How to Keep Your RMLV Certificate Current in Queensland

For Queensland-approved managers, individual liquor licensees and some permit holders, a current Responsible Management of Licensed Venues certificate is an important part of meeting liquor licensing requirements.

When you’re managing staff, rosters, suppliers, customers and the everyday demands of a licensed venue, it’s understandable that renewal dates may not always be front of mind.

The good news is that staying current doesn’t need to be complicated. Knowing which dates to check, keeping the right records together and allowing some time to book your training can make the process much easier.

How Long Does an RMLV Certificate Last in Queensland?

An RMLV certificate remains current for three years from the date it is issued.

The Queensland Government advises certificate holders to renew their training before their current certificate expires. Once the three-year period has passed, the RMLV course needs to be completed again for a new certificate to be issued.

There isn’t an automatic renewal process, so it helps to know your certificate’s issue date and plan ahead.

Your certificate should clearly show when it was issued. Adding three years to that date will give you the end of its currency period.

For example, if your certificate was issued on 15 September 2023, its three-year currency period will end in September 2026.

RMLV Certificate and Approved Manager Licence: What’s the Difference?

The RMLV certificate and Approved Manager licence are connected, but they’re not the same thing.

Your RMLV certificate confirms that you have completed the required Responsible Management of Licensed Venues training. It remains current for three years.

Your Approved Manager licence is the separate approval issued by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation that allows you to act as an approved manager. Approved Manager licences generally remain current for five years.

Because these two requirements operate on different timeframes, their renewal dates may not line up.

This means it’s possible for an Approved Manager licence to still be within its five-year period while the related RMLV certificate has reached the end of its three-year currency period.

Keeping both dates together in the same calendar or compliance system can make them much easier to manage.

You can also find more information in the ITS article on approved manager compliance requirements.

If you did your RMLV course with ITS you should receive a reminder before your certificate expires

What Happens If an RMLV Certificate Expires?

If compliance officers from OLGR visit your venue and you are the Approved Manager, they will ask to see your current RMLV certificate

A current RMLV certificate is part of the eligibility requirements for acting as an approved manager.

When a certificate is no longer current, completing the RMLV course again is the practical next step. It’s worth arranging this as soon as possible, particularly when the person is included in the venue’s approved manager roster.

For venues, an expired certificate may also affect whether there are enough appropriately approved managers available to cover ordinary and extended trading hours.

Rather than waiting until the date is close, many managers find it helpful to start looking at course options around 60 to 90 days before the certificate is due to expire.

That provides time to choose a suitable course without having to work around limited dates at short notice.

A Simple RMLV Currency Check

A quick review can help you understand where things currently stand.

Consider checking:

Who Needs an RMLV Certificate?

The Queensland Government states that current RMLV certification is required for:

Whether approved manager requirements apply at a particular venue may depend on the venue’s licence type, trading hours and level of risk.

There are exemptions for certain low-risk premises. These may include some restaurants, cafés, smaller community clubs and other premises covered by specific licence or permit types.

For example, some low-risk venues that don’t trade after midnight may not be required to have an individual licensee or approved manager present or reasonably available during ordinary trading hours.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that RMLV training isn’t relevant to the licensee or other people involved in managing the venue.

Licence conditions can vary, so it’s worth confirming the requirements that apply to your particular venue. The ITS team can help you understand whether RMLV training is likely to be appropriate, or you can check directly with OLGR.

Do You Need RSA as Well as RMLV?

People completing RMLV training don’t also need to undertake a separate Responsible Service of Alcohol course.

RSA content is already included in the RMLV course.

This applies to the individual completing RMLV training. Other staff involved in the sale, supply or service of alcohol may still need to complete the appropriate RSA course for their role.

However, the RMLV certificate is not actually an RSA certificate – if you show OLGR your current RMLV certificate they will not need you to have an RSA certificate, but internal policy with the majority of venues is they will still need you to have a separate RSA certificate which they will want to keep on file

Why Renewing RMLV Can Still Be Valuable for Experienced Managers

Renewing your RMLV is a licensing requirement, but it can also provide a useful opportunity to step back from the daily pace of venue operations.

The course revisits the practical responsibilities involved in managing a licensed venue, including:

Queensland’s RMLV training materials have also been updated over time to reflect changes to legislation, licence types and venue safety guidance.

For experienced managers, the benefit is often less about learning everything from the beginning and more about checking that current venue practices continue to line up with current requirements.

Choose an RMLV Course That Works for You

The Queensland Government requires RMLV courses to run for a minimum of 10 hours.

ITS delivers the course in a convenient one-day format, with options designed to work around different locations, teams and operating schedules.

These include:

Online courses are available from $290, while in-person and onsite options are also available.

The course format gives participants the opportunity to work through the required material with an experienced trainer and consider how it applies within their own workplace.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Your RMLV Still Current?

Taking a few minutes to check your certificate now can give you more options when it’s time to renew.

A calendar reminder, an accessible copy of the certificate and a little notice before booking may be all that’s needed to avoid a last-minute rush.

When you’re ready, ITS can help you choose an online, in-person or onsite RMLV course that suits your schedule and venue.

References

Business Queensland. (2026). Approved managers and wine nominees for licensed premises. Queensland Government.

Business Queensland. (2022). Guideline 43: Approved managers. Queensland Government.

Business Queensland. (2026). Responsible management of licensed venues (RMLV) training. Queensland Government.

Industry Training Services. (n.d.). OLGR highlights approved manager compliance.

Industry Training Services. (n.d.). RMLV courses QLD: Renew or obtain your RMLV online or in person.