FREQUENTLY

ASKED QUESTIONS

(FAQs)

Free TIPS Trainings Provided by the DART Coalition

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Please see below for some of our most asked questions. If you have other questions not addressed below, please reach out to Amy at amy.piacentedesch@rwjbh.org for further assistance.

What is TIPS?

The TIPS Program trains and certifies servers and sellers of alcoholic beverages to recognize the signs of intoxication, prevent the sale of alcohol to minors, handle alcohol-related situations with greater confidence, use proven strategies to prevent alcohol-related problems – and more. Once you complete and pass the training, you are certified in TIPS for three (3) years.

Who is DART?

We are the DART Prevention Coalition of Ocean County, which is grant-funded by numerous state and federal agencies. We strive to engage residents and youth in the process of reducing substance use throughout Ocean County. We have been a part of the community for over 14 years, and have trained staff at different establishments for many years! Thanks to our funding and prevention initiatives, we are able to provide these TIPS trainings throughout the county.

Who can attend a TIPS Training provided by DART?

Employees of Ocean County restaurants, bars, country clubs, liquor stores – really, any establishment that serves or sells alcohol. This includes owners, managers, wait staff, bartenders, sales clerks – all customer-interacting staff at the establishment.

Unfortunately, we cannot train or certify those outside of Ocean County as per our funding.

Which version of the TIPS Training do I need?

TIPS On-Premise: For bartenders and servers of alcoholic beverages that are consumed on-property at bars, restaurants, and clubs.



TIPS Off-Premise: For sales associates of packaged alcoholic goods that are consumed off-property and are sold at liquor stores and retail outlets.

Please Note: These certifications are not interchangeable and may not be accepted as such by employers, insurance companies, police departments, or the ABC. Please make sure you are attending the appropriate course.

Is it really free?

Yes! Because we are a grant-funded substance use prevention coalition in the county, we are able to provide this training for free to many Ocean County establishments (we are certified to train Ocean County employees only). However, spots are limited for our trainings, so register as soon as possible to ensure your seat.

How long will my results take to come in?

TIPS was recently purchased by a new company, 360training. As a result of this transition, your certification exam processing and receipt of your certification card can take anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks.

Once you complete your in-classroom test, exams are shipped to TIPS the next day for processing. Processing by TIPS varies based on their current workload but typically takes between 2 and 5 weeks for grading and certification card creation. Certification cards are electronically delivered only, so you will need to provide a valid email address. Physical cards are not being produced or shipped by TIPS at this time. (New Jersey is one of the states that will accept electronic/digital versions of the certification cards.)

If this timeframe is not feasible for your needs, we absolutely understand. You can take the self-paced course at gettips.com for a fee. From what we understand, processing and results are instantaneous with the online course(s). This course will cost $38.00, which you will be responsible for paying. DART is unable to cover the cost of these online courses as per our funding sources.

What if the available dates and/or times do not work for me?

We try to offer TIPS trainings several times throughout the year and in different locations in the county. Upon special request, we can look into the feasibility of other dates and times.

We may be able to host a personal training for your establishment on-site if certain criteria are met. Please contact Amy at amy.piacentedesch@rwjbh.org for more information.

TIPS can also be taken online at gettips.com for a fee. From what we understand, processing and results are instantaneous with the online course(s). This course will cost $38.00, which you will be responsible for paying. DART is unable to cover the cost of these online courses as per our funding sources.

Did you know that several municipalities have ordinances that REQUIRE some form of Responsible Beverage Server Training?

If your establishment is in Waretown, Barnegat, Lacey, Beach Haven, Lakewood, or Brick then you have an ordinance requiring certification. However, many other establishments throughout Ocean County have staff that are TIPS certified for the profitable safety of their business! Many owners have even mandated the certification for their individual establishment(s), even if not required by local law. (TIPS is not the only certification program out there – but it’s what DART can offer you!)

Have additional questions? Contact us!

If you have other questions not addressed above, please reach out to Amy at amy.piacentedesch@rwjbh.org for further assistance.

DART Prevention Coalition of Ocean County | dart@rwjbh.org