South Carolina
Alcohol Server Training
South Carolina Bartender License
- Meets 2026 South Carolina Requirement
- Approved For SC Code Section 61-3-120(B)
- Mobile Friendly | No Timers
- Price Includes Proctored Exam Cost
- No Additional Software Downloads
South Carolina Alcohol Training
Meets 2026 SCDOR Requirement
As of January 9, 2026, Serving Alcohol Inc. is the first training provider to meet the new 2026 requirement by the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Our course is a state-approved provider for the new on-premise course, and the South Carolina ABL will publish Serving Alcohol Inc. as a state-approved provider.
Anyone who works at least 10 hours a week serving alcohol for on-premises consumption and managers who oversee alcohol service must complete our state-approved server training program by March 2, 2026, or within 30 days of employment.
Note: Any other training provider’s course certification from last year will not be accepted by the state of South Carolina for on-premises servers. Other training courses offered may be acceptable for off-premises settings, such as convenience stores and grocery stores.
This alcohol training requirement is a result of a South Carolina legislation’s law passed in 2025.
Our new 2026 South Carolina alcohol training course has been accepted and state-approved to meet the new laws of the State of South Carolina for on-premise servers.
An Online Proctored Exam Is Required By The State
The proctored exam component is easiest to use on a laptop or PC. You can take the final exam on your smartphone, but the controls are not fully optimized for mobile devices. You can study the entire course on your iPhone or Android device and, when you are ready, take the exam on your computer or laptop.
What Does Proctor Mean?
Basically, someone will be overseeing you while you take the exam (hence, the need for a camera on your device). Click the link below for compatible phones, tablets, laptops, computers, and web browsers.
Compatible Computers, Devices & Web Browsers
The proctoring component is scored based on the frequency of distractions or on camera obscuration that prevents the proctor from seeing your face. This will trigger a manual review of the session. Please refrain from obscuring your face with your hands while taking the final exam (especially if you are using a handheld device, as your hand can interfere with the camera as you select your responses).
A short video, available within the course before the exam, provides detailed information on the proctoring process. It is highly recommended to watch the tutorial video on taking the proctored exam successfully. It is recommended to use a computer or laptop with a camera to take the proctored exam.
Who Should Take Our
South Carolina Alcohol Training
- Bartenders
- Servers and Waitstaff
- Door Security Guard
- Bar Supervisors
- Bar Managers
- Bar Owners
- Nightclub Bartenders & Managers
- Any Person Who Serves Alcohol
do you need a bartending license in south carolina?
Yes, as of 2026, South Carolina requires a state-approved South Carolina bartending license for on-premise alcohol service or anyone who serves alcohol within the state. All businesses and establishments that offer alcohol service MUST have each person certified by an approved training provider.
They will need your staff to remain current with state rules, regulations, and laws regarding the service of alcohol. As a result, more businesses require our alcohol training certificate as a condition of employment.
In addition to the proctoring of this now-mandatory course, there were significant changes to South Carolina State Laws that impact servers and businesses that sell and serve alcohol. Prior courses do not contain up-to-date or accurate information regarding the new state laws and are not approved by the state for those who serve alcohol.
According to the new laws in South Carolina, this course requires a mandatory proctored final exam.
Under the authority of SC Code Section 61-3-120(C), alcohol server training programs and
examinations:
- must be offered online, and
- must be monitored by an online proctor
There are additional costs associated with mandatory proctoring, which is why the price is higher than the one we offered last year. However, we were able to maintain the price below the $50 threshold that the state had published.
The course cost includes the proctored exam. (You do not have to pay for the proctoring separately; that is included in the price of the course.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to serve alcohol in South Carolina?
Do You Need A License To Serve Alcohol In South Carolina?
Yes, anyone who serves alcohol in a South Carolina-licensed establishment must be trained in South Carolina alcohol service through a state-approved course, as stated in SC Code Section 61-3-120(B).
South Carolina General Assembly bill H. 3430, effective Jan. 1, 2026, requires employees who serve alcohol to complete a South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR)-approved alcohol server training program to qualify for mitigation and compliance. Following the completion of an approved program, employees must visit the SCDOR website (dor.sc.gov/AlcoholServerCertificate) to acquire a state-issued ABL Server License.
Who Needs Training?
o Anyone who serves alcohol for on-premises consumption
o Managers who oversee alcohol service
Training must be completed within 30 days of employment.
