OREGON OLCC PERMIT
Frequently Asked Questions
Craft Serving is here to help you get an OLCC Permit to serve alcohol in Oregon. Browse through these FAQ's to find answers to commonly raised questions about Alcohol Server Education (ASE).
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OLCC Permits
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) requires an OLCC Permit be obtained by anyone who mixes, serves, sells or supervises the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption at liquor licensed establishments. This can include business owners, managers, bartenders, servers, cashiers and even volunteers. Additionally, anyone who fills growlers for off-premises consumption must have an OLCC Permit.
You must obtain an OLCC Permit before your first day mixing, serving or selling alcohol.
Step #1: Take the course.
Step #2: Pass the exam.
Step #3: Print your permit.
Yes, there are different ways to approach getting an OLCC Permit. Each way comes with a time limit you should be aware of.
- You can take an Alcohol Server Education class before you submit your Service Permit Application. If you take your class first, the class is good for two years. You may apply for a permit any time within those two years.
- You can submit your Service Permit Application before you take an Alcohol Server Education class. If you submit your application first, you have 45 days to complete the course and pass the final exam.
The benefit to submitting your application first is that immediately after you submit the application, you receive a "temporary" OLCC Permit that allows you to begin serving alcohol. However, the drawback to submitting your application first is that you will need to work within a shorter time frame to complete a course and pass the final exam.
If you wait too long to take the final exam, you are going to have to submit another Service Permit Application on the OLCC's online portal, but new rules will apply to your second application. While you will have to repay the application fee of $26.85, this time, you will not be eligible for another "temporary" OLCC Permit. You will have to complete an approved course, pass the final exam and then wait for the OLCC to issue your "five year" OLCC Permit before you can serve alcohol.
After you submit your Service Permit Application, you will automatically be able to print or download a copy of a "temporary" OLCC Permit that enables you to begin working. The permit is temporary because the OLCC still needs to review your application. The review process includes the following:
- Confirming that you meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years.
- Confirming that your criminal background meets the eligibility requirements.
- Confirming that you have not previously had an OLCC Permit revoked.
- Confirming that you completed an Alcohol Server Education class and passed the OLCC's final exam.
Once your application is reviewed and approved, the OLCC will send you an email to let you know you can log in to the online portal and print or download a copy of your "five year" OLCC Permit!
Immediately after you submit and pay for a Service Permit Application, the OLCC will issue you a "temporary" OLCC Permit. The temporary permit is intended to give you a grace period that allows you to work while the OLCC reviews your application. Once your application is approved, you will receive another, "final" OLCC Permit that is valid for five full years.
If your unexpired OLCC Permit is lost or stolen, you can replace it for free.
If you submitted your Service Permit Application through the OLCC's new online portal, then you can log into your account and reprint a copy of your permit.
If you did not submit your Service Permit Application through the OLCC's online portal, you will need to contact the OLCC's office and request a copy of your permit. Requests can be made by phone at 503-872-5200 or by email at [email protected].
Go to the OLCC's online portal and login to your account. In your user dashboard under "My Permits," select the "Change" button and begin filling out the information for a new Service Permit Application. Name and gender changes require you to also upload updated photo identification reflecting the change.
Requests to change account information can take a minimum of 10 business days for processing. Please check your user dashboard within 10-14 business days to print a revised OLCC Permit, if approved.
Your OLCC Permit is good for five years from the date of issuance. Every five years, you are required to reapply for an OLCC Permit through the OLCC's online portal. You may reapply up to six months prior to your permit's expiration. In order to renew your permit, you are also required to retake an approved Oregon Alcohol Server Education Class. A separate renewal class is no longer being offered.
Yes, the minimum age to receive an OLCC Permit is 18 years old.
If you are between 18 and 20 years old, there are restrictions on what you can do. You are not allowed to work during hours prohibited to minors. Additionally, you are not allowed to work in areas prohibited to minors unless it is order/pick-up drinks for service in areas not prohibited to minors, clear tables, stock supplies and deliver food.
You will receive a "Minor Permit" if you are 18 to 20 years old. This permit allows you to:
- Take alcohol orders.
- Deliver alcoholic beverages.
- Draw alcohol from a tap.
- Pour alcohol into a customer's glass at the customer's table.
- Sell alcohol.
Once you turn 21, restrictions no longer apply and you can automatically start performing the duties included in the Adult Permit.
You will receive an "Adult Permit" if you are 21 years of age and older. This permit allows you to:
- Perform all the duties included in the Minor Permit.
- Mix drinks.
- Manage the establishment.
- Supervise a minor permittee (note: at least one adult permittee must be on duty at all times).
Yes. Any time you mix, serve, sell or supervise the sale of alcohol at a licensed premises, you must have:
- Your OLCC Permit on the licensed premises; and
- One form of identification (to view acceptable forms of ID, check out the FAQ entitled, "WHAT FORMS OF ID CAN I ACCEPT IN OREGON?").
