Restaurant Server and Host Course 2026

This course is for hosts, servers and bussers in Canadian restaurants, cafés and bars, including people new to the country. It covers greeting and seating guests, taking orders, food allergies, serving alcohol responsibly, and tips, payments and closing, with five lessons, topic quizzes and a timed 30-question final assessment (80% earns a Certificate of Completion). If you serve alcohol, many provinces require their own server training, such as Smart Serve in Ontario, Serving It Right in British Columbia or ProServe in Alberta; this course is background knowledge only and does not replace it.

Course
Canada
80 questions
Checked October 14, 2026
Edited by A. Singh
Fact-checked October 15, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 150 minutes of lessons, 5 untimed topic quizzes (80 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 30 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 14, 2026.

Start with the lessonsRestaurant Server and Host Course: Lessons: about 150 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

Greet, seat and say goodbye to guests, and run reservations and a waitlist
Take accurate orders, use the POS and suggest extras honestly
Name Canada's priority food allergens and pass allergy orders to the kitchen safely
Respond to a severe allergic reaction by calling 911 and helping with epinephrine
Check ID, spot intoxication and refuse alcohol service under provincial rules
Explain tip rules in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec, and handle payments and bank notes
Complete side work and closing duties as part of a team

Score 80% or more to download your certificate.

Your study plan

Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.

Plan for my exam date Mistake notebook

Topic quiz 1: Greeting, seating and the host stand

What to know before the test

In Ontario, anyone who sells, serves or delivers liquor, or takes liquor orders, must hold certification from AGCO-approved training, renewed every five years.
In British Columbia, licensees, managers and staff must get Serving It Right certification before working in a licensed establishment.
In Alberta, new hires who need ProServe must be certified within 30 days of their start date, and staff who serve liquor must be at least 18.
AGLC policy in Alberta is to ask for ID from anyone who appears to be under 25 and wants to buy liquor.
Ontario employers cannot deduct breakage, spills, losses or damage from employees' tips.
In Quebec, suggested tip percentages must be calculated on the price before GST and QST.
Health Canada's priority food allergens include sesame seeds, mustard and sulphites, as well as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans and molluscs, soy, and wheat and triticale.
The Canada Revenue Agency treats tips as income from employment.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an official server or Smart Serve certificate?

No. Passing the final assessment gives you a PassEveryTest Certificate of Completion, which shows you finished this general skills course. It is not Smart Serve, Serving It Right, ProServe, Smart Choices or any other government-approved liquor or food safety certificate.

Do I need a certificate or licence to serve alcohol in Canada?

In many provinces, yes. Ontario requires AGCO-approved training such as Smart Serve, British Columbia requires Serving It Right before you start, Alberta requires ProServe within 30 days of starting, and Manitoba requires Smart Choices. Some provinces also require certified food handlers on site, such as Ontario and British Columbia (FOODSAFE or an equivalent for operators). This course is background knowledge only, so take the training your province and employer require.

How does the final assessment work?

It has 30 questions drawn at random from the course question bank, with a 40-minute time limit. You need 80% to pass, and each attempt gives you a new mix of questions.

Can my employer keep part of my tips?

It depends on your province. In Ontario and British Columbia, employers generally cannot withhold or deduct from tips, except through a tip pool or deductions the law requires, and owners can share in a pool only in limited cases. Check your province's employment standards office for the rules where you work.

Who is this course for?

Hosts, servers, bussers and anyone starting front-of-house work in a Canadian restaurant, café or bar. It is written in plain language for people who are new to the job or new to Canada.

Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?

No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.