TIPS FAQs

Our trainers conduct their training independently, so the cost of classroom training varies by trainer and location. Sessions are typically three to five hours in length, depending upon the training jurisdiction

A virtual TIPS session is where a certified trainer conducts a LIVE TIPS class remotely using a video/web conferencing platform.

You can check your current TIPS status online. You will be required to register on our website. Once registered, you will then be able to search our certification records by answering a few simple questions. This information is secure and is used only to verify your certification information.

Yes, TIPS is available in your area. Both classroom and online training are available across the country and in most places worldwide.

Anyone can be trained in the TIPS program. However, some jurisdictions regulate server training. Select your state for more information about whether TIPS is accepted in your area.

After you exit the course, you may return with the following instructions:

• Go to the TIPS homepage
• Click the LOGIN button in the upper right corner
• Enter your username (email address or full name) and password
• Click the Login button
• Follow the on-screen instructions to launch the course

Simply log out or close your internet browser windows. Your course progress should be automatically saved.

To return to the course:

• Go to the TIPS homepage
• Click the LOGIN button in the upper right corner
• Enter your username (email address or full name) and password
• Click the name of the course to expand the section if it is not already expanded
• Click the Take Class button

Depending on the user and the course jurisdiction, the course can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours to complete. Users can log out and return to the course at any time before starting the exam. Upon returning, the course will resume from the point at which the user logged out. Each attempt at the final exam must be completed during a single, uninterrupted session.
 

If you are not sure that you registered for the correct course, please call TIPS Customer support at 1-800-438-8477. We are available to assist you from 8 am to 5 pm. (CST), Monday through Friday.

The course requirements for a TIPS online course are as follows:

• Any internet-enabled device, including your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone 
• Audio for use in viewing videos 
• At least a 56K Internet connection, much faster preferred 
• An HTML5 compliant browser  

Our courses are fully mobile-responsive and may be completed on any mobile device. 
 

This issue sometimes occurs if you lose internet connectivity while in the course. This issue usually resolves itself in about 20 minutes. So if this happens, log out and then relaunch the course after an appropriate amount of time has passed.

The course requirements for a TIPS online course are as follows:

• Any internet-enabled device, including your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone
• Audio for use in viewing videos
• At least a 56K Internet connection, much faster preferred
• An HTML5 compliant browser

If you still receive this message or need immediate access to the course, call 800-438-8477 for assistance or contact Customer Support.

To ensure that servers and sellers are following current laws and regulations, states require that servers and sellers receive alcohol training every two, three, or four years, depending on the jurisdictional requirements, and pass the appropriate course exam. 
 

Login to review your profile.

Login to review your profile.

Please allow 7-10 business days. Your TIPS certification card will be mailed by USPS mail.
 

To become a certified TIPS Trainer, you must attend a two-day Train-the-Trainer workshop. You can browse upcoming workshops and register online. 

All trainers can access the TIPS Training Portal to order materials, check past certifications, and print session documents.

Congratulations on becoming a TIPS trainer. We know you may be a bit anxious about training your first TIPS session, but you have nothing to worry about. Your workshop has covered the basics; just remember to rely on your participants to share their ideas and experiences. After all, THEY are the experts.

Be sure to have:

• TIPS videos DVD, flash drive, or PowerPoint with embedded video links.
• Access to a TV, DVD player, or another device. If you are conducting a remote session, we recommend you use PowerPoint.
• Enough manuals, pens (black or blue only), and exams. If conducting a virtual session, you can download and email these materials to your participants.
• Session Register form

You are REQUIRED to pre-register your session with us and to make copies of all materials for your files.

Send all original forms to:

TIPS Processing Center
1501 Wilson Blvd. Suite 500
Arlington VA 22209

To pre-register a TIPS training session:

• Log in to your Training Portal.
• Click the menu header Manage Participant Training to expand the menu.
• Select Register a Classroom Session.
• Supply the appropriate information and click the Click to Save button.
• If you are a referral trainer and would like to invite the public to attend your session, select "Click here to make this a public session."
• NOTE the assigned Session ID# because you will have to enter it on your Session Register form.

To print participant exams:

• Log in to your Training Portal.
• Click the menu header Trainer Libraries to expand the menu.
• Select Participant Exams.
• Choose and print the appropriate exam.

To print the Session Sign-in Sheet:

• Log in to your Training Portal.
• Click the menu header Trainer Libraries to expand the menu.
• Select Regulatory Forms and Training Resources.
• Print the Session Sign-in Sheet and any other useful training materials.

Session Register forms are sent to you in almost every package we send, particularly with manuals or other course materials. If you need more Session Register forms, contact your Account Executive at 1-800-438-8477.

