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Subjects & Qualifications

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Information for Centres

MASTHEAD: Licensing QualificationsThe Operational Handbook gives operational details that centres must follow if they offer, or wish to offer our licensing qualifications.

All approved centres will be issued with a DVD containing full course material, including power point presentations, tutor notes, etc. The PLH course is designed to be delivered during a one full day session (or can be 2 half days) with a 40 question multiple choice examination at the end.

The staff course is designed to be delivered over 2 hours, with a 25 question multiple choice examination at the end.  The multiple choice exams are available as hard copy question papers or as electronic on-line exams.

How to gain Approval

If you are interested in becoming approved to deliver our licensing qualifications please contact licensingqualifications@sqa.org.uk and a member of the team will progress your enquiry.

Entry and Certification Charges

Current entry and certification charges for the qualifications are:

There is no extra charge for re-sits or for the on-line version of the exam.

Ordering Candidate Handbooks

RSA On Sales Licening CoverComprehensive candidate handbooks are available to support all four qualifications. Candidates should be issued with a handbook prior to their course.  Handbooks for the SCPLH course are £5.00 each and the SCRSA handbooks are £3.00 each. Approved centres can place an order by contacting our Business Development & Customer Support Team.

Tel:  0303 333 0330

E-mail:  mycentre@sqa.org.uk

Please quote the relevant publication codes when placing your order:

Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders Handbook - publication code: 4522
Scottish Certificate for the Responsible Service of Alcohol (on-sales) - publication code: 4698
Scottish Certificate for the Responsible Sale of Alcohol (off-sales) - publication code: 4699


Examination papers and online facility

Approved centres wishing to use the hard copy question papers should complete the Question Paper Order form. Question papers will be dispatched within seven working days of receipt of request, but normally sooner.

Question papers should not be ordered more than 15 working days ahead of the examination date.

For information on our electronic e-Assessment and e-Testing platform (SOLAR) please visit www.sqasolar.org.uk

Please use the following link to download an example of an exam paper control document.


Marker Reports

As a devolved model permitting marking of question papers by the centre is used for these qualifications, centres must complete a brief marker report after each examination. This provides SQA with information on pass rates and provides qualitative feedback on the performance of candidates and the opportunity for centres to comment on any aspect of the question papers.  The completed form should be emailed to licensingqualifications@sqa.org.uk within 10 working days of the examination date.  A copy of the marker report , signed by the marker and an internal verifier should be retained with the completed question papers.

Please use the following link to download the Marker Report Form: