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Restaurant Server and Host Course (US) 2026

This course is for servers, hosts and bussers starting work in US restaurants. It covers greeting and seating, taking orders and the POS, food allergies, serving alcohol responsibly, and tip law, payments and closing. Many states require a real alcohol server certificate or permit (for example California RBS, Washington MAST or an Oregon service permit) and some require food handler training; this course is background knowledge only and does not replace them. Each of the five topics has a lesson and an untimed quiz, followed by a timed 30-question final assessment; score 80% or more to earn a Certificate of Completion.

  • Course
  • United States
  • 85 questions
  • Checked
  • Edited by A. Singh
  • Fact-checked October 15, 2026

Quick answer

This free course has about 150 minutes of lessons, 5 untimed topic quizzes (85 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 (US): Lessons: about 150 minutes of reading. Every test question is covered in the lessons.

What you will learn

  • Greet, seat and manage a waitlist fairly, with honest wait times
  • Welcome guests with service animals as the ADA requires
  • Take orders by seat number, upsell honestly and use the POS accurately
  • Name the nine major food allergens and pass allergy orders safely to the kitchen
  • Check ID, spot signs of intoxication and refuse alcohol service calmly
  • Explain FLSA tip credit and tip pool rules and report tips to your employer
  • Split checks, handle payments and close out safely with your 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.

  1. Read the lessons5 lessons, about 150 min
  2. Topic quiz 1: Greeting, seating and the host stand17 questions
  3. Topic quiz 2: Taking orders, menu knowledge and the POS17 questions
  4. Topic quiz 3: Food allergies and dietary needs17 questions
  5. Topic quiz 4: Serving alcohol responsibly17 questions
  6. Topic quiz 5: Tips, payments, side work and closing17 questions
  7. Final exam30 questions, 40 min · Score 80% or more
Plan for my exam date Mistake notebook

Topic quiz 1: Greeting, seating and the host stand

  1. Question 1 of 17

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, how do most servers learn the job?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Through on-the-job training of a month or less

    The BLS says servers typically learn through short on-the-job training, often a month or less, covering serving techniques and the restaurant's systems.

  2. Question 2 of 17

    A party of three walks in while you are on the phone at the host stand. What should you do first?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Make eye contact, smile and show you will be right with them

    Every guest should feel seen as soon as they arrive. A smile and a quick sign that you will help them in a moment keeps both the caller and the party happy.

  3. Question 3 of 17

    Why do many restaurants seat guests in a rotation between servers' sections?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. So each server gets a fair, manageable number of new tables

    A seating rotation spreads new tables evenly. One server does not get three tables at once while another stands idle, so guests get faster service.

  4. Question 4 of 17

    A guest asks how long the wait is. The real wait is about 30 minutes. What is the best answer?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. "About 30 minutes. Can I take a name and phone number?"

    Give an honest estimate. A wait that is longer than promised makes guests angry, and a made-up long wait can drive them away for no reason.

  5. Question 5 of 17

    Which details should you take for every reservation?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Name, party size, date, time and a phone number

    Name, party size, date, time and a contact number let you plan tables and reach the guest if anything changes. Note special requests such as a high chair or accessible seating.

  6. Question 6 of 17

    Under the ADA, what is a service animal?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A dog individually trained to do work or tasks for a person with a disability

    The ADA defines a service animal as a dog trained to do work or perform tasks directly related to a person's disability. Emotional support animals do not qualify under the ADA.

  7. Question 7 of 17

    A guest arrives with a dog, and it is not obvious what the dog does. What may you ask?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what task it is trained to do

    Staff may ask only two questions: is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and what work or task has it been trained to perform.

  8. Question 8 of 17

    Another guest says they are afraid of dogs and asks you to make a guest with a service dog leave. What should you do?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Keep serving both guests and, if possible, seat them in different parts of the room

    Under ADA guidance, allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons to refuse service to someone with a service animal. Seating the two parties apart is a fair solution.

  9. Question 9 of 17

    When may a restaurant ask a guest to remove a service animal?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. When the dog is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, or it is not housebroken

    The ADA allows removal only if the dog is out of control and not brought under control, or is not housebroken. The guest must still be offered service without the animal.

