How to get a Tennessee ABC server permit

The steps

1. Take an approved course. The course must be a TABC-approved alcohol server training program, in person or online. Approved programs include at least three and a half hours of instruction and end with a test you need 70 percent to pass.
2. Keep your certificate. It shows your name, the training program, and your completion date. It is not a permit, and it can be used to apply for one year from the completion date.
3. Apply through RLPS. RLPS is the state's online licensing and permitting system. Create an account, submit the server permit application, and pay the $20 state fee directly to the state.
4. Give your employer a copy. Once issued, your employer has to keep a copy of your permit on file. The digital permit in the MyTN wallet counts.

What the course covers

Tennessee's rule sets the minimum curriculum for every approved program: how alcohol affects the body, recognizing when to step in, handling intoxicated or underage guests without a confrontation, current Tennessee alcohol laws, and how to check identification.

If you fail the test

You can schedule a second test within 30 days. If you don't pass or don't retest in that window, you have to take the whole course again.

Before you start

• You must be at least 18, or 21 to serve at a venue that permits smoking.
• Certain recent convictions, or a permit revoked within the last five years, can disqualify you. Approved courses explain these at the start and offer a refund if you decide not to continue.
• New servers who have never held a permit may be able to work for up to 61 days while they get one. Here's who qualifies.

Taking the course through EasyABC TN

We're building an online course, but it has not been submitted to TABC for approval yet, so you can't use it for a permit today. Here's what we're planning.