By law, both the permit and a form of identification must be available for immediate inspection by any representative of the OLCC, peace office or law enforcement.
The Course
In 1987, Oregon Legislature passed a new law to institute a mandatory Alcohol Server Education (ASE) program. The program was founded on the idea that educating alcohol servers helps reduce the number of intoxicated drivers and the incidences of underage drinking.
Yes, the content of this online course has been reviewed and approved by the OLCC.
This course is compatible with most phones, tablets, computers and operating systems. However, for the best user experience, we recommend that you complete the course on either a desktop computer, laptop or tablet. If you find it is not compatible with your device, we will issue you a full refund.
This course usually takes 2-3 hours to complete. However, the course is self-paced so you do not have to complete it in one sitting. You may log-off mid-course and resume the course anytime you choose.
Of all the course providers, we offer one of the most generous terms for course access! Access to the course is allowed for 120 days from the purchase date, however, unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Nobody wants old, unused accounts hanging around online.
The course is currently on sale for $20.00 $16.00. Once you enroll in the course, you will be asked to create an account and pay the $20.00 $16.00 fee.
The Final Exam
No. The OLCC requires students to take a certified course AND pass the final exam in order to receive an OLCC Permit. Students must take a course and pass the exam whether they are getting an OLCC Permit for the first time or renewing an OLCC Permit.
The OLCC's final exam consists of 50 questions. You must score 70% or higher to pass; this equates to 35 correct answers out of 50.
In order to help ensure students pass the final exam, Craft Serving's course content was written and developed with the OLCC's final exam questions in mind. Consequently, the course teaches to the final exam as much as possible and oftentimes, bolded sections pertain to information that will be covered in the exam.
First, let's recap. After you submit your Service Permit Application on the OLCC's online portal, you have 45 days to complete an approved course and pass the final exam.
If you waited too long to take the final exam, then we've got some bad news for you. You are going to have to submit another Service Permit Application on the OLCC's online portal, but new rules will apply to your second application.
While you will have to repay the application fee of $26.85, this time, you will not be eligible for another "temporary" OLCC Permit. You will have to complete an approved course, pass the final exam and then wait for the OLCC to issue your "five year" OLCC Permit before you can serve alcohol again.
Lastly, after you complete an approved course, the course is good for two years. So if you completed a course, but waited too long to take the final exam, you won't be required to take a second course as long as the date on your course Certification of Completion is still within two years.
If you did not pass the exam, don't worry, you are allowed to retake it for free as many times as needed until achieving a passing score. You may retake it at any time within 45 days of submitting your Service Permit Application. If you do not pass within 45 days, your application will be denied. Once denied, you must submit and pay for a new application.
Although the OLCC does not provide you with the opportunity to review the questions you got wrong, you can still log back into your account with Craft Serving to review topics that need additional clarification.
Within 14 days of passing the exam and submitting a Service Permit Application, the OLCC will review your application. Once it is reviewed and approved, the OLCC will send you an email to let you know you can log in to the online portal and print or download a copy of your "five year" OLCC Permit!
About Craft Serving
Designed by Alcohol Servers, for Alcohol Servers!
Before we were Alcohol Server Education providers, we were bartenders. As bartenders, we took pride in what we did and placed emphasis on craft and skill. We loved every aspect of bartending except Alcohol Server Education. The online courses we took seemed poorly organized, outdated and out-of-touch with the issues alcohol servers actually face. And, although we had a good relationship with our local inspector from the liquor control board, we also felt like the information we received from the state was not always clear or practical.
Consequently, we set out to help bridge the gap by creating a new, modern course that makes Alcohol Server Education as painless as possible.
- To start, our course builds upon itself. This may seem like a basic concept, but for some reason, it is something many of our competitors have yet to figure out.
- Our course incorporates a variety of visual and interactive tools to create an entertaining and engaging learning environment.
- Our course teaches the basics of Alcohol Server Education in a clear, concise format so you can easily recall information from the course long after you have completed it.
By the end of your training, we hope you will feel confident in your ability to serve alcohol responsibly and be committed to upholding liquor laws, even under challenging circumstances!
We think it is very important to support charitable organizations that give back to alcohol servers within the food and beverage community!
That is why we are a proud member of the United State Bartenders' Guild and supporter of the USBG National Charity Foundation. The foundation is committed to advancing the lifelong stability & wellbeing of service industry professionals through education & charitable activities. Click here to learn more and find out how you can get involved too.
If you know of another cause that is worth supporting, please share it with us. We are always interested in learning about more opportunities to get connected with the local community and expand our giving.
We are required to collect your personal information and then pass it on to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) after you finish the online course. The OLCC then matches the information we provide to your account within the online portal. In doing so, it is able to confirm that you completed a certified Alcohol Server Education Class.
