For Providers and Trainers

Employees who serve alcohol or supervise the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption must complete a Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST) course through a Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) certified MAST program.

A MAST provider is a private training entity with a WSLCB-certified MAST program. A provider will provide the classes either through trainers in class room format or online and issue the MAST permits to those who successfully complete the course and the exam.

While the WSLCB certifies providers and trainers, it does not hire or employ trainers.

 

Applying to be a trainer

How do I become a MAST trainer?
You must receive WSLCB trainer certification before you can teach any courses. You have two options:

  1. You can teach an existing program by working under an existing provider. Check the current providers under the MAST class schedules page and contact them for more details.

    Once you select a provider, the provider will supply you with the necessary forms for WSLCB trainer certification. You should complete the forms and send them back to your provider, who will then submit them to the WSLCB.
     
  2. You can become a provider yourself by having your own program certified. For more information regarding program criteria, contact the MAST Coordinator.

The WSLCB requires the following for trainer certification:

  • A minimum of two years of post-secondary education in one or more of the following fields or a combination of the following fields, or equivalent years of experience: training; education; law; law enforcement; substance abuse rehabilitation; and/or sale and service of alcoholic beverages.
  • Hold an active Class 12 Mixologist permit
  • Meet the criminal history requirements outlined in WAC 314-17-070
  • Meet the continuing education requirement outlined in WAC 314-17-050 (8)
  • Submit completed Trainer Registration, Acknowledgment of Understanding and MAST Trainer Briefing
     

How can trainers renew their Class 12 permit?
Trainers must have an active Class 12 Mixologist permit in order to teach a MAST class.

  • If your permit is active (not expired): You may include yourself in your own class and issue yourself a permit, or you may take a class given by another certified trainer.
  • If your permit has expired: You must successfully complete a class given by another certified trainer. If your permit has expired and you teach a course, the course you gave is considered invalid.

 

Ordering permit forms

How do I order permit forms?
If your provider allows it, the WSLCB can mail you an order form along with your certification letter. Send the completed form and appropriate fees to the WSLCB. Permit forms cost $10 per pack of 25 permits.

I work at a company with other trainers. Can I use another trainer’s permit forms if I run out?
No. Please do not share permit forms. The serial numbers on permits are registered to a specific trainer. Trainers are responsible for those permit forms.

 

MAST classes

How long does my class have to be?
Your class must be at least three hours.

As a trainer, can I introduce new course materials during class?
No. You must have prior approval from the provider and the WSLCB to change the content of your program, such as class materials or method of presentation.

 

Issuing a MAST permit

How do I fill out a permit form?
When you are issuing the permits to your students:

  • Fill out all sections completely and legibly
  • Make sure to check each participants ID. It must be one of the acceptable forms of identification
  • Per WAC 314-17-030, the permit must be in the same name and with the same identifying characteristics as indicated on the permit holder’s ID
  • The address must be a residential address, not a work address
  • If a post office box is used, add that next to the residential address
  • See more information on Social Security Numbers below
  • If permits are issued by your provider, provide all necessary information to your provider

When do MAST permits expire?
A permit expires on the first day of the month, five years following the course and the exam. For example, if the permit was issued on May 10, 2010, it will expire on June 1, 2015.

When do I issue permits to successful students?
You must issue permits to students who successfully complete the MAST class and exam within 30 days of the class.

What do I need to send to the WSLCB?
Mail the completed upper portion of the permit forms and permit upload template electronically to the WSLCB MAST Coordinator within 30 days of the class.

What should I do if I didn’t send the upper portion of the permit to the WSLCB within 30 days?
Contact the WSLCB MAST Coordinator for instructions.

Should I check a student’s identification before I conduct a class or issue a permit?
Yes. You should check the student’s driver license or other acceptable forms of identification. This will also ensure that the permit is issued using the name that is on their official identification.

What if I make a mistake filling out the permit?
Please write a new permit. Do not correct it and put your initial next to it. Please mail any voided permits to the WSLCB MAST Coordinator.

Can I replace a lost permit? Can I issue a new permit if the holder changed their name?

