South Carolina's mandate went live in 2026
Is alcohol server training required in South Carolina now?
Yes. H.3430 was signed in May 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026, and SCDOR Information Letter #26-7 pushed enforcement to 2 March 2026 — a date that has now passed. Every employee who serves alcohol for on-premises consumption 10 or more hours a week, plus managers and supervisors, must complete an SCDOR-approved programme.
How long do new hires get?
Thirty days. Licensees must also keep each certificate on the premises and produce it to SCDOR or SLED on demand, so the certificate is not just a personal credential — it is a document the venue has to be able to hand over during an inspection.
What did the law say about how training is delivered?
Two things worth knowing. Training must be delivered online, and the fee charged to the attendee is capped at 50 dollars. South Carolina deliberately built a low-cost, online-only market rather than a classroom one.
Can I take this course to satisfy it?
Not yet. SCDOR publishes the approved provider list and Certification Experts is not currently on it — the approved programmes are A+ Server Education, Alcohol Seller Server Training, CertReady, Rserving, SC Server Training, ServSafe Alcohol, 360training and LIQUORexam. Use this course as preparation and as ongoing staff education; take an SCDOR-approved programme for the certificate your employer has to file.