After you train a session, be sure to make copies of all session documents and send the originals to: 
 

TIPS c/o 360training
6504 Bridge Point Parkway, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78730

Effective December 1, 2021, the Trainer Certification period was increased from 12 to 18 months for new trainers and trainers who recertified after that date. If your original 12-month certification period has yet to expire, you will be certified for 18 months when you renew.

To take the exam online:

• Log in to your Training Portal.
• Click the menu header Trainers to expand the menu.
• Select Take an Online Recertification Exam.
• Submit payment and take the exam.

Learn more about TIPS Partner and Affiliate options.

A virtual TIPS session is where a certified trainer conducts a LIVE TIPS class remotely using a video/web conferencing platform. In addition to training the session remotely, the trainer can administer a proctored online exam at the conclusion of their TIPS session.

Exam vouchers are a mechanism used by TIPS participants to take an online exam after completing an in-class session or virtual TIPS session trained by a certified TIPS Trainer. Exam vouchers are administered by certified TIPS Trainers.

Participants have 60 days from the date of enrollment to complete the course. During this time, participants can log out and back in to return to where they left off in the course. The only exception is the final exam, which must be completed in a single sitting. Participants who do not complete the course within 60 days will have their enrollment disabled and will not be eligible for a refund of any kind.
 

The new TIPS|360training platform stores authentication information in a different way than the legacy (old) platform, therefore, we require that you register on the new platform so that you can gain access to your accounts that have been migrated from the legacy TIPS platform. 
 

Registration consists of 6 easy to follow steps:

• Check for an email from TIPS|360training that guides you through the registration process. In the email you received after the system migration, you will find a link to begin your registration. Click on this link.
• Verify that you own the account by entering Last Name of your account. (You will receive an email with a link to the page where you will verify your identity. When you enter Last Name, we can match against what is already in the system.)
• Verify your profile information
• Choose a new Username (this can be your email address)
• Select a password that meets our strong password criteria
• Save your username and password in a Password Management App on your mobile device or computer.

All your accounts will be preserved and migrated to the new TIPS|360training platform. However, if you have had multiple accounts on the legacy (old) TIPS platform, these accounts have been merged into a single account so that you can view all your activity under one account.  
 

• Login to your account on gettips.com
• Go to My Courses
• Locate the most recently completed course enrollment
• Your TIPS Card and TIPS Completion Certificate are located under that enrollment

• Exam Vouchers are issued by TIPS Trainers to allow students to take the certification exam remotely.
• You can redeem your exam voucher by going here.
• Enter the exam voucher information as requested. The system will then validate that the exam voucher has not been used previously.
• After the exam voucher has been validated, you will need to do one of three things.
  • If you had an account on the legacy (old) TIPS platform and have not yet registered for access on the new TIPS|360training platform, you will need to register
  • Sign Up for a new account if you never had an account with TIPS before
  • Login to your account if you have an account on the new TIPS|360training platform already
• Once you have completed one of the above three steps, you will be enrolled in the exam that corresponds to the exam voucher you redeemed.
• You must complete this exam within 24 hours of your classroom or remote TIPS training session. Otherwise, the exam voucher will expire.

The new website and TIPS|360training platform allow exam vouchers to be redeemed by classroom and remote session participants. The participant’s results and records will be managed and accessible on the new platform.  

To access these results as a Trainer:

• If you have not validated your user access since the new website was launched, refer to the email you received from TIPS|360training that included a link to access your account. Follow the instructions to validate your profile. Once you enter the TIPS|360 platform, you can view the results of your session.
• If you are a new Trainer since the new site was launched, you need to register via the website on the new platform to view your session participation records. You can view session exam records after logging in to the new TIPS|360training platform.
• If you have already registered, you can view session exam records after logging in to the new TIPS|360training platform. 
• Please note that if a participant DID NOT redeem their exam voucher, this would not be visible on the TIPS|360training platform at this time. You will need to log into your TIPS Trainer Portal on the legacy (old) platform from the login page. Click Learn More under the login options for Trainers to ensure that you are logging into the correct platform. You will be able to view your session information, including registrants.

The new platform will be processing In-Person Sessions, which means the following:

• All session participant accounts will be created and accessed on the new platform
• Session participants will be enrolled in the appropriate session and graded against the submitted scantron exam sheet
• TIPS Cards and Certificates will be made available to participants on the new TIPS|360training platform

After you register on the new platform, as indicated on the login page, you will be able to view the session results for your sessions once they have been processed. If you have created a login on the TIPS|360training platform, you can view session participation records after you log in. Click Learn More under the login options for additional assistance to ensure that you are logging into the correct database.

We are actively building functionality for you to create and manage sessions on the new TIPS|360training platform. Once this has been completed, we will migrate trainer accounts to the new platform. We are expecting this to be sometime in September 2022.