What Is an RLPS Number and How Do You Get One?

An RLPS number is the account or permit identifier the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission assigns through its Regulatory Licensing and Permitting System, the online portal every alcohol server, seller, and distributor in Tennessee uses to apply for and renew credentials.¹ You get one by creating an account in the portal, completing a TABC-certified alcohol awareness course, submitting your application with ID and the $20 fee, and waiting for approval. The number then lives inside your RLPS account and travels with you through renewals.

Who Needs an RLPS Number

Anyone who serves, dispenses, or handles beer, wine, or liquor at a licensed establishment in Tennessee must hold a current server permit obtained through RLPS. State law makes this the business’s problem too: a licensed establishment may not employ anyone to serve alcoholic beverages without confirming that person holds a valid TABC server permit, and the permit has to be on the server or kept on the premises for inspection during their shift.²

Businesses that manufacture, wholesale, distribute, or retail alcohol also register in RLPS for their own licenses. If you’re opening a bar, restaurant, or liquor store, the business entity needs its own RLPS account separate from the individual server accounts your staff will create.

How to Register for an RLPS Account

Start at the TABC’s online portal. Before you log in, have a digital copy of a government-issued photo ID ready, such as a driver’s license or passport, and be prepared to provide proof of lawful presence in the United States. All individual owner information must be submitted electronically for both new and renewal applications.¹

Two practical details save time. RLPS is not optimized for mobile devices, so use a desktop or laptop, and disable your popup blocker for TABC pages, because the system uses popups for notifications and confirmations.¹ Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID. Mismatches between the name you type and the name on your uploaded document are a common reason applications stall.

Once your account is active, you can submit a specific permit or license application inside the portal. The system sends confirmation notifications as the application moves through review, and your permit number appears in your account after approval.

Complete the Required Training First

Registering in RLPS does not, on its own, get you a server permit. Tennessee requires every applicant to complete a TABC-certified alcohol awareness training program within one year before applying.³ Finishing the course is a prerequisite, not the permit itself.

Certified programs include at least three and a half hours of instruction, not counting breaks, and end with a written exam. You need a score of at least 70% to pass. Fail the first attempt, and you have 30 days to schedule a retest with the same program; miss that window and you have to retake the entire course.⁴

New hires get a one-time 61-day grace period from the original hire date to complete training and obtain a server permit.³ It applies once per person. It does not reset with each new employer. If you used it at a previous job, your next employer needs to see a valid permit before you start serving.

Fees

The server permit application costs $20, non-refundable, paid directly through RLPS when you submit.⁴ That is separate from whatever the training program charges for the course itself, so budget for both.

How Long Your Permit Lasts

Beginning January 1, 2025, Tennessee server permits are valid for two years from the date of issuance.³ That is a shift from the previous five-year term, so if you got your permit before 2025, check your expiration date against the old schedule rather than assuming the new one applies retroactively.

Renewals go through the same RLPS account. Your training records and application history carry forward, so most fields prepopulate. You confirm your information, pay the renewal fee, and submit. Licensed establishments are also required to keep copies of every employee’s server permit available for TABC inspectors at all times, and failing to do so can trigger disciplinary and administrative action against the business.³

Penalties for Working or Hiring Without a Permit

Serving without a permit, or employing someone who lacks one, is a misdemeanor under Tennessee law. A conviction carries a fine of $500 to $1,000, and a judge can impose a jail sentence of 30 days to six months. Each violation counts as a separate offense.²

For businesses, the stakes climb fast. A second conviction under this chapter triggers automatic and permanent revocation of the establishment’s license, with no reinstatement.² Employers can look up a prospective hire’s permit status in RLPS before scheduling a first shift, which is the cheapest way to avoid that exposure.

If the Portal Isn’t Cooperating

RLPS can be finicky. Browser compatibility has been limited historically, and applicants who try to register on a phone or tablet often hit errors. Switch to a desktop browser, allow popups for TABC pages, and recheck that every ownership field is filled and every document uploaded before you submit. Incomplete ownership information is one of the most common reasons the TABC flags or delays applications.

For problems the portal can’t resolve on its own, including application denials, questions about acceptable ID, or confusion about permit status, the TABC help desk is reachable at 615-532-2297.⁵

1
Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Regulatory Licensing and Permitting System
2
Justia. Tennessee Code 57-4-203 – Prohibited Practices
3
Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. A Server Permit (On-Premise Permit)
4
Tennessee Secretary of State. Rules of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission – Chapter 0100-08
5
Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Contact Us