CERT VA is the self-paced online course that helps Virginia retailers train staff on age verification and responsible selling. We include it free when we handle your Retail Tobacco Permit.
See if you need the permit and get the CERT VA course included free. No obligation.
CERT VA stands for Compliance Education for Retailers of Tobacco. It is a self-paced online training course from the Virginia Health and Safety Institute, built for the owners and staff who sell cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine products across Virginia. The course launched in July 2026, just ahead of the state's new Retail Tobacco Permit requirement that takes effect October 1, 2026.
The goal is straightforward: give every employee a clear, consistent understanding of Virginia's tobacco rules, how to verify a customer's age correctly, and how to sell responsibly so a single mistake at the register does not turn into a violation. For a busy store, a short structured course is the easiest way to get the whole team on the same page.
When we handle your Retail Tobacco Permit, we include the CERT VA course for your team, so your training and your permit paperwork are handled together and stay consistent.
A plain-language overview of what Virginia expects from tobacco and nicotine retailers under the new permit.
How to check IDs correctly every time, recognize fakes, and handle underage attempts the right way.
Best practices at the point of sale that keep your store compliant and lower your violation risk.
The common mistakes that lead to penalties, and simple habits that help every employee avoid them.
The Virginia Health and Safety Institute lists the CERT VA course at $20 per person. Pricing is set by the provider and is subject to change. When we handle your Retail Tobacco Permit, we include the course for your team at no additional cost, so it is one less thing to buy or schedule.
You can review the course directly on the provider's site, or start with a free eligibility check and we will set everything up for you.
View the Official CERT VA CoursePlease note: Virginia does not currently administer or recognize an official tobacco retailer certification program, and the CERT VA course is not approved, endorsed, or certified by Virginia ABC or any other Virginia government agency. It is a private training course that can help retailers prepare for the responsible-sales expectations tied to the new permit.
We include the CERT VA course for your staff when we handle your permit, so training is one less thing to buy or schedule.
Your initial permit application asks you to attest that employees are trained. We align the CERT VA training with that requirement.
Our team includes former Virginia ABC Special Agents who know exactly what the state looks for from retailers.
Permit required to keep selling
State application fee
Needs its own permit
Application to approval
Start with a free eligibility check. When we handle your Retail Tobacco Permit, the CERT VA compliance course comes included for your team.
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