Illinois Responsible Vendor Certification
Accredited: Green CulturED has been authorized by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as a Responsible Vendor Training Organization to deliver our compliance certification to cannabis industry workers.
The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Responsible Vendor training to ensure all industry personnel has the training, knowledge, and skills needed to manage a safe, prosperous legal industry within Illinois. This Responsible Vendor training was established by the IDFPR to allow state approved training providers required for Illinois’ industry workers on the proper handling and sale of products.
Our Responsible Vendor training is designed to train on Illinois’ state cannabis guidelines and satisfies the IDFPR’s requirements for all agents, managers, and owners in Illinois’ cannabis industry. Everyone that is involved in the handling or sale of cannabis and is employed by an adult-use or medical cannabis dispensing organization in Illinois must take our authorized, Responsible Vendor training.
As a Responsible Vendor Training Organization, we’ll provide agents knowledge on properly checking purchaser identification, state laws relating to dispensing cannabis, identifying signs of impairment, any physiological effects from cannabis, safety and security measures, and any public health concerns due to consumption.
This Responsible Vendor Certification includes the responsible use of cannabis, laws, and regulations on driving while under the influence, sale to minor limits, safe storage of cannabis, waste handling, facility and surveillance requirements, all packaging and labeling requirements, and additional topics that are required.
Review health and safety concerns of cannabis use, including the responsible use of cannabis, its physical effects, the onset of physiological effects, recognizing signs of impairment, and appropriate responses in the event of overconsumption according to the regulations. Help protect yourself and co-workers from risks and liabilities while maintaining your “Responsible Vendor” designation with IDFPR.
Already Enrolled?

Micro-Learning Format
- Time: 2:00 Hours (Required)
- Video: 1 Self-Paced Training
- Resources: 1 eBook (PDF)
- Glossary: State Legal Terms
- Assessment: 1 Quiz
- Grade: 70%+ Required
- Display: Badge & Certificate
- Validity: 1-Year Renewal
- Language: English (CC)
- Enrollment: 90-Day Access
- Format: On-Demand Video
- Authorized: Illinois IDFPR
Responsible Vendor Training (RVT) Requirements
The Responsible Vendor training is designed to educate workers about Illinois’ cannabis laws and delivers the training requirements for every agent, manager, and owner in the state’s cannabis industry. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act created the Responsible Vendor program to ensure all industry personnel has the training, knowledge, and skills needed. To manage a safe, prosperous legal cannabis in Illinois, this Responsible Vendor program is an annual training requirement for everyone working in the industry as dictated by state law.
- Cannabis Consumption Health & Industry Safety Considerations
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
- Minor Prohibiting Sales to Minors
- All Relevant Illinois Laws & Rules
- Acceptable Identification Forms
- Cannabis Storage & Safety
- Inventory Tracking Compliance & Cannabis Product Regulation
- Waste Handling & Management
- Worker Health Concerns & Workplace Safety Standards
- Business Recordkeeping & Operation Records Maintenance
- Facility Safety, Security & Surveillance Requirements
- Regulatory Licensing & Enforcement Inspections
- Customer & Patient Privacy Issues
- Cannabis Packaging Compliance & Product Labeling Requirements
Illinois Advanced Responsible Vendor Certification
We partnered with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to offer the additional annual training that’s required for cannabis workers. Our accredited Responsible Vendor program meets the minimum of two (2) hours of training as part of the eight (8) total hours that must be completed annually. In addition, to our two (2) hours of Responsible Vendor training, cannabis dispensing organizations must ensure that all of their agents receive a minimum of eight (8) hours of training time as prescribed by state laws.
Additional Training Requirements
- Operating Point-of-Sale (POS) System & State Verification Platform
- Proper Inventory Handling & “Seed-to-Sale” Tracking Systems
- Specific Cannabis Delivery Methods or Cannabis-Infused Products
- Inspection Preparedness Information & Law Enforcement Interaction
- IDFPR’s Legal Requirements Awareness to Maintain Agent Status
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Questions Frequently Asked & Answers Provided for Informational Purposes ONLY By the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Application process... applicants MUST complete attestation, submit a photo, residence proof, government identification, and disposition forms for all previous criminal offenses.
Locate a job first... you must first be hired BEFORE you'll be able to apply for an IDFPR agent Identification (ID) card to work at any adult-use or medical cannabis dispensing organization.
It's a process... according to the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, applicants for an Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensing Agent Identification Card MUST have a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. The IDFPR complies with regulations concerning any criminal background check and requires fingerprint vendors to confirm the identity of the individual.
This identity background verification form MUST be completed for any individuals applying for consideration for licensure in Illinois. The out-of-state fingerprint vendor or Illinois live scan vendor chosen to take the out-of-state resident’s fingerprints must be completed as written confirmation that a valid government-issued driver’s license or state Identification (ID) was presented and that the ID provided belongs to the individual being fingerprinted.
