Which exam do you need?
- Etablererprøven (the establishment exam): for the general manager (daglig leder) of a restaurant, café or other place that serves food or drink (serveringsloven § 5). The manager must be of legal age, 18 (§ 4).
- Kunnskapsprøven for skjenkebevilling: for the designated manager (styrer) and deputy (stedfortreder) of a place that serves alcohol.
- Kunnskapsprøven for salgsbevilling: for the designated manager and deputy of a shop that sells beer and other drinks up to 4.7 %.
The designated manager and deputy must be over 20 and have documented knowledge of the Alcohol Act (alkoholloven § 1-7c). The municipality runs the exams, or an arranger the municipality points to.
Exam format at a glance
| Exam | Questions | Time | To pass | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etablererprøven | 50 | 90 min | 40 correct | Up to NOK 400 |
| Kunnskapsprøven (serving or sales) | 30* | 60 min | 24 correct* | NOK 400 |
Sources: regulation on the establishment exam § 5 and § 7; Alcohol Regulations § 5-4 and § 5-6. *The regulation does not set the number of questions for the knowledge exams; the figures come from Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø municipalities.
The exam is in Norwegian only
All the municipalities we checked state that the exam is taken in Norwegian and that you cannot bring an interpreter. Oslo municipality writes in English: «The test can only be taken in Norwegian, due to a decision made by The Ministry of Health and Care Services.»
How to prepare when Norwegian is not your first language
- Learn the key terms in the glossary below. The exam uses legal Norwegian.
- Practise with Norwegian questions, because the exam is in Norwegian. Our free practice questions show the answer, a short explanation and the law behind it: Øvingsspørsmål: etablererprøven, Øvingsspørsmål: skjenkeprøven, Øvingsspørsmål: salgsprøven.
- Check the dictionary rules where you take the exam (table below).
- Ask about extra time early if you need it. Some municipalities give it; others do not.
What Kurs.ing offers
Kurs.ing is a private course provider. We do not hold the exams and we issue no certificates; the municipality issues the proof that you passed. Our course lessons and practice questions are in Norwegian.
The course includes a beta feature, «Snakk med kurset på 97 språk» (talk with the course in 97 languages). It applies to the conversation in the course. The course content and the municipality's official exam follow their own language rules.
Bevillingspakken covers all three exams for NOK 497 with 8 weeks' access. The exam fee is paid separately to the municipality. If you do not pass the municipality's exam on the first attempt, Kurs.ing refunds the course fee when you send a copy of the result to ola@kurs.ing. The municipality's exam fee is not refunded (see terms, section 17, in Norwegian).
Norwegian–English glossary
Plain-English explanations written by Kurs.ing. They are not official translations. The last column shows where the term is used in Norwegian law. You can print this page.
| Norwegian | English | Where in the law |
|---|---|---|
| serveringsbevilling | licence to run a place that serves food or drink | serveringsloven § 3 |
| skjenkebevilling | licence to serve alcohol for drinking on the premises | alkoholloven kap. 4 |
| salgsbevilling | licence to sell alcohol for drinking elsewhere, for example in a shop | alkoholloven kap. 3 |
| bevillingshaver | licence holder | – |
| bevillingsmyndighet | licensing authority (usually the municipality) | – |
| kommune | municipality | – |
| daglig leder | general manager of the serving establishment | serveringsloven § 4 |
| styrer | designated manager responsible for alcohol sales or serving | alkoholloven § 1-7c |
| stedfortreder | deputy for the designated manager | alkoholloven § 1-7c |
| etablererprøven | the establishment exam for managers of serving establishments | serveringsloven § 5 |
| kunnskapsprøven | the knowledge exam on the Alcohol Act | alkoholforskriften kap. 5 |
| prøvebevis | proof of passing, issued by the municipality | – |
| pensum | syllabus | – |
| vandel | conduct record (compliance with the law) | – |
| uklanderlig vandel | an unblemished record | alkoholloven § 1-7b |
| vesentlig innflytelse | significant influence (for example a major owner) | alkoholloven § 1-7b |
| salg | sale for drinking elsewhere | alkoholloven § 1-4 |
| skjenking | serving alcohol for drinking on the premises | alkoholloven § 1-4 |
| skjenketid | permitted serving hours | alkoholloven § 4-4 |
| salgstid | permitted sales hours | alkoholloven § 3-7 |
| alkoholsvak drikk | low-alcohol drink, 0.7 to 2.5 % alcohol by volume | alkoholloven § 1-3 |
| alkoholholdig drikk gruppe 1, 2 og 3 | alcohol groups: over 2.5–4.7 %, over 4.7 to under 22 %, 22–60 % | alkoholloven § 1-3 |
| brennevin | spirits | alkoholloven § 1-3 |
| aldersgrense | age limit | alkoholloven § 1-5 |
| legitimasjon | identification (ID) | alkoholforskriften § 2-4 |
| langing | buying alcohol for someone under the age limit | alkoholloven § 8-8 |
| åpenbart påvirket | obviously intoxicated or under the influence | alkoholforskriften §§ 3-1 og 4-2 |
| bistandsplikt | duty to make sure a guest who needs help gets it | alkoholforskriften § 4-1 |
| prikksystemet | penalty point system | alkoholforskriften kap. 10 |
| prikk | penalty point | alkoholforskriften § 10-3 |
