What is TIPS certification?

TIPS is a responsible alcohol-service and sales training brand within 360training. It offers different programs for work settings and jurisdictions. Complete the appropriate official course and assessment for its certificate; OpenExamPrep provides independent study materials.

How many questions are on the TIPS exam, and what score is required?

The general on-premise public outline does not publish one nationwide item count. The provider states that passing-score requirements depend on the course and jurisdiction. Use the final-assessment instructions for the exact enrollment rather than a generic 40-question or 70% claim.

Is the TIPS exam open-book or untimed?

Do not assume all TIPS assessments are open-book or untimed. The January 2024 trainer administrative policy requires closed-book administration for trainer-led exams. The participant FAQ says an online final attempt must be completed in one uninterrupted sitting. Follow the current conditions assigned to your course.

How long should I allow for TIPS training?

TIPS’s FAQ estimates generally three to four hours for online training, depending on the user and jurisdiction, and typically three to five hours for classroom sessions. Independent study and any separate regulator steps may require additional time.

How much does TIPS cost, and what happens if I fail?

Price and retake terms depend on the selected product and delivery method. As a dated example, the official North Carolina on-premise page displayed USD 38 on October 16, 2026. Confirm the actual checkout, included attempts, and retake instructions; do not assume every failure requires repurchase.

Is TIPS accepted everywhere, and how long does it last?

Availability does not establish that every TIPS product meets every state requirement. Select the correct work setting and jurisdiction, verify approval and any separate state process, and follow the actual certificate expiration plus applicable employer and insurer requirements.

Where should I study and confirm the current requirements?

Use the official TIPS state selector, the assigned course materials, participant support, and your alcohol regulator. OpenExamPrep’s free guide and 100 independent practice questions support review but do not issue certification or replace required training.

What's included for free?

All study guides, practice questions, and explanations are completely free. We also include 10 AI-powered questions daily. For unlimited AI assistance, you can upgrade to Pro.

Why is the content free?

OpenExamPrep was founded by Ran Chen, a CFP® who passed multiple financial exams and believes quality exam prep shouldn't cost hundreds of dollars. With AI, we can create quality content at scale and make it accessible to everyone.

Is the content up to date?

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

Free Study Guide•Practice questions, flashcards, and related resources

Free TIPS Exam Prep

TIPS Alcohol Service Certification

Prepare for the TIPS exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.

Quick Facts

Chapters

Sections

Our Cost

Updated January 2026

Start Chapter 1

TIPS Alcohol Service

Study Guide Practice Questions100 questions

Free CE

Your Study Path

TIPS TIPS Alcohol Service: Study Roadmap

Follow this path to organize your exam preparation

Understand alcohol and observe cuesYou are here

Study standard drinks, delayed effects, and behavioral changes without treating drink counts as exact BAC predictions.

hours

Rehearse intervention and assistance

Practice a clear cutoff, team alerts, safe departure, and recognizing when a guest needs medical help.

hours

Verify law and identification requirements

Read your regulator’s accepted-ID and service rules, then practice birthday arithmetic and recipient checks.

hours

Practice and complete official training

Use independent questions for review, then complete your assigned TIPS course and any separate required state process.

hours

Start this step

Estimated total study time

4 hours

That's about 1 weeks at 10 hours/week

Can You Take the TIPS Exam?

Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements

Age

Education

Select the TIPS course for the work setting and jurisdiction; no universal education prerequisite is stated in the general outline

Additional Requirements

•Confirm whether the exact product fulfills the applicable state requirement
•Complete any separate regulator registration, exam, or permit process
•Follow the selected course’s current score, retake, and renewal instructions

TIPS Quick Facts

Exam Provider

TIPS / 360training; delivery and exam conditions depend on the selected course

Remote Testing Available

Schedule Your Exam

Retake Policy

Use the selected course’s current attempt and retake instructions; no universal repurchase rule is established

Total Cost Breakdown

Exam FeeConfirm included attempts and any separate regulator fee for the selected enrollment

Total Estimated CostCourse-specific; USD 38 North Carolina course example, plus any required state fees. Confirm actual checkout.

Why Choose Us

Free TIPS Prep Tools

100 Practice Questions

Original independent OpenExamPrep practice for responsible alcohol-service decisions.

Reviewed October 2026

Guide and canonical logistics checked against linked official sources on October 16, 2026.

Free Study Materials

Read the independent guide and practice explanations free of charge; official certification is a separate provider process.

Compare:

Kaplan $300+•Achievable $200+•OpenExamPrep $0

What You'll Study

7 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide

Getting Started: Course Selection and Preparation

1 sections

Chapter 1: Alcohol Effects & Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

4 sections

Chapter 2: Intervention Skills & Incident Management

4 sections

Chapter 3: Legal Responsibility & Liabilities

3 sections

Chapter 4: ID Verification & Underage Prevention

4 sections

Chapter 5: Establishment Management & House Policies

3 sections

Practice and Rehearsal

1 sections

TIPS Exam Details

TIPS Alcohol Service Certification

Administered by TIPS, a 360training company

Official Source

Course-specific — use the assigned final-exam requirements

Passing Score

Unpublished

Questions

Course-specific

Time Limit

Course-specific; North Carolina on-premise example: USD 38, checked October 16, 2026

Exam Fee

Study time: TIPS FAQ: generally 3–4 hours online; classroom sessions typically 3–5 hours

Prerequisites: Complete the required TIPS training for the selected course and jurisdiction

Valid for: Use the actual certificate expiration and applicable jurisdiction, employer, and insurer requirements

Exam Content Breakdown

Based on the official TIPS, a 360training company content outline

Behavioral CuesNot published

Recognize changes in inhibitions, judgment, reactions, and coordination.

Blood Alcohol ContentNot published

Understand BAC and compare known alcohol amounts without predicting a guest’s exact concentration.

Absorption Rate FactorsNot published

Study food, intake speed, body water, individual variation, and interaction risks.

Effective ResponsesNot published

Choose preventive measures, firm refusal, assistance, and safe follow-through.

Checking IDsNot published

Inspect accepted evidence, match the presenter, and calculate age using the full birthday.

State-Specific InformationNot published

Verify local alcohol laws, role requirements, defenses, and license conditions.

Documenting IncidentsNot published

Record observations and actions promptly and preserve relevant information.

Evaluating CuesNot published

Distinguish observations from assumptions and recognize urgent safety needs.

Evaluating ResponsesNot published

Critique an intervention for relevance, timing, communication, and follow-through.

Practice/RehearsalNot published

Apply knowledge to original service situations and explain decisions aloud.

What's Included

7 Chapters

Complete exam coverage

Practice Quizzes

With detailed explanations

Free to Start

No credit card required

CFP®

Why It's Free

Quality Exam Prep Shouldn't Cost Hundreds

I'm Ran Chen, an engineer with 20+ years of coding experience. I passed my Life Insurance license, EA exam, SIE, Series 6, 63, 65, and finally the CFP® exam.

Through all these exams, one thing became clear: exam prep is expensive. But with AI, we can change that. Quality preparation can now be free for everyone.

About Ran Chen