at least one of these courses provided by a L&GNSW Approved Training Provider (ATP):
Get started in training will also let you know if additional training such as Licensee Training (LT) or RGBO (this doesn't generate an endorsement on a competency card) is required for your role.
Costs related to your first competency card
When you enrol in the mandatory L&GNSW training for RSA and RCG with an ATP, the cost for your initial competency card is included in their fees so there will be no additional costs.
Fees can differ between ATP's and you will need to contact them directly for more details.
Get an interim certificate
After you have successfully completed the course, your ATP will issue you with an interim certificate. This allows you to work in valid roles for 90 days until you receive your competency card in the mail.
It is recommended you apply for your competency card as soon as possible as it takes between 2-4 weeks to process.
Completing proof of identity check at Service NSW
To apply for a competency card, you will need to visit a Service NSW centre with the following documents:
- Your interim certificate
- 100 points of identification (originals only) as listed on the back of the interim certificate.
Your personal details on the interim certificate should match your identification but if there are any discrepancies, you can discuss this with Service NSW.
After presenting your identification and having your photo taken, your competency card details will be processed.
Download your digital card
The digital competency card is available shortly after your photo is taken at Service NSW and is free and secure for competency card holders.
- Download the Service NSW app to your smartphone via the iTunes® or Google Play™ store
- Once you have the app, you’ll need your competency card holder (CCH) number to add your endorsements. Your CCH number will appear on your competency card and you will receive a transaction receipt from Service NSW.
A digital card:
- is free, quick to download, and legally valid
- is easy to carry, display, update, and renew using your digital devices, and
- can be provided to police and compliance officers for real-time inspections.
Visit Service NSW to learn more about the digital NSW competency card.
NSW competency card with photo
You should receive your NSW competency card in the mail within 2-4 weeks.
If you don’t receive your card within 5 weeks, contact L&GNSW for assistance. You'll need to provide your full name, date of birth and email address for proof of identity purposes.
Using and showing your card
Keep your card handy.
- Always have your physical or digital competency card available when working in jobs that require it
- Be ready to show your competency card to a police officer or compliance officers if requested.
Fines for working without a card
Fines can apply if you are found to be working without a valid competency card (see Fines for working without a NSW competency card).
Updating your card
Use the Competency card self-service portal or Service NSW Mobile App to:
- update your contact details to ensure you receive important notifications and updates (contact Service NSW via their online form if you experience any issues updating your details)
- update your name for changes in marital status or legal name
- order a replacement for lost, stolen or damaged cards (see Lost, stolen or damaged cards below)
- renew your competency card (see Renewing your competency card below).
To access the Competency card self-service portalyou need:
- the CCH number displayed on your competency card, and
- the phone number or email address registered to your competency card (contact L&GNSW if you need assistance).
See Fees related to NSW competency cards
Lost, stolen or damaged cards
- Order a replacement for lost, stolen, or damaged cards in the Competency card self-service portal
- If your competency card is lost or stolen, you will need to report it to the police and L&GNSW.
Renew your competency card
Your competency card will expire after 5 years and it's recommended you renew your card ahead of this expiry date.
It's important to be aware that:
- if you hold more than one endorsement, they all expire 5 years from the earliest endorsement received
- you will need to complete the refresher training within the required timeframe (see What if my card has expired? below)
- L&GNSW cannot extend a competency card expiry date, and
- you may be fined if you continue to work in the liquor and/or gaming industry when your card has expired (see What if my card has expired below? and Fines for working without a valid NSW competency card).
You can renew 90 days before your card expires
You will receive reminders from L&GNSW via email and SMS to renew your endorsements approximately 90 days prior to your competency card expiry date.
See Updating your card above to make sure your contact details are up to date.
Do the refresher course
To renew the endorsements on your competency card, you will need to complete the L&GNSW refresher training. Repeating an initial training course will not renew endorsements on your NSW competency card.
Refresher training must be completed before your competency card expires. If you have completed your proof of identity check at a Service NSW centre before your card expired, there is a 28-day grace period after expiration in which you can complete renewal. You are not able to work in any role that requires a current NSW competency card during this 28-day grace period.
To access the refresher course
The email and SMS from L&GNSW will include links to the refresher training you’re required to complete to renew your competency card.
To read more about the refresher training
The renewal process
You will need to follow the steps below to renew your competency card:
- Complete the relevant refresher course/s and assessments
- Pay the competency card renewal fee. See Fees related to NSW competency cards
- Receive a renewal interim certificate by email
- Access your renewed endorsements on your digital competency card
- Await your new competency card in the mail.
What if my card has expired?
You cannot sell, serve, or supply alcohol or work with gaming machines if your NSW competency card has expired.
Find out what to do, if your card has expired or if you're a former licensee.
If you completed proof of identity with Service NSW before your card expired, there is a 28-day grace period after expiration in which to complete renewal.
You are not able to work in any role that requires a current NSW competency cardduring this grace period.
Once your refresher training has been successfully completed:
- your endorsements are renewed
- your NSW competency card will be current, and
- you can re-commence work.
If you did not complete the proof of identify check with Service NSW during the five years you held a competency card, the 28-day grace period does not apply and you will be required to complete the full training courses for each endorsement through a L&GNSW ATP. See Get started: Training you need for liquor and gaming work in NSW.
If it is more than 28 days since your competency card expired, you will be required to complete the full training courses for each endorsement through a L&GNSW ATP. See Get started: Training you need for liquor and gaming work in NSW.
If you are a former licensee with a competency card that expired within the last 3 years, you can renew your RSA and licensee endorsement by completing Licensee Training only.
Discuss your re-entry into the industry with your ATP when applying to enrol in Licensee Training to ensure the correct steps are followed to re-instate your RSA endorsement.
Contact us
T: 1300 024 720 | Monday to Friday | 9am - 4pm
E:competency.card@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au