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Licence Controller Qualification

By law, every business or organisation that sells or supplies alcohol must have a properly qualified person in charge at all times. The prescribed qualification is the Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) and it must be held by people applying for or renewing their Manager’s Certificate in order to demonstrate recent and relevant training as set out in the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (2012).


Hear from Aaron Hoare, Assistant Manager at The Porirua Club, on how partnering with ServiceIQ has helped upskill their staff and boost their business.


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Order a copy of my LCQ certificate

If you need a Licence Controller Qualification (LCQ) certificate, please download and read this user guide, then register.

IMPORTANT: You must hold the LCQ units on your NZQA Record of Achievement for us to be able to issue a LCQ certificate.

Get your LCQ online

You can do the LCQ online through ServiceIQ. There are also training providers throughout New Zealand that offer it. To find a training provider in your area, you will need to search online. Please note: we cannot help you find a provider; you will have to do this yourself.

Get my Bridging Test certificate

If your LCQ was issued under the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and you completed the Bridging Test, you can get a digital copy of your Bridging Test certificate here.

Talk to someone about my LCQ

If you have any queries regarding your LCQ please contact us on 0800 863 693 or click the button to email us.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Below are the most frequently asked questions about LCQ. If you have a question that isn't listed here, please contact us on 0800 863 693 or lcq@serviceiq.org.nz

    The LCQ is a certificate that shows you have knowledge of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act (2012), and the host responsibility skills to be a manager of a licensed premise.

    If you work as a manager of a licensed premise, you need to hold the LCQ. Many people have it, even if they’re not a manager.

    You get an LCQ certificate to say you’re qualified. You also gain NZQA unit standards 4646 & 16705 on completion of the LCQ course. 

    1. Get your LCQ online through ServiceIQ, or complete an LCQ course at a training provider (you will need to arrange this yourself).
    2. Get a copy of your LCQ certificate by applying to ServiceIQ. (Note that some training providers will order this on your behalf).
    3. Apply for your Manager’s Certificate at your local council. Find your local council at www.localcouncils.govt.nz

    You can call NZQA on 0800 697 296 or log on to www.nzqa.govt.nz to access your Record of Achievement (RoA) and see if you have these unit standards. 

    If you’ve already been trained, you can confirm this on your NZQA Record of Achievement (RoA) to see if you have achieved unit standards 4646 or 16705 and apply for an LCQ certificate from ServiceIQ.

    If you need another copy of your LCQ certificate, you can request a reprint or a digital copy through our online Shop (see the next FAQ for the options and prices).

    Download the 'LCQ certificate self ordering user guide' with instructions here:

    To order, you will need to have an account with ServiceIQ – you can create one for free.

    The link below will take you to the page to create an account. You can also sign in from there if you already have an account (top right of the page).

    Please ensure that you read the important information on the Shop LCQ certificate order page. Especially note that if you do not have the unit standards 4646 and 16705 and/or ServiceIQ NZQA qualification listed on your Record of Achievement, we will be unable to process your request.

    The link to create an account is here.

    The cost of your LCQ certificate depends on how urgent you need it and how it will be delivered. All prices are subject to change at any time.

    Printed LCQ Certificate Fees:

    • $22 Standard incl GST (7–10 working days for processing, then sent via post)
    • $33 URGENT incl GST (1–3 working days for processing, then sent via courier)


    Digital 
    LCQ Certificate Fees:

    • $18 Standard incl GST (7–10 working days for processing)
    • $28 URGENT incl GST (1–3 working days for processing)

    We accept the following payment methods:

    • Master Card
    • Visa.

    The LCQ Bridging Test was an online test for people who completed their LCQ training under the repealed Sale of Liquor Act 1989. It was available from 18 December 2013 until 31 January 2017. The LCQ Bridging Test updated LCQ Certificate holders' required knowledge of the new Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. It could only be completed by people who had gained their LCQ using NZQA unit standards 16705 version 4 and 4646 version 7 or prior.

    If you completed the LCQ Bridging Test you can download your LCQ Bridging Test certificate by clicking the link below. You will need to enter your last name and first name exactly as they are on your LCQ certificate, as well as enter your date of birth.

    Download certificate

    Your LCQ certificate is expired because you completed your LCQ training under the repealed Sale of Liquor Act 1989 and didn't complete the LCQ Bridging Test in the allocated time (18 December 2013 until 31 January 2017). You must now complete your LCQ to achieve the latest versions of unit standards and receive a new LCQ Certificate that is issued under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

    If your training provider did not give you your certificate, please contact us.

    ServiceIQ offers the LCQ as a prescribed qualification and manages a national LCQ database to assure many councils that applicants hold a valid LCQ certificate.