  • If the permit holder was trained by you: you can replace a lost permit or issue a new permit if the holder has changed their name.
  • If the permit holder was trained by another trainer within your program: refer the permit holder to your provider.
  • If you have changed providers since you trained the student: refer the permit holder to the provider of your old program.
  • In all other cases: refer the permit holder to the WSLCB MAST Coordinator.

Note: The original class date and expiration date remains when replacing a permit.

You can check the MAST Permit Checker for quick reference.

If you replace a lost permit or issue a new permit for a name change, write “Replaced Permit XXX” on the upper-portion of the permit and send it to WSLCB MAST Coordinator.

How do I upgrade a permit?
If you issued a Class 13 permit to a student, you may upgrade and issue a Class 12 permit once the student turns 21. Either a trainer or a provider can upgrade a permit. You may not upgrade the permit if you were not the student’s original trainer.

When submitting the upper-portion of the Class 12 permit to the WSLCB, write: “Upgraded from Class 13, 13000XX”.

What should I do if I mistakenly issue a Class 12 permit to a person under the age of 21?

  • Inform the WSLCB MAST Coordinator as soon as possible.
  • Contact the student to retrieve the permit and issue the correct permit. Send the correct permit form to the WSLCB with a note.
  • If you could not contact the student, send a certified letter to the student advising them that it is illegal to serve or sell alcohol without the correct permit.
  • Send a copy of the letter and a return receipt of the certified letter to the WSLCB MAST Coordinator.

How should I handle a student who will turn 18 or 21 within 30 days of the course?
You may allow the student to attend and complete the course. However, you must hold the permit until he or she turns 18 or 21.

When submitting the upper portion of the permit, include a note detailing the situation. Do not forge the date of training to match the birthday.

 

Social Security Numbers (SSN)

Why is a student’s SSN required in order to issue a permit?
RCW 26.23.150 requires that the WSLCB obtain a SSN for each MAST permit holder in order to assist in child support enforcement as required by federal law. State law authorizes providers and trainers to obtain SSNs from permit holders.

What if a student doesn’t have a SSN?
If a student does not have a SSN due to their resident status in the U.S., do not leave the SSN section blank on the permit.

Instead, write in the reason you did not supply the SSN (i.e. “immigrant in the process of applying for a SSN”). Please advise the student to contact the WSLCB or their trainer when they obtain a SSN.

What should a trainer do if a student refuses to provide his or her SSN?
Explain to the student that you are required by law to collect the SSN and the methods you are using to secure the information. If she or he still refuses to give the SSN, hold the permit and tell him or her to contact the WSLCB MAST Coordinator. The MAST Coordinator will contact you when you can release the permit.

 

Record Retention Requirements

What information must a provider or trainer provide upon request by the WSLCB?

Session roster showing the student information and assigned permit number of each student who successfully completes an online or in-person training course, and the date and time of completion;

  • The permit number for any voided permit;
  • All presentation information for each training course;
  • Each student's examination answers; and
  • The log-in and log-off times.

A provider (or a trainer on a provider's behalf) must provide the following information to the board upon request:

  • Advance notice of any pre-scheduled training courses;
  • Copies of program publications, brochures, pamphlets, scripts or any other advertising materials related to a training course; and
  • Documentation that verifies a trainer's attendance at a continuing education conference or workshop (see WAC 314-17-050).
  • Note: All individual trainers must turn permit information over to their provider for safe keeping. Trainers are not allowed to maintain any records except during the 30 day permit processing period

How long do I need to keep these records?
The record retention period is five years.

 

Miscellaneous information

What is the DSHS-Order of MAST Permit Suspension?
In accordance with RCW 74.20A.320, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) Division of Child Support (DCS) certifies and requires the WSLCB to suspend or cancel the MAST permits of non-custodial parents who are at least six months in arrears on child support payments.

You must inform your class participants, at the beginning of the class, that if he or she has delinquent child support payments for more than six months with the DCS, his or her permit will be suspended and if he or she receives a permit after the class, it will be invalidated by the WSLCB.

What are the penalties for working without a valid MAST permit?
Selling or serving alcohol at a liquor licensed retail business without a valid MAST permit is a misdemeanor. Every person convicted of a misdemeanor defined in Title 9A RCW shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than 90 days, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than $1,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine.