Ask the Expert: Training

No qualifications are required to be a Premises Licence holder.

If you are to be the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) or in Scotland the Designated Premises Manager (DPM) you must have successfully passed either the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (NCPLH) or Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Managers (SCPLM).  This will allow you to apply for a Personal Licence and then you can be named on the Premises Licence in the above capacity, i.e. in charge of the pub.

No - in England and Wales only the Designated Premises Supervisor must have a Personal Licence and therefore a qualification.  We would however recommend that you have more than one Personal Licence holder at each premises so as to provide cover for any unforeseen emergencies.

In Scotland the situation is more complex, for the Designated Premises Manager the position is the same as England but all staff must receive 2 hours training before starting work at a premises.  This can be either the BII qualification, Scottish Certificate for Licensed Premises staff or it can be provided by the Personal Licence holder.  For details as to the areas required to be covered please contact one of our licensing solicitors.

Both courses last one day (9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.), at the end of which there is a 40 minute examination.

The examination lasts 40 minutes and is multi-choice.

The pass mark is 70% or 28 out of 40.

Our pass rate for candidates who did the National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders in 2009 is 98%, and for the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders it is 100%.

In England - No.  The National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders remains valid forever and will simply need to be reproduced on renewal of your Personal Licence.

In Scotland - Yes.  You must retake the Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder every 5 years.  If you do not do so with in 3 months of expiry, your Personal Licence will automatically lapse and you will not be able to be the Designated Premises Manager and lawfully sell alcohol.

In Scotland all staff must do 2 hours training before starting work, which covers certain prescribed areas of law.  Contact one of our licensing solicitors for details.

In England there is no mandatory requirement for training of staff but it is in your own interest to do so.  The key areas are sales to under age and drunks, details of what you are licensed for and when and what conditions are on your Licence.  If your require help with training, please speak to one of our licensing solicitors for details.