| inndragning | suspension of the licence for a period | alkoholforskriften § 10-2 |
| tilbakekall | revocation of a licence | serveringsloven § 19 |
| internkontroll | internal control system | alkoholforskriften kap. 8 |
| avvik | deviation (something that breaks a rule or routine) | alkoholforskriften § 8-3 |
| reklameforbud | ban on alcohol advertising | alkoholloven § 9-2 |
| overdragelse | transfer of the business to a new owner | serveringsloven § 22 |
| kassasystem | cash register system | bokføringsforskriften § 5-3-2 |
| Z-rapport | end-of-day report from the cash register | bokføringsforskriften § 5-3-14 |
| merverdiavgift (mva.) | value added tax (VAT) | merverdiavgiftsloven |
| Merverdiavgiftsregisteret | the VAT register | merverdiavgiftsloven § 2-1 |
| bokføring | bookkeeping | bokføringsloven |
| arbeidsavtale | employment contract | arbeidsmiljøloven § 14-5 |
| overtid | overtime | arbeidsmiljøloven § 10-6 |
| nattarbeid | night work (21:00–06:00) | arbeidsmiljøloven § 10-11 |
| yrkesskadeforsikring | occupational injury insurance | yrkesskadeforsikringsloven § 3 |
| aksjeselskap (AS) | private limited company | aksjeloven |
| konkurs | bankruptcy | konkursloven |
| konkurskarantene | ban on some company roles after a bankruptcy | konkursloven § 142 |
| lovsamling (Norges lover) | printed collection of Norwegian laws | – |
| ordbok | dictionary | – |
| tolk | interpreter | – |
| tilrettelegging | special arrangements (for example extra time) | – |
| legeerklæring / legeattest | medical certificate | – |
| gebyr | fee | – |
Law names: alkoholloven is the Alcohol Act (lov om omsetning av alkoholholdig drikk m.v.), alkoholforskriften the Alcohol Regulations, and serveringsloven the Act on serving establishments (lov om serveringsvirksomhet). The texts are on Lovdata in Norwegian.
Dictionary and extra time by municipality
| Municipality | Etablererprøven | Knowledge exam | Extra time and arrangements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | No dictionary or interpreter. The statute book (Norges lover) is allowed; the municipality lends copies. | Dictionary allowed. No interpreter (source). | Candidates with dyslexia can take the exam orally with a medical certificate. Other arrangements must be agreed in advance. |
| Bergen | No dictionary or interpreter. Statute book allowed; the municipality lends copies. | Norwegian dictionary allowed. No interpreter. | Extra time can be given, for example for reading difficulties or dyslexia, documented with a medical certificate. |
| Tromsø | Only plain law and regulation texts, provided by the municipality. No dictionary or interpreter. | Dictionary between Norwegian and another language allowed (source). | Candidates with dyslexia get 30 extra minutes with a medical certificate. |
| Hamar | No dictionary or interpreter. Statute book allowed. | Not checked. | Candidates whose first language is not Norwegian, and candidates with reading and writing difficulties, can get 30 extra minutes or take the exam orally. Agree in advance. |
| Stavanger and Sandnes (Rogaland brann og redning) | Dictionary and statute book allowed. No interpreter. | Dictionary allowed. No interpreter. | The arranger states that the regulations do not allow extra time. |
The regulations on the exams do not regulate aids, so practice differs. If you take the exam elsewhere, check that municipality's own page. Norwegian version: Hjelpemidler og ordbok på prøven.
English exam – status
Status as of :
- 13 July 2023: NHO Reiseliv and Virke asked the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries to offer etablererprøven in English as well as Norwegian (letter). The same day they asked the Ministry of Health and Care Services to offer the knowledge exam in English (letter).
- 10 March 2026: Erlend Svardal Bøe (H) asked the Minister of Health and Care Services in a written question to the Storting whether the exams could be offered in more languages. In the answer of 19 March 2026, the minister said that the Norwegian Directorate of Health sees a need to revise the knowledge exam, and that the revision will also look at translating it into English (Dokument 15:1923).
- 3 July 2026: In answer to a written question from Margret Hagerup (H), the Minister of Trade and Industry, Cecilie Myrseth, said that the current arrangement can make it harder for people who do not speak Norwegian to pass, and that the government will consider this in further work on the rules (Dokument 15:3320).
We have found no decision or date for an English version of either exam. Until that changes, both exams are held in Norwegian.
Sources
- Forskrift om etablererprøve (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Alkoholforskriften chapter 5 (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Oslo kommune: Etablererprøven
- Oslo kommune: Kunnskapsprøvene
- Bergen kommune: Etablererprøven og kunnskapsprøven
- Tromsø kommune: Etablererprøven
- Tromsø kommune: Kunnskapsprøvene
- Hamar kommune: Etablererprøven
- Rogaland brann og redning IKS: Etablerer- og kunnskapsprøven
- NHO Reiseliv: Brev om etablererprøven på engelsk (2023)
- NHO Reiseliv: Brev om kunnskapsprøven på engelsk (2023)
- Stortinget: Dokument 15:1923 (2025–2026)
- Stortinget: Dokument 15:3320 (2025–2026)
Important: Kurs.ing is a private course provider. We do not hold the exams and we issue no exam certificates, course certificates or licences. Always check the municipality's own page before you book.