Who must take the exam?
A serving licence (skjenkebevilling) lets a business serve alcohol for drinking on the premises (alkoholloven § 1-4). The exam is for the people the licence names as responsible for the serving.
Every licence must, as a rule, have a designated manager (styrer) and a deputy (stedfortreder), both approved by the municipality. They must be over 20, have an unblemished record and documented knowledge of the Alcohol Act (alkoholloven § 1-7c). That knowledge is documented by passing the knowledge exam (alkoholforskriften § 5-1).
A shop that sells beer needs a different exam: see the sales licence exam. The general manager of the business may also need etablererprøven.
Exam format
| Format | Electronic multiple-choice exam (alkoholforskriften § 5-4) |
|---|---|
| Time | 60 minutes |
| Questions | 30 in Oslo and most municipalities we checked |
| To pass | 24 correct answers in Oslo and most municipalities we checked |
| Language | Norwegian only |
| Fee | NOK 400 per attempt (alkoholforskriften § 5-6) |
The regulation sets the format and the time, but not the number of questions or the pass mark. Those figures come from Oslo municipality, and Bergen and Tromsø state the same. Ask your municipality to confirm when you book.
The exam is in Norwegian only
You cannot take the exam in English, and 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.» The government has said it will consider an English version when the knowledge exam is revised, but there is no decision or date yet (see English exam – status).
Whether you may bring a dictionary depends on the municipality:
| Municipality | Dictionary and interpreter | Extra time and arrangements |
|---|---|---|
| Oslo | 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 | Norwegian dictionary allowed. No interpreter. | Extra time can be given, for example for reading difficulties or dyslexia, documented with a medical certificate. |
| Tromsø | Dictionary between Norwegian and another language allowed (source). | Candidates with dyslexia get 30 extra minutes with a medical certificate. |
| Stavanger and Sandnes (Rogaland brann og redning) | Dictionary allowed. No interpreter. | The arranger states that the regulations do not allow extra time. |
Elsewhere, check the municipality's own page. The full table in Norwegian: Hjelpemidler og ordbok på prøven.
How to book and what it costs
- Book with the municipality where the business has or is applying for the licence. Some municipalities use an external arranger; the municipality's page says who. The municipality must hold the exam within two months after it receives your registration (alkoholforskriften § 5-3).
- Pay the exam fee of NOK 400 per attempt to the municipality or arranger (§ 5-6). You pay again if you retake the exam.
- Bring valid photo ID on the day, and check which aids you may bring.
- If you pass, the municipality or arranger gives you proof that you passed (prøvebevis). That is the document the licensing authority needs.
Key Norwegian terms
The exam uses these words in Norwegian. The explanations are Kurs.ing's own, not official translations.
| Norwegian | English | Where in the law |
|---|---|---|
| skjenkebevilling | licence to serve alcohol for drinking on the premises | alkoholloven kap. 4 |
| skjenking | serving alcohol for drinking on the premises | alkoholloven § 1-4 |
| styrer | designated manager responsible for alcohol sales or serving | alkoholloven § 1-7c |
| stedfortreder | deputy for the designated manager | alkoholloven § 1-7c |
| kunnskapsprøven | the knowledge exam on the Alcohol Act | alkoholforskriften kap. 5 |
| uklanderlig vandel | an unblemished record | alkoholloven § 1-7b |
| skjenketid | permitted serving hours | alkoholloven § 4-4 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| skjenkemengde | serving measure (spirits in 2 or 4 cl) | alkoholforskriften § 4-5 |
| medbrakt alkohol | alcohol brought in by guests | alkoholforskriften § 4-4 |
| sluttet selskap | private party (closed event) | alkoholloven § 4-2 |
| ambulerende skjenkebevilling | roaming licence to serve alcohol at closed events | alkoholloven § 4-5 |
| internkontroll | internal control system | alkoholforskriften kap. 8 |
| avvik | deviation (something that breaks a rule or routine) | alkoholforskriften § 8-3 |
| prikksystemet | penalty point system | alkoholforskriften kap. 10 |
| inndragning | suspension of the licence for a period | alkoholforskriften § 10-2 |
| reklameforbud | ban on alcohol advertising | alkoholloven § 9-2 |
| prøvebevis | proof of passing, issued by the municipality | – |
All 84 terms: Norwegian–English glossary (PDF) or the Norwegian page Ordliste norsk–engelsk. The Alcohol Act (alkoholloven) and the Alcohol Regulations (alkoholforskriften) are on Lovdata in Norwegian.
How the Kurs.ing course helps
Kurs.ing is a private course provider. We do not hold the exam and we issue no certificates. The course lessons and practice questions are in Norwegian, because the exam is in Norwegian.
In the course you can ask the AI tutor «Snakk med kurset» (talk with the course) to explain a rule or a word in English. This is a beta feature, and the answers are based on the course material. The lessons, the questions and the municipality's exam stay in Norwegian.
Bevillingspakken covers this exam, the other knowledge exam and etablererprøven for NOK 497, with 8 weeks' access. The exam fee is paid separately to the municipality. The pass guarantee applies according to the terms of sale (in Norwegian).
More guides in English
Sources
Important: Kurs.ing is a private course provider. We do not hold the exams and we issue no exam certificates, course certificates or licences. The Norwegian law text is the authoritative version. Always check the municipality's own page before you book.