Scotland licenses the sale of alcohol under its own law – the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 – and an English personal licence is worthless north of the border. If you’ll sell or authorise the sale of alcohol in Scotland, here is the complete route to a Scottish personal licence: the SCPLH qualification, the Licensing Board application, and the two deadlines that catch people out later.
Who needs a Scottish personal licence?
Every licensed premises in Scotland must have a premises manager who holds a personal licence, and only a personal licence holder can authorise staff to sell alcohol. Supervisors, managers and anyone wanting to run a bar, shop, restaurant or club in Scotland needs one. Bar staff serving under authorisation don’t – but they must complete their own mandatory 2-hour staff training.
Step 1: Pass the SCPLH
The Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) is the Scottish equivalent of the APLH – a short accredited qualification covering the 2005 Act, the five Scottish licensing objectives, alcohol units and irresponsible promotion rules. It can be completed online with a multiple-choice exam. Note the differences from England: Scotland has five licensing objectives (adding “protecting and improving public health”) and notably stricter rules on promotions and displays.
Step 2: Apply to your Licensing Board
- Apply to the Licensing Board for the area where you ordinarily live; if you live outside Scotland, you can apply to any Board (commonly the one where you’ll work).
- Application fee: £50, set nationally.
- Include your SCPLH certificate, two photographs (one certified), and the completed application form.
- You must be 18 or over and hold the qualification; the Board consults the police, who have 21 days to respond, and convictions for relevant or foreign offences trigger closer scrutiny or a hearing.
Processing typically takes a few weeks with a clean record; conviction referrals and hearings take longer.
The two deadlines every Scottish licence holder must diary
1. Refresher training every 5 years
Within five years of your licence being granted you must complete SCPLH refresher training and – crucially – submit the evidence to your Licensing Board within three months of the five-year anniversary. If you don’t, the Board has no discretion: it must revoke your licence, and you’re then barred from reapplying for five years… a career-ending oversight for a premises manager. Set the reminder the day your licence is granted.
2. Renewal every 10 years
Scottish personal licences expire after ten years. The renewal application must reach your Board no later than three months before the expiry date – a deadline that arrives sooner than most people expect.
Moving between England/Wales and Scotland
- An English/Welsh personal licence (APLH) is not valid in Scotland, and a Scottish licence (SCPLH) is not valid in England or Wales.
- There’s no conversion process – you take the other qualification and apply separately. Working on both sides of the border means holding both licences.
- The knowledge overlaps heavily, so adding the second qualification is quick – many candidates pass the APLH or SCPLH within days of deciding they need it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Scottish personal licence cost in total?
SCPLH course from around £100–£130, £50 Board fee, plus photos and certification – budget around £170–£200, then the refresher course cost every five years.
What is the SCPLH refresher – a full exam again?
It’s a shorter update course with an assessment, covering law changes since your original qualification. It can be completed online in a few hours.
Who counts as a premises manager?
The named individual on each premises licence responsible for day-to-day alcohol sales – the Scottish equivalent of the English DPS. One person can be premises manager of only one premises at a time.
Working in Scotland? Start the SCPLH course online, or if your five-year deadline is approaching, book the SCPLH refresher before the three-month window closes.
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