All owners, managers, employees, and agents... involved in the handling or sale of cannabis or ANY cannabis-infused products employed by all adult-use dispensing organizations or medical dispensing organizations as required by the state's Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
Within ninety (90) days... the training must be completed before or after the FIRST day of employment at a dispensary, whichever is later. Training received outside of the ninety (90) day window will not meet the training required by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
Annually. The two (2) hour Responsible Vendor training MUST be completed annually as part of the eight (8) annual training hours mandated by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
A wide variety of topics... Responsible Vendor training MUST include the following topics:
- Driving Under the Influence Laws
- Minor Cannabis Sales Prohibitions
- Worker Health & Safety Concerns
- Cannabis Dispensary Worker Health & Safety Standards
- Facility Security & Video Camera Surveillance Requirements
- Organization Recordkeeping & Consumer Records Maintenance
- Inventory Tracking Compliance & "Seed-to-Sale" Regulations
- Customer & Patient Privacy Issues
- Safe Cannabis Storage Practices
- Acceptable Identification Forms
- All Relevant Illinois Laws & Rules
- Permitting Inspections by Licensing & Enforcement Authorities
- Cannabis Waste Handling & All Disposal Procedures Required
- Cannabis Packaging & All Product Labeling Requirements Required
Yes. It must meet what's mandated in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, Responsible Vendor Training of dispensing organization agents MUST complete the requirements:
- How to Operate the Point-of-Sale (POS) System & State’s Verification System
- Proper Inventory Handling & Product Tracking
- Specific Uses of Cannabis or Cannabis-Infused Products
- Regulatory Inspection Preparedness Instruction & Law Enforcement Interaction
- Legal Requirements Awareness for Maintaining Agent Status
The dispensing organization will maintain evidence of all training provided to each agent in its files that is subject to inspection and audit by the IDFPR. The dispensing organization will ensure agents receive a minimum of eight (8) hours of training that is required every year.
Yes. For example, our Responsible Vendor Certification is two (2) hours of training time, so the IDFPR would REQUIRE to provide six (6) hours of additional training per year. In any case, a dispensary agent, agent-in-charge, and principal officer must receive more training:
- How to Operate the Point-of-Sale (POS) System & State’s Verification System
- Proper Inventory Handling & Product Tracking
- Specific Uses of Cannabis or Cannabis-Infused Products
- Regulatory Inspection Preparedness Instruction & Law Enforcement Interaction
- Legal Requirements Awareness for Maintaining Agent Status
Yes. All Principal Officers must meet all the eight (8) hour training requirements found in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. However, ONLY the agents are required to receive the Responsible Vendor compliance training for everyone that is involved in handling cannabis.
Yes, but... only if the secondary site is owned 100% by the exact SAME entity as the medical cannabis dispensing organization where the agent currently works. The IDFPR requires that a dispensing organization agent will only be required to hold one card for the same employer regardless of dispensing organization - adult-use or medical - license their employer holds.
No. An agent-in-charge must be a full-time employee of the retail dispensary, but an agent-in-charge can NOT be the agent-in-charge of more than one dispensary. However, the agent-in-charge of a Medical Cannabis Dispensing Organization may serve as the agent-in-charge for an Adult-Use Cannabis Dispensing Organization operating at the exact same dispensary.
Yes. Agents with Medical Cannabis Dispensary Agent Identification Cards can ALWAYS serve purchasers at an Adult Use Dispensing Organization License located at the same site as the medical cannabis dispensary that's allowed by the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
No. The definition of "dispensing organization" in the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act only includes dispensing organizations with the SAME site or adult-use dispensing organization licenses. The definition does not include medical cannabis dispensing organizations that have not obtained the same site license from the IDFPR. Because a medical cannabis dispensing organization without the same site license is not a "dispensing organization" and does not authorize the licensing of individuals to work at medical cannabis dispensing organization.
Micro-Learning Experience
Engaging & Interactive Training
- Access to all micro-learning videos, each is filled with engaging videos & digital materials created by leading EXPERTS who do this every day in the cannabis industry.
Supplemental Learning Activities
- Downloadable resources & access activities anytime from any device or via our Mobile App to complete your training anywhere & even 100% offline (NO Internet is required).
Knowledge Assessment Quiz
- Assessments are at the very end of every micro-learning module so you'll need to ACHIEVE a grade of at least 70% to assess & validate your cannabis industry knowledge.
Digital Certificates & Badges
- Upon passing, instantly receive your digital certificate(s) and/or badge(s) that acknowledges your accomplishment & DISPLAY your knowledge on LinkedIn to build credibility.
Responsive Support Team
- You’ll see we’re quite different by how our team provides a thoughtful, HUMAN response to all your inquiries in two (2) hours or less (during Monday – Friday business hours).
Members-Only Community
- You'll join our EXCLUSIVE member community, where we'll help you build a network with professionals in the cannabis industry & alert you to opportunities that fit your skillset.