How to pass the APLH online Personal Licence Exam and general Compliance Training. A 2026 Guide

Table of Contents

• How to pass the APLH online Personal Licence Exam
• How Online Compliance Training for Employees Works
  • E-Learning Modules and Instant Access
  • Technical Requirements for Sitting the Exam
• What a Staff Compliance Training Assessment Actually Tests for the Personal Licence
• General Compliance Training
• Sample Compliance Training Quiz Questions and How to Answer Them
  • Example APLH Exam Question
  • Food Safety and Allergen Questions
• Using Employee Training Completion Tracking to Spot Problems Early
• What Happens If Someone Fails an Online Compliance Exam
• Choosing the Right Course for Your Team
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: 7 October 2026

How to pass the APLH online Personal Licence Exam

The online Personal Licence exam has 40 questions and has a pass mark of 28 which equates to a 70% pass mark. This means you must answer at least 28 of the 40 questions correctly to pass.

You have 1 hour to pass the exam, this should be plenty of time as the exam is not designed to test your speed, it is to test your knowledge. Without being able to answer the questions set, you could put yourself or the licensed premises in a position that could be breaking the law.

The exam is multiple choice, which means you have a choice of one of 4 answers, A,B,C, or D, so the correct answer should be the one that you recognise from the e learning course that you have studied. There is only one of the answers that is correct and there are no trick questions.

Before you take the exam you will do your e learning modules, there are 7 e learning modules and you can’t move on until you have answered the typical APLH type exam questions that are relevant to each module that you have just studied. This should give you the knowledge to recognise the answer that in the exam will be there as an A,B,C, or D choice.

For more information, watch this video.

Compliance exams are not designed to trick people. They are designed to confirm that a member of staff knows the law well enough to work safely. The real barrier is not difficulty, It is confidence.

Knight Training have a number of methods to help the most inexperienced learner to pass the Licensing Exam, there are the e learning modules with mock tests as part of the process, there is a full 40 question mock test separately that will allow you to see how long the test will take you and the confidence to know that you can complete this within the one hour time limit and finally, the ability to speak to a tutor at Knight Training to ask any questions prior to the exam to make sure you are confident in passing on the first attempt.

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Some people fail their exam because they panic, rush, or misread a question. Not because they did not know the answer. Once you understand what these exams actually test, the fear goes away.

Before you rush into booking your exam, try the free Highfield APLH Mock exam or the free Highfield SCPLH exam

Below, we break down how online compliance training for employees works, what the exams cover, and how to prepare so your team passes first time.

GOV.UK guidance on alcohol licensing

How Online Compliance Training for Employees Works

Online compliance training for employees delivers the same core content as a classroom course, but learners study at their own pace and sit the exam remotely. The format suits shift workers, small teams, and anyone who cannot take a full day off.

E-Learning Modules and Instant Access

When you book a course with Knight Training, login details arrive by email. You get instant access to the learning portal, a full e-book study guide, and support from professional tutors. There are no deadlines. You study when it suits you.

The content is broken into short sections with checks along the way, so you always know whether you are ready to book the exam.

Technical Requirements for Sitting the Exam

The exam runs on a computer or laptop. It cannot be completed on a mobile phone, tablet, or iPad. You also need photographic ID to hand before you start.

A stable internet connection and a quiet room are all that is required. There is no need to travel to a test centre.

What a Staff Compliance Training Assessment Actually Tests for the Personal Licence

The course covers the key knowledge required to pass the Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders and understand the legal responsibilities involved in alcohol sales.

Topics include:

• The role and legal responsibilities of a Personal Licence Holder

• The four licensing objectives

• Licensing authorities and the licensing system

• Responsible alcohol retailing

• Preventing underage sales and protecting children

• Dealing with unauthorised licensable activities

• Temporary Event Notices (TENs)

• Police powers and rights of entry

• Alcohol awareness, health effects and social responsibility

• Operating schedules and designated premises supervisors

This training ensures you have the knowledge required to operate responsibly within the UK licensing framework.

General Compliance Training

As well as the Licensing exams to obtain a Personal Licence and be able to authorise the sale of alcohol, there are also Food Hygiene or Food Safety, Health and Safety, Emergency First Aid at Work, Fire Safety and many other compliance training courses and tests.

In addition to these recognised and certified courses that have certification awarded to the learner, there is general ongoing training that needs to be carried out by the employer.

A staff compliance training assessment checks whether you can apply the rules in real situations, not whether you can recite them word for word. The questions are scenario-based and written in plain English. Effective evaluation requires consistent oversight to track staff compliance across every department as these practical scenarios evolve.

You will typically be tested on:

• The legal responsibilities of your role
• Age verification and acceptable ID
• Refusing service and handling conflict
• Allergen awareness and food safety basics
• Record keeping and reporting duties

Compliance training exams do not test obscure legal wording. It tests judgement. If you can picture the situation and apply common sense backed by the rules, you will pass.

Sample Compliance Training Quiz Questions and How to Answer Them

Compliance training quiz questions follow predictable patterns. Once you see the pattern, answering them becomes routine. Here are two of the most common types.

Example APLH Exam Question

• The Four Licensing Objectives
  • Question: Which of the following is not one of the four licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003?
  • Options:
    • A) The prevention of crime and disorder
    • B) Public safety
    • C) The promotion of live local music
    • D) The protection of children from harm
  • Answer: C (The four objectives are: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm)

Food Safety and Allergen Questions

These test whether you know how to prevent cross-contamination and how to handle an allergen request.

Exam Only - Personal Licence Exam Online →

A typical food safety and allergen question in UK training and compliance tests is:

“If a customer asks if a dish contains an allergen and you do not know the answer, what should you do?

The Correct Answer

• Consult the allergen matrix or ask a manager/chef before giving any response to the customer.
• Never guess or assume a food item is safe. Even a tiny trace of an allergen can trigger a severe, life-threatening reaction.
• Food Standards Agency allergen guidance

Using Employee Training Completion Tracking to Spot Problems Early

Employee training completion tracking shows you who has finished their modules, who has booked their exam, and who is falling behind. It turns a vague worry into a clear list.

Track three things:

• Who has started the course
• Who has booked the exam
• Who has passed and when their certificate expires

If someone has been "getting round to it" for three weeks, that is a signal. A quiet nudge usually fixes it. Leaving it until an inspection is looming is where problems start.

For multi-site operators, this tracking is the difference between knowing your compliance position and hoping for the best.

What Happens If Someone Fails an Online Compliance Exam

Failing an online compliance exam is not the end of the road. It means a resit, and most people pass on the second attempt. The key is understanding why they failed.

Common reasons include:

• Rushing through questions without reading them fully
• Sitting the exam on a phone or tablet, which is not permitted
• Not having photographic ID ready
• Studying the night before instead of over a few days

Knight Training includes one free resit with our personal licence courses.

Choosing the Right Course for Your Team

The right course depends on the role and the region. Personal licence holders need a different qualification from general bar staff.

Here is how we would match courses to people:

The APLH course covers England and Wales and includes one free resit. The SCPLH course is the Scottish equivalent and is a legal requirement before you can apply for a personal licence through your local licensing board. The exam-only option suits people who have already completed their e-learning elsewhere and just need to sit the test.

Compliance training only works if your team actually passes and keeps their certificates current. Knight Training makes that simple with instant access to online modules, tutor support, and a free resit on every personal licence course. Our courses are accredited by the Highfield Awarding Body and the British Institute of Innkeeping, so you know the qualification is recognised. Contact us today to get your team booked in and compliant.