Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is launching an open call for programs. Interested entities can apply for approval of their liquor retail employee training program to support Ontario's plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace.
The AGCO is accepting applications until the AGCO Board decides to end the open call.
Applications submitted before June 24,2024 will be prioritized for consideration. Applications submitted on or after June 24,2024 may not be considered.
Application Process
To apply, please follow these 5 steps:
Step 1: Review the Application Guide.Before submitting your application, please review the application materials available on the portal. The Application Guide will provide all the information required to apply, including key dates, application requirements, evaluation criteria, as well as the selection and approval process.
Step 2: Develop your training program.Prospective applicants will be asked to complete the Application Package, as well as submit a fully developed retail training program that is ready for launch.
Step 3: Submit your application.Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized in the AGCO’s initial round of evaluation and approval of training programs. The AGCO will continue to accept applications until the AGCO Board determines the open call to be closed. Additional evaluation and approval of applications submittedon or after June 24, 2024, will be at the discretion of the Board. When you're ready to submit your application, you can do so through this online portal. Please double-check that all the required information has been included before submitting.
Step 4: Wait for a response. The AGCO will carefully assess all information provided. For applications submitted by 11:59 PM ET on June 23, 2024, successful and unsuccessful applicants can expect to be notified of the Board’s decision by mid-July 2024.
Step 5: Announcement of Approved Programs. The AGCO will communicate the selection of Board-approved training programs in mid-July 2024.
Should you experience any issues with the application portal, please email connect@agco.ca.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is launching an open call for programs. Interested entities can apply for approval of their liquor retail employee training program to support Ontario's plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace.
The AGCO is accepting applications until the AGCO Board decides to end the open call.
Applications submitted before June 24,2024 will be prioritized for consideration. Applications submitted on or after June 24,2024 may not be considered.
Application Process
To apply, please follow these 5 steps:
Step 1: Review the Application Guide.Before submitting your application, please review the application materials available on the portal. The Application Guide will provide all the information required to apply, including key dates, application requirements, evaluation criteria, as well as the selection and approval process.
Step 2: Develop your training program.Prospective applicants will be asked to complete the Application Package, as well as submit a fully developed retail training program that is ready for launch.
Step 3: Submit your application.Applications submitted before June 24, 2024 will be prioritized in the AGCO’s initial round of evaluation and approval of training programs. The AGCO will continue to accept applications until the AGCO Board determines the open call to be closed. Additional evaluation and approval of applications submittedon or after June 24, 2024, will be at the discretion of the Board. When you're ready to submit your application, you can do so through this online portal. Please double-check that all the required information has been included before submitting.
Step 4: Wait for a response. The AGCO will carefully assess all information provided. For applications submitted by 11:59 PM ET on June 23, 2024, successful and unsuccessful applicants can expect to be notified of the Board’s decision by mid-July 2024.
Step 5: Announcement of Approved Programs. The AGCO will communicate the selection of Board-approved training programs in mid-July 2024.
Should you experience any issues with the application portal, please email connect@agco.ca.
Q. What is the Open Call? Is this how I apply for a liquor retail sales licence?
A. The open call is an AGCO initiative inviting organizations with liquor retail training programs to submit their program to the AGCO for approval so that they can be used by liquor retail licensees and their employees. This is not the application process for a licence to sell liquor in convenience or grocery stores.
If you are interested applying for a new liquor retail licence for a convenience store or grocery store, please visit the AGCO’s website for more information. Note: the AGCO will begin accepting applications for retail licences from convenience stores and grocery stores on June 17, 2024.
Q. Where can I find information on the updated laws and regulations for the expansion of the liquor retail marketplace?
A. The Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 and its regulations have recently been updated to reflect the expansion of liquor retail sales. Please see the “Important Links” section of this page.
In addition, e-Laws | Ontario.ca provides access to official copies of Ontario’s statutes and regulations.