For more information, check out the FAQ entitled, "WHAT IS THE OLCC'S ROLE IN ALCOHOL SERVER EDUCATION (ASE)?"
Although we work hard to try and provide you with the best online Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training program available, we know sometimes things don't go as planned.
We are committed to making sure you have a positive experience with Craft Serving. If you decide you need a refund for any reason, please contact us and we would be happy to assist.
To view our full Refund Policy located within our Terms and Conditions, just click here.
Our Privacy Policy discloses the way we use and manage your data. To sum up the policy, we are committed to maintaining and securing your privacy.
- We don't ask for your personal information unless we truly need it.
- We don't store your personal information unless it's required for our services.
- We don't share your personal information except to comply with the law, to provide services and to protect our rights.
To view our complete Privacy Policy, just click here.
Our Terms and Conditions outline our relationship with you by providing a description of your rights and responsibilities as a user of our website. Before purchasing an online course, you will be required to abide by this agreement.
To view our full Terms and Conditions, just click here.
About The OLCC
"OLCC" stands for Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is the state agency that regulates the manufacture, sale and use of alcoholic beverages and cannabis products in Oregon.
The OLCC oversees the ASE program by working closely with ASE providers.
- It certifies ASE providers after reviewing and approving their course.
- It coordinates with ASE providers to collect student information.
- It communicates with ASE providers to help resolve customer service issues.
- It monitors ASE providers to ensure they are meeting expectations.
For more information, the OLCC can be reached via its Contact Us page.
OLCC's mission is to support businesses, public safety, and community livability through education and the enforcement of liquor and cannabis laws.
Oregon Liquor Laws
In Oregon, the legal hours to sell, serve or consume alcohol are from 7:00 AM to 2:30 AM.
Licensees and permittees must not consume alcohol or be under the influence of any intoxicants while on duty. "On duty" refers to the beginning of a work shift to the end of the shift, and it includes all breaks in between.
While on duty, an adult permittee may be allowed to taste beer (malt beverages), wine or cider if all of the following conditions are met:
- The licensee/owner allows it.
- Servings are one ounce or less and not more than 6 ounces total in any given day.
- Tasting is for educational purposes or to ensure product is not flawed.
- The alcohol is tasted between 7:00 AM and 2:30 AM.
As an employee, you may be entitled to a "shift drink." If this is the case, you must drink it after 7:00 AM and before 2:30 AM, but not while you are on duty, on a break or about to go on duty.
If you do not obtain an OLCC Permit before your first day mixing, serving or selling alcohol, you can be administratively punished by the OLCC. Penalties include a permit suspension and/or monetary fine. Additionally, your employer can also receive a liquor license suspension and/or monetary fine.
Multiple, repeated violations can result in you getting your OLCC Permit revoked and your employer getting his or her liquor license revoked.
Yes. Persons with disabilities are allowed to purchase, possess, and consume alcohol under the same conditions as anyone else. The person must be 21 or over and not show signs of intoxication.
Certain disabilities can affect a person's speech or motor skills. This can cause a disabled person to exhibit behavior that is similar to that of an intoxicated person. Consequently, you should get to know your customers to make sure that any refusal of alcohol service is based on their state of sobriety, not a disability.
If the parent shows no signs of intoxication, there is no law that prevents you from selling alcohol to someone 21 and over. However, you may refuse service if you have reason to believe the parent intends to supply alcohol to the minor child.
No, it is against the law for a person under 21 to purchase alcohol. This law stands regardless of who actually consumes the alcohol.
As a server, you may want to keep in mind that a receipt could be used as physical evidence to support allegations that you furnished alcohol to a minor.
The OLCC recognizes six types of IDs as "stand-alone" forms of identification. They are known as stand-alone because each alone is sufficient proof of age and identity.
- U.S. State Driver License
- U.S. State ID Card
- U.S. Military ID Card
- Passport or Passport ID Card
- Federally Recognized Tribal ID Card
- SENTRI and NEXUS Cards
If a customer does not have a stand-alone form of ID, you may accept two forms of alternative ID.
- The first form of ID must be descriptive. It must be "official" and include the person's name, address, date of birth, signature and photo or physical description. Examples include a federal employee ID card, a resident alien card and a college student body card.
- The second form of ID must be supportive and further prove the person's identity. Examples include a credit card, personalized checks or mail addressed to the person. Many people carrying fake ID do not have a supportive piece of ID.
- If your establishment chooses to accept alternative forms of ID, you are legally required to complete an OLCC Statement of Age Card.
Craft Serving would like to provide you with a PDF of Acceptable Forms of ID in the State of Oregon. Feel free to print it and put it up at your establishment or download it to keep it handy on your phone.
The OLCC says that interim drivers licenses are considered a legal form of identification. But Oregon law also allows places that sell alcohol to reject them. Only police officers checking a person's driving privileges are required to accept the paper cards.
Please visit our Contact Us page and let us know how we can help.