L
Liquor Compliance
022 056 9254 Get a quote
HOME / GUIDES / MANAGER'S CERTIFICATES

Manager’s certificate vs LCQ: what is the difference?

Two different things, often used interchangeably. One is a qualification you hold. The other is a certificate the licensing system issues to a named person.

5 MIN READ
UPDATED AUGUST 2026
LIQUOR COMPLIANCE
Key points
The LCQ is a qualification. The manager’s certificate is a certification issued through the licensing process.
Holding an LCQ does not by itself make someone a duty manager.
The certificate is personal to the individual and has an expiry.
Liquor Compliance does not issue LCQ qualifications or manager’s certificates.

The LCQ

The Licence Controller Qualification is a training qualification, assessed against unit standards and delivered through approved providers. It covers the law, host responsibility, intoxication, minors and the duties that sit with a manager on a licensed premises.

It is normally the starting point. Completing it gives the individual the underlying knowledge, and the resulting certificate of achievement is the evidence used later.

The manager’s certificate

A manager’s certificate is applied for through the licensing process and is issued to a named individual, not to a business. The application looks at the person’s suitability, experience and qualification, and reports are usually sought before a decision is made.

Once issued, it is that individual’s certificate. It travels with them if they change employer, and it needs renewing before it expires.

Why the distinction matters on the floor

A venue can be full of staff who have completed the LCQ and still be non-compliant if no certificated manager is on duty. The certificate is what allows a person to act as a duty manager, and the appointment needs to be recorded.

If your only certificated manager resigns, that is an immediate operational problem, not a paperwork one.

Know who holds a current certificate and when each expires
Keep a second certificated manager trained as cover
Record the duty manager for every trading period
Start renewals before the expiry date, not on it

What we do and do not do

We help operators work through the manager’s certificate application process, prepare the supporting material and plan certificate cover across a roster.

We are not an NZQA-accredited training provider and we do not issue LCQ qualifications or manager’s certificates. Those come from approved providers and the relevant licensing authority.

IMPORTANT
This guide is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements, council processes and policies vary by district and change over time. Licensing decisions are made by the relevant statutory authorities.
Related guides
All guides →
COMPLIANCE
Running a duty manager handover that holds up
4 MIN READ
TEMPORARY AUTHORITY
Buying a licensed business? Understanding temporary authority
6 MIN READ
HOST RESPONSIBILITY
Writing a host responsibility policy staff actually use
6 MIN READ