Important:
o Training must be taken online. Classroom training is not accepted in South Carolina.
o The exam for this certificate must be proctored.
o Seven days after earning your alcohol certification, you will be able to get your state-issued ABL Server license from the SCDOR – MyDORWAY website (dor.sc.gov/AlcoholServerCertificate).
Search for Your Certificate
o From the MyDORWAY portal, enter your first name, last name, and Serving Alcohol certificate number (It’s on your certificate. If you need help locating it, Contact Us, and we will help).
o You will need to include the SRV code with the certificate number (no spaces).
Save or Print Your South Carolina Alcohol Server Certificate
o Servers are required to keep a digital or physical copy of the certificate while serving alcohol.
o Licensees must maintain a copy of the certificate for the duration of the server’s employment.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Bartending License In South Carolina?
Our online alcohol certification course is self-paced. For most people, the course takes approximately two to three hours to complete alson with the proctored exam.
What is a proctored Exam?
Basically, proctored means that someone will be overseeing you while you take the exam. Think of it as someone who is looking over your shoulder while answering the exam questions. The proctoring component is a requirement by the South Carolina Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL). The proctored exam component is easiest to use on a laptop or PC. You can take the final exam on your smartphone, but the controls are not fully optimized for mobile devices. You can study the entire course on your iPhone or Android device and, when you are ready, take the exam on your computer or laptop.
The proctoring component is scored based on the frequency of distractions or when the camera is obscured, preventing the proctor from seeing your face. This will trigger a manual review of the session. Please refrain from obscuring your face with your hands while taking the final exam (especially if you are using a handheld device, as your hand can interfere with the camera as you select your responses).
A short video, available within the course before the exam, provides detailed information on the proctoring process. It is highly recommended to watch the tutorial within the course about how to successfully take the proctored exam.
The proctoring component is new for both you and us. Our support staff is available to answer any questions you may have. If you do not successfully complete this course by March 1, 2026, you will be out of compliance with the state.
How Long Is A South Carolina Bartending License Valid?
Upon completing our course, your South Carolina certification will be valid for 3 years.
What Are The South Carolina Liquor Laws And Statutes Regarding The Service Of Alcohol?
In South Carolina, you must follow the provisions of the Alcohol Beverage Control Act (ABC ACT) found in the South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 61, Chapter 6, Section 61. Our course thoroughly covers all the necessary information and more.
Why Should I Take South Carolina Alcohol Server Training?
The South Carolina Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL), as of January 2026, requires a state-approved alcohol certification. Along with complying with state law, alcohol training also reduces your employer‘s risks. Alcohol server training will minimize your own liability. In South Carolina, a server can face 30 days in prison and a $200-300 fine for a first offense of selling alcohol to a minor.
We have given tips training on responsible alcohol service and certified tens of thousands of individuals and businesses over the last 40 years. Our South Carolina bartending license certification course is created by former bar and restaurant managers, bartenders, and servers. Our training incorporates decades of research. Over the decades, we have worked diligently with state departments and liability lawyers to create the most reputable and recommended alcohol certification training. For those new to bartending, we have some helpful bartender career statistics that are worth your time getting to know.
What Is The Social Host Law In South Carolina?
South Carolina courts have generally held that a social host who serves alcohol at a private event to an adult who then causes an accident is not responsible for the resulting damages unless the alcohol was sold to the guest at a “cash bar.” The rationale behind this policy is that private individuals are not trained to identify the signs of intoxication in an adult as bartenders and servers in a bar or restaurant should be.
A social host who serves alcohol to someone under the age of 21, however, can be held liable for all damages resulting from a vehicle accident caused by that driver, including injuries to the driver, whose age the host can quickly ascertain by asking for identification. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by either an underage driver served by a social host or an adult who a social host sold alcohol, you may submit a claim for your damages to the at-fault party’s homeowner’s insurance company or file a lawsuit if the insurer does not offer a fair settlement.
Who Controls Liquor Licensing In South Carolina?
The South Carolina Department of Revenue Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL) division controls liquor licenses in South Carolina.
South Carolina Department of Revenue Alcohol Beverage Licensing (ABL)
PO Box 125
Columbia, SC 29214-0907
Phone: 803-898-5864
Email: ABL@dor.sc.gov