Scottish Personal Licence (SCPLH)

A Personal Licence allows an individual to supervise, or authorise the sale of alcohol. A Personal Licence is issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to individuals who have obtained a Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder (SCPLH) qualification.

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LICENCE Name

Scottish Personal Licence

AUTHORITY

Local council

TIME TO GET LICENCED 1 month
COST £50
VALID FOR 10 years
ELIGIBILITY 18 years +, hold an SCPLH licensing qualification, not already hold a personal licence, not have had a personal licence revoked in the past 5 years
QUALIFICATION(S) NEEDED Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH)
STEPS TO GET LICENSED
1

Pass the SCPLH Course

1-day
Multiple choice exam
2

Submit application via local council

Visit - https://www.gov.uk/personal-licence-scotland
Submit requested documentation
Get Licenced

Find Your Course

Find your course

What is a Scottish Personal Licence?

A Personal Licence is issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to individuals who have obtained a Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holder (SCPLH) qualification. The Scottish certificate for licensed premises staff, issued by local councils, allows holders to legally authorise the sale of alcohol in Scotland.

This is a must-have licence if you are looking to open your own establishment that will sell alcohol in Scotland or if you are looking to progress your career in the hospitality industry.

Do I need a Scottish Personal Licence?

A Personal Licence is required by anyone who intends to be named as the designated premises manager of a premises licence issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. You or a member of your staff must hold a personal licence if you sell alcohol from licensed premises in Scotland.

The alcohol licence Scotland is a great choice for anyone who is in a role in which they need to authorise the sale of alcohol. This is the perfect licence for:

  • Managers
  • Assistant managers
  • Supervisors
  • People looking to get promoted to the above positions.

NOTE: If you are based in Wales or England you will need to apply for the Personal Licence (APLH)

Eligibility for a SCPLH

To apply for a Scottish Personal licence you must first meet the eligibility criteria. To be eligible you must:

  • be 18 years or older

  • hold a licensing qualification (this is the Scottish Personal Licence qualification - find out more here)

  • not already hold a personal licence

  • not have had a personal licence revoked in the past 5 years

What training is needed to get the SCPLH

To apply for a personal licence in Scotland you will need a Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) qualification.

The Scottish Certificate for Personal Licence Holders (SCPLH) is the necessary training qualification that must be completed prior to applying for your licence in Scotland.

Getting the qualification is pretty easy - but you will need to attend a course and pass an exam to get this. The Scottish Personal Licence course is a one day course and is assessed with a multiple choice exam.

Find out more about the course on the Scottish Personal Licence Training Page.

Renewing your SCPLH

Personal licence holders must undergo refresher training every 5 years. This is to ensure that they have up-to-date knowledge of the area. You do not need to attend a full course to refresh your training - instead you can attend a personal licence holders refresher course.

You will also need to apply to renew your Scottish Personal Licence every ten years. To renew your SCPLH you will need to make an application to your local council and provide your refresher training certificate.

FAQs

A Personal Licence allows an individual to supervise, or authorise, the sale of alcohol. It is a mandatory condition of a Premises Licence that there should be a Premises Manager, and that they should have a valid Personal Licence.
Depending on your circumstances you can apply for one of two types of application. If you do not currently hold a Personal Licence with this Council you can apply for the following: New – If you do not currently hold a Personal Licence with a Scottish Licensing Board you can apply for a new Licence. You will not be licensed until the licence is granted. Renewal – If you currently hold a Personal Licence issued by the City of Glasgow Licensing Board you can apply to renewal the Licence before it expires.
The application fee is set by legislation with the current fee for a licence being £50.
There is no legal timescale for processing this type of application with each council having their own time frame to process applications. Expect to wait at least 2 to 3 months to receive your licence.
You will receive a letter advising that your application has been granted. This letter will include your licence.
You will receive a letter advising that your application has been refused. You have the right to appeal the decision.
The fact that you have certain convictions does not prevent you applying nor does it guarantee that you will be refused. Every application is considered on its own merit.
You can apply at any time for a new Personal Licence if your previous licence was revoked under section 87(3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 because you failed to undertake the required refresher training within the prescribed period. If your licence was revoked for any other reason, you must wait a minimum period of 5 years before reapplying for a Personal Licence.
A ‘relevant offence’ includes violent or sexual offences, firearms offences, drugs offences, aiding and abetting, inciting, counselling or procuring any relevant offence or any other offence which resulted in imprisonment.
Once granted, your personal licence will be valid for 10 years. However, the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 requires all personal licence holders to undertake refresher training within 5 years of the issue of their licence.