From enrolling on a course to holding your personal licence, a well-organised application takes two to four weeks. Rushed or sloppy applications routinely take double that. Here’s the realistic timeline for each stage and the mistakes that add weeks.
The timeline, stage by stage
Stage 1: APLH course and exam – 1 day to 1 week
This stage moves as fast as you do. With an online APLH course you can study the material in a day or two and sit the remotely invigilated exam any day of the week, including weekends. Classroom providers may make you wait for the next scheduled course date – often one to three weeks away – and some post certificates rather than issuing them promptly.
Stage 2: Basic DBS check – 2 to 5 working days
Most online basic DBS applications come back within a few working days. Two timing rules matter: the certificate must be less than one calendar month old when the council receives your application, and postal delays count against you. Order the DBS once you’ve booked your exam, then submit your council application promptly when it arrives.
Stage 3: Council processing – 1 to 3 weeks
With a clean DBS and complete paperwork, most licensing authorities grant personal licences within one to three weeks without a hearing. If you declared relevant unspent convictions, the police have 14 days to consider an objection; if they object, the council must hold a hearing, which adds several weeks.
What slows applications down
- A stale DBS certificate – more than a month old on arrival means starting that step again.
- Photo problems – missing countersignature, wrong wording, or photos that don’t meet passport rules.
- Applying to the wrong council – your application goes to the authority where you live, not where you work.
- Incomplete conviction declarations – inconsistencies between your declaration and the DBS trigger queries or police referral.
- Cheque payments and postal forms – where the council offers an online route, use it.
Need it faster?
The stages you control can be compressed into days: pass the exam this week, order the DBS the same day, and have the application ready to send the moment the certificate arrives. An application handling service removes the paperwork errors that cause most delays. What you can’t compress is council processing – no provider can lawfully skip it, so treat anyone promising a “48-hour personal licence” with suspicion.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work while my application is being processed?
You can work in licensed premises without a personal licence as long as alcohol sales are authorised by an existing licence holder. You just can’t be the authorising licence holder or DPS until your licence is granted.
Does the licence arrive by post?
Yes – councils issue a paper licence and a photocard. Some will email confirmation of grant first, which employers usually accept as interim evidence.
How long does the exam result take?
Online exams are typically marked automatically with provisional results the same day; the certificate follows once the awarding body confirms, usually within days.
Start the clock: enrol on the Level 2 APLH course today, or read the full application guide first.
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