Washington requires a MAST permit for anyone who mixes, serves, sells, or supervises the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption at a licensed establishment. The requirement sits with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board under Washington Administrative Code Chapter 314-17, with statutory authority in RCW 66.08.030 and RCW 66.20.330. The program has been in place since 1995.
Who needs one, including the jobs people miss
The obvious roles are bartenders, servers, and managers in restaurants, taverns, bars, private clubs, wineries, breweries, and entertainment venues. Two less obvious ones catch retail operators out: you need a MAST permit to conduct alcohol tastings at an off-premises licensed business, and to fill growlers at a grocery store.
Class 12 or Class 13: which one you need
Washington issues two permits, and the difference is age and authority.
A Class 13 permit is for servers 18 and older. You can take orders, carry alcohol to a customer, open and pour beer or wine into a glass at the table, and check IDs.
A Class 12 permit is for workers 21 and older. It covers everything a Class 13 does, plus mixing drinks, drawing from a tap, supervising Class 13 holders, and conducting tastings at a grocery store.
The 60-day rule, and the job with no grace period
You must hold a valid MAST permit within 60 days of starting work. Tasting-room and tasting-event staff are the exception: they must be permitted before their first shift, with no grace period at all.
Working without the permit your role requires is not a paperwork problem. Under WAC 314-17-025 it can result in a criminal citation carrying a fine, jail time, or both, and it exposes the licensee alongside the worker.
When your permit actually expires
This is where most people get caught out. A MAST permit is valid for five years, but it does not expire five years from the day you passed. It expires on the first day of the month following the month you took your test, five years later.
The Washington Administrative Code gives the example directly: complete your course on June 15, 2010, and your permit expires July 1, 2015.
The permit is not renewable. There is no refresher, no shorter re-test, and no grace period once it lapses. To stay permitted you retake an approved MAST course and pass the standardized exam again, which starts a fresh five-year clock. The WSLCB advises taking the new course roughly 45 days before your current permit expires so there is no gap where you cannot legally work.
Your course provider issues your permit and reports your completion to the LCB within 30 days. The board keeps your record for five years, and your information stops appearing once the permit has expired.
If you turn 21 holding a Class 13
A Class 13 permit does not become a Class 12 on your twenty-first birthday. Nothing happens automatically. You keep working under Class 13 restrictions, unable to mix drinks or supervise, until the upgrade is actually made. Contact the provider who issued your permit to find out what your options are, since the answer can depend on how much time is left on your current permit.
Lost permits and name changes
Contact the provider who issued the permit, or submit a replacement form and the appropriate fee to the board. The replacement carries the same expiration date as the original, not a new one.
Keeping a whole roster permitted
The hard part for an operator is not the course. It is that MAST permits expire on staggered first-of-month dates across an entire team, five years after each person happened to test, with no grace period when one lapses.
A company account lets you buy permits in bulk, assign training during onboarding so nobody drifts past 60 days, track who is permitted and at which class, and get alerts before any five-year permit expires. The same roster works through your brand and product courses on the same platform.
Washington MAST FAQ
How long is a Washington MAST permit valid?
Five years, but the expiration date is the first day of the month after the month you tested, five years out. If you passed your exam on October 20, your permit expires on November 1 five years later.
Can I renew a MAST permit?
No. MAST permits are non-renewable. You retake an approved MAST course and pass the standardized exam to get a new permit. There is no grace period once the old one expires.
How soon after being hired do I need a MAST permit?
Within 60 days of starting work. Staff who pour at alcohol tastings must be permitted before their first shift, with no grace period.
What is the difference between a Class 12 and Class 13 permit?
A Class 13 is for servers 18 and older who take orders, serve, pour beer or wine, and check IDs. A Class 12 is for workers 21 and older who can also mix drinks, draw from a tap, supervise Class 13 holders, and run grocery store tastings.
I just turned 21. Does my Class 13 become a Class 12?
No. The upgrade is not automatic. You keep working under Class 13 restrictions until the change is made, so contact your permit provider.
What happens if I serve without a valid permit?
Under WAC 314-17-025 it can bring a criminal citation with a fine, jail time, or both, and it puts the licensee at risk alongside you.
Do I need a new permit if I change employers?
No. The permit belongs to you rather than the employer, and stays valid until its expiration date.
Alcohol server training in other states
Training a team across the region? See Oregon OLCC, California RBS, and Illinois BASSET. For states without a specific mandate, the general Learn2Serve off-premise course applies. Browse the full compliance catalog. Multi-location operators can track permits by location.
Not sure which permit you need? Read our guide to Class 12 vs Class 13.
Buying for a team?
Seats are $19.50 each. Register your business free and assign seats across your whole staff. You can see who has started, who has finished, and when certificates expire from the Learn Brands dashboard.