Hospitality Skills & Certifications

Essential skills & certifications for hospitality

Build a hospitality career by meeting the certifications employers expect and developing skills that translate directly to the job. In hospitality, hiring decisions are closely tied to compliance, speed, accuracy and readiness to work in live service environments — whether that’s on the floor, behind the bar or in the kitchen. Holding required licences such as RCG, RSA certificates and other relevant certifications signals that you’re prepared to step into service roles without delay.

Hospitality employers prioritise candidates who already hold required licences, understand food and alcohol safety obligations and can perform reliably during busy shifts. Combining the right certifications with practical, job-ready skills puts you in a stronger position to secure shifts, progress faster and access higher-responsibility roles.

Mandatory licences and tickets

Holding the proper licences and tickets makes hospitality roles accessible. Venues operate under strict legal and safety obligations, and employers can only roster staff who meet these requirements. As a result, compliance is often one of the first filters applied during hiring.

Candidates who already hold required certifications are faster to onboard, easier to roster and more likely to be trusted with key shifts. In many venues, having the correct licences directly influences how quickly you can start work, access peak shifts and move into roles with greater responsibility.

Check which licences and tickets you need to work in hospitality roles and prepare before applying.

RSA certificate (Responsible Service of Alcohol)

An RSA certificate is a gateway requirement for alcohol service roles across Australia. Any role involving the sale or service of alcohol — including bars, pubs, restaurants, clubs and licensed venues — requires staff to hold a valid RSA certificate before stepping onto the floor; however, requirements can vary by state/territory. Always check the job ad and your local liquor regulator.

Completing an RSA course prepares you to work confidently in licensed environments by covering:

• Legal responsibilities when serving alcohol
• Identifying intoxication
• Refusing service appropriately
• Understanding venue obligations and penalties

Employers regularly shortlist candidates who already hold an RSA because it removes onboarding delays and compliance risk. Completing a nationally recognised RSA course signals that you’re ready to work alcohol-service shifts from day one.

For added flexibility, many candidates complete an RSA course online, allowing them to meet requirements quickly and apply for hospitality roles without waiting for in-venue training.

RCG (Responsible Conduct of Gambling)

An RCG certificate is required for roles in venues that operate gaming machines, including many pubs and clubs. This certification allows staff to work on gaming floors and supports compliance with gambling regulations.

RCG training focuses on:

• Responsible gambling practices
• Identifying and responding to problem gambling behaviours
• Legal obligations for gaming venues and staff

While not required for all hospitality roles, holding an RCG expands the range of venues you can work in and is often essential for supervisory or gaming-area positions. For candidates aiming to increase shift availability or move into leadership roles, an RCG can open additional opportunities.

Food Safety Supervisor certificate

A Food Safety Supervisor certificate is a key requirement for venues that prepare or serve food. In many states, at least one certified supervisor must be present during trading hours, making this certification highly valuable for kitchen and management roles.

This training covers:

• Safe food handling and storage
• Hygiene and contamination prevention
• Temperature control and food safety procedures
• Identifying and managing food safety risks

For kitchen staff, chefs and venue managers, holding a Food Safety Supervisor Certificate improves employability and supports progression into roles with greater responsibility. Venues often prioritise candidates who can help meet compliance requirements without additional training.

Hospitality courses and training

Hospitality training helps candidates stand out in competitive venues and move into specialised or higher-responsibility roles more quickly. While not all training is mandatory, completing relevant courses shows employers you’re prepared, proactive and ready to contribute from your first shift.

Barista course

A barista course provides structured, hands-on training in coffee preparation, equipment use and workflow management. For candidates targeting café roles, completing a barista course helps shorten the learning curve and improves confidence before stepping behind the machine.

Barista training supports faster entry into café roles by helping candidates:

• Develop espresso fundamentals and milk texturing skills
• Understand consistency and quality standards expected in service
• Manage workflow during busy periods

Employers often prioritise applicants who can step straight onto the coffee machine with minimal supervision, making barista training a practical advantage when applying for café roles.