  10. Question 10 of 17

    Your restaurant charges a cleaning fee for pets on the patio. A guest has a service dog. What applies?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. The fee must be waived for the service dog

    Businesses may not charge guests with service animals fees that other guests do not pay, and must waive pet fees for service animals. They may charge for actual damage, as they would any guest.

  11. Question 11 of 17

    A family with a toddler arrives. What is the most helpful thing to do at seating?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Offer a high chair or booster and seat them away from busy walkways

    Good hosts think ahead about guests' needs. A high chair and a safer table away from traffic help the family and the staff carrying hot plates.

  12. Question 12 of 17

    Why should a host keep the waitlist up to date in real time?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. So quoted waits stay accurate and no party is skipped

    An up-to-date list lets you seat people in the right order and give honest wait times. Cross off parties as they are seated or leave.

  13. Question 13 of 17

    A regular customer asks to skip the waitlist ahead of three parties that arrived earlier. What should you do?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Politely explain that parties are seated in order and give an honest wait time

    Seating in order is fair to everyone. Your manager decides on any exceptions, such as a reservation, a party that needs a specific table, or a ready table that only fits a certain size.

  14. Question 14 of 17

    A guest using a wheelchair arrives with a party of four. What is the best seating choice?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A table on an accessible route with space for the wheelchair, after asking what works for them

    Ask what the guest prefers and offer a table they can reach easily with room for the chair. Never assume, and never seat a guest apart from their party without asking.

  15. Question 15 of 17

    You are a server and see a host has just seated a party in your section. When should you greet them?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As soon as you can, even just to say you will be right with them

    A quick greeting soon after guests sit down tells them they have been noticed. Greeting and explaining specials are core duties listed by the BLS.

  16. Question 16 of 17

    A host quoted a 20-minute wait. After 25 minutes, the party is still waiting. What is the best action?
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Go to the party, apologize, give an updated honest time, and tell your manager

    Checking in before guests have to ask shows respect. Updating the time and telling a manager lets the team decide whether to offer anything extra.

  17. Question 17 of 17

    A guest with a service dog asks for a booth. Another guest at the next booth has a severe dog allergy. Which approach follows ADA guidance?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Serve both, and seat them in different areas of the room if possible

    ADA guidance says both guests should be accommodated, for example by seating them in different locations within the room when possible.

What to know before the test

  • The minimum legal drinking age in the United States is 21, a standard tied to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984.
  • California requires on-premises alcohol servers and their managers to be RBS certified within 60 days of starting work; certification lasts three years.
  • In Washington, alcohol servers need a MAST permit within 60 days of hire (Class 13 server permit for ages 18+, Class 12 mixologist for 21+) and must keep it available at work.
  • The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens; sesame became the ninth on January 1, 2023.
  • Under the FLSA, employers may not keep any portion of employees' tips, and managers and supervisors may not take tips from a tip pool.
  • Alaska, California, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington require tipped workers to get the full state minimum wage before tips.
  • Employees must report tips of $20 or more in a month to their employer by the 10th of the following month.

Frequently asked questions

Is this an official alcohol server certificate, such as California RBS, Washington MAST or TABC?

No. When you pass the final assessment you get a PassEveryTest Certificate of Completion, which shows you finished this general skills course. It is not an alcohol server certificate or permit, a food handler card, or any state or employer certification.

Do I need a real certificate or permit to serve alcohol?

It depends on your state. California requires RBS certification, Washington requires a MAST permit, and Oregon requires an OLCC Alcohol Service Permit. In Texas, TABC certification is not required by state law, but many employers require it. Ask your employer and check your state's alcohol agency.

Can my restaurant pay me less than minimum wage because I get tips?

Under federal law, employers may take a tip credit if your cash wage plus tips reaches at least the minimum wage each workweek. Some states, including California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada, do not allow a tip credit. Check your state labor department for current wage rates.

Do I need a food handler card to work as a server?

Some states and cities require food handler training. For example, Illinois generally requires food handler training within 30 days of hire. Ask your employer or local health department what applies where you work.

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.

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.

Sources

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