Application Requirements
Q. What are the application requirements and other relevant criteria for applicants?
A. This opportunity is open to all organizations interested in offering mandatory liquor retail employee training in Ontario. Approval of a program is subject to the Program Requirements and Program Guidelines that outline the expectations and requirements for operating an AGCO Board-approved liquor retail training program (see Forms A and A1in the Application Package).
Q. Should my program include content on serving liquor?
A. The AGCO is currently only accepting applications for training programs dedicated to the responsible retail sale of liquor. Please refer to the Program Requirements (in Form A.1 of the Application Package) for details on required training program content.
Smart Serve will remain the only AGCO Board-approved training program for the broader liquor sector, including for liquor sales licensees and their employees.
Q. Is the AGCO providing funding to providers to prepare their programs?
A.No funding will be made available to applicants through this process, and approved programs do not receive any funding from the AGCO. Training providers may charge learners a fee to complete their AGCO Board-approved program and will retain all revenue generated from the delivery of their program.
Applicants are fully responsible for assessing the business viability of this opportunity; the AGCO cannot guarantee or validate revenue generation estimations as a result of Board approval.
Q. Is previous experience in delivering a training program required?
A. While not required, experience developing responsible sales training is considered an asset.
Application Process
Q. Are there any additional formatting guidelines? For example, length?
A. All mandatory requirements are laid out in the Application Guide. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants must complete and submit the Application Package, which consists of two parts:Application Questions (Part 1) and Declaration and Consent Forms (Part 2).
Application Evaluation
Q. How will programs be evaluated?
A. AGCO staff will review and score applicants’ programs according to the evaluation criteriaoutlined in the Application Guide. Successful applications will be brought to the Board for approval.
The AGCO Board maintains full approval authority of liquor retail employee training programs and the Program Guidelines accompanying that approval.
Next steps for approved applicants
Q. Does my program need to be re-approved after a certain period of time, and if so, what is that process?
Liquor retail employee training programs approved by the AGCO Board will have an approval term of three years and the Provider must meet the Program Guidelines throughout the approval term. The Board approval renewal process will be communicated in advance of the approval term end date.
The Provider is required to notify the Commission of any significant changes to the program, and content changes of 25% or more will require re-submission of the entire program for Board approval.
Other
Q. Will the Smart Serve training program remain a training option in Ontario's plans for an expanded liquor retail marketplace?
A. Yes. Smart Serve is currently the only AGCO Board-approved liquor training program in Ontario and will remain an approved program forthe broader liquor sector, including for liquor sales licensees and their employees. Through this open call process, up to five new liquor retail employee training programs may be approved by the AGCO Board.
Staff who currently hold a valid Smart Serve training certificate will be able to sell liquor in retail settings until their certificate expires. Once it expires, those individuals will need to recertify with Smart Serve or obtain a new certificate from another Board approved liquor retail employee training program to continue to sell liquor in a retail setting.
Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs is currently at this stage
May 27, 2024
The application period is open for submissions.
Applications submitted by 11:59 PM ET on June 23, 2024 will be prioritized in the AGCO’s initial round of evaluation and approval of training programs.
AGCO Begins Review of Applications Submitted to Date
this is an upcoming stage for Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs
June 24, 2024
Applications to the Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs are reviewed and evaluated. Each application submitted will be evaluated on its own merits against the pre-defined criteria described in the Application Guide.
The AGCO will continue to accept applications until the AGCO Board determines the open call to be closed. Additional evaluation and approval of applications submitted on or after June 24, 2024, will be at the Board's discretion.
Successful Applicants Notified
this is an upcoming stage for Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs
Mid July 2024
Applicants will be notified whether their program has been approved by the AGCO Board.
Launch of Approved Program(s)
this is an upcoming stage for Open Call for Liquor Retail Employee Training Programs
Mid July 2024
The program(s) that receive AGCO Board approval may begin offering liquor retail employee training in Ontario.
Timelines for approval of new programs may occur sooner based on Board discretion.