Additional hospitality training

Beyond RSA certificates and role-specific courses, additional hospitality training can expand the types of venues you can work in and support progression into supervisory or leadership roles. Employers commonly value candidates who bring broader operational awareness to the team. Training that can strengthen employability includes:

• Basic food handling certificates
• Customer service training
• First aid certification
• Leadership or supervisory short courses

While not always required, these courses signal readiness to take on responsibility, support others on shift and move into roles with greater scope over time.

Essential skills for hospitality roles

Hospitality skills determine how quickly someone earns trust, secures consistent shifts and progresses into higher-responsibility roles. Employers look closely at how candidates perform during live service, particularly in busy environments where speed, judgement and awareness directly affect customers and team outcomes. These are the same capabilities often developed through hands-on training, such as a barista course, and refined through real-world service experience.

Speed and efficiency

Hospitality venues run on momentum. Speed matters because service delays quickly compound during peak periods, affecting customers, staff and overall venue flow. Employers value workers who move with purpose, anticipate what’s needed next and complete tasks efficiently without cutting corners. This includes clearing tables quickly between seatings, preparing drinks in sequence to avoid bottlenecks and maintaining pace without sacrificing accuracy or presentation.

Memory and attention to detail

Strong memory allows hospitality workers to keep track of orders, table numbers, dietary requirements and service timing without constant prompts. Attention to detail shows up in small but important ways: sending out the correct dish, preparing drinks to spec or noticing when something is missing before it becomes a problem. Employers rely on these skills to reduce errors, minimise rework and maintain consistent service standards across busy shifts.

Multitasking under pressure

Hospitality roles often require managing several priorities at once, especially during peak service. Multitasking might involve handling new orders while completing existing ones, adjusting workflow when staff are pulled away or responding to customer needs without disrupting service flow. Employers look for people who can prioritise tasks logically, stay calm when demands stack up and adapt quickly as conditions change on the floor or in the kitchen.

Communication in live service environments

Clear communication is critical in hospitality because timing and accuracy depend on it. During service, information needs to move quickly between front-of-house and back-of-house teams, particularly when orders change, issues arise or service pace shifts. Strong communicators give clear instructions, confirm details when needed and keep messages concise, helping teams stay aligned without slowing service.

Customer awareness and judgment

Hospitality work involves reading situations as much as following processes. Customer awareness includes recognising when tables need attention, knowing when to step in to resolve an issue and adjusting service style based on the environment. Employers value staff who can manage customer expectations calmly, handle concerns professionally and contribute to experiences that encourage repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth.

Building resume

Hospitality employers scan resumes quickly. Clear presentation of licences, certifications and job-ready skills helps your application pass initial screening and shows you’re ready to be rostered without delays. Many venues also use basic ATS or filtering tools, making structure and wording important.

Best practice for hospitality resumes includes:

• Listing licences and certificates near the top, such as an RSA Certificate or Food Safety Supervisor Certificate, so employers can immediately confirm compliance
• Including completion dates for recent training, which reassures employers your certification is current and valid
• Highlighting role-specific skills under each position, linking tasks you’ve performed to the role you’re applying for (for example, coffee workflow, service pacing or food safety practices)
• Using the same language found in job ads, such as “barista experience”, “alcohol service” or “food safety knowledge”, to improve relevance during screening

Clear, relevant presentation reduces back-and-forth during hiring and increases confidence that you can step into shifts quickly.

Upskilling for career growth

Hospitality progression is often tied to capability rather than time served. Upskilling allows workers to access busier shifts, specialised roles and leadership opportunities by expanding what they can safely and confidently take responsibility for.

Common upskilling pathways include:

• Advanced barista or beverage training
• Supervisory and management courses
• Commercial cookery qualifications
• Food safety and compliance refreshers

As responsibilities increase, employers expect stronger operational understanding alongside service skills. Upskilling signals readiness for broader scope, higher accountability and improved earning potential.

Build job-ready skills with CareerOne

Understanding which skills and certifications employers look for makes it easier to target the right roles and apply with confidence. CareerOne brings hospitality opportunities together in one place, helping jobseekers connect with cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels and venues nationwide.

Use CareerOne to explore roles that align with your current certifications, see which licences and training employers expect — including options like completing an RSA course online — and access guidance on roles and responsibilities, salary and career progression to help you plan your next move.