Q: Do I need to go to a bartending school?
A: No. However, most bars will not hire you without prior experience or training from a reputable bartending school. Remember: most owners do not have the time or patience to train you, so a bartending school would be a good choice if you don’t have another way to obtain experience.

Q: What about online or home-study bartending courses?
A: 99% of these courses are not licensed by the Board of Education in your state, so be very careful. Learning to be a bartender is more than memorizing drink recipes and various facts. Hands-on experience with the proper equipment in a bar “environment” is invaluable. You can’t learn how to drive a car without a car. The same principle applies to bartending.

Q: Should I attend a state licensed bartending school?
A: YES. Always be sure to attend a bartending school that is licensed by the Board of Education for the state you live in. That way, if a school uses deceptive practices, you'll always have someone to report them to.

Q: How old do I have to be to become a bartender?
A: Click on the box below to determine the legal age in your state:
Alabama - 21 Alaska - 21 Arizona - 19 Arkansas - 18 California - 21 Colorado - 18 Connecticut - 18 Delaware - 21 Florida - 18 Georgia - 18 Hawaii - 18 Idaho - 19 Illinois - 18 Indiana - 21 Iowa - 18 Kansas - 21 Kentucky - 20 Louisiana - 18 Massachusetts - 18 Maine - 18 Maryland - 18-21 Michigan - 18 Minnesota - 18 Mississippi- 18 Missouri - 21 Montana - 21 Nebraska - 19 Nevada - 21 New Hampshire - 18 New Jersey - 18 New Mexico - 21 New York - 18 North Carolina - 21 North Dakota - 21 Ohio - 21 Oklahoma - 21 Oregon - 21 Pennsylvania - 18 Rhode Island - 18 South Carolina - 21 South Dakota - 18 Tennessee - 18 Texas - 18 Utah - 21 Vermont -18 Virginia - 21 West Virginia - 18 Wisconsin - 18 Wyoming - 21 Washington State - 21 Washington, D.C. - 21 Bartending Age by State

Q: What is alcohol server training?
A: Simply speaking, alcohol server training teaches you how to deal with drunks. These programs go by different names (TAM, BASSET, RVTA, TABC, ABC & TIPS). Some schools will try to use a particular name as a gimmick to get you to sign with them. Do not be fooled by this sales pitch, because they are all the same. These programs help reduce insurance rates, liability, and penalties - and they protect the owner's liquor license. Any school that is licensed by the Board of Education in their state can also offer this type of training, at no charge in most states.

Q: Do bartending schools help you find a Bartending job?
A: Yes! By law, all state Board of Education licensed bartending schools MUST HAVE A JOB PLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

Q: How do bartending schools find bartending jobs for their students?
A: There are many ways in which a school gets leads for their students. For example: advertising in trade magazines, newspapers, the Yellow Pages, the internet; word of mouth; mailings to prospective employers. All good schools will have a class in their curriculum devoted to how to interview for a bartending job.

Q: Should I attend a school that states job placement percentage claims in their advertisements? For example: “98% student placement rate” or “88% job placement rate”.
A: Frequently, advertisements that include such statements are a scam and may indicate that you should avoid the school. If you have any doubts, ask them to put in writing their implied claims of guaranteed employment using these percentage tactics or tell them you will pay them after they place you based on their 98% to 88% implied placement rate. ALso, always ask how long they have been training and placing bartenders in your city and how many students attending that location have been trained and placed in the USA.

Q: How do I enroll at a bartending school?
A: You can enroll over the phone with a credit card or in person. Be leery of schools that will not quote you a price over the phone – they normally want you to come in so they can apply high pressure sales tactics.

Q: How do I pick the right bartending school?
A: Do your homework! We have tried to list the top bartending schools in each state on this web site. These are the schools that have the best reputation for training and job placement in their area and truth in their advertising.

Here are some other pointers when searching for bartending schools:
1. Make sure the school is licensed by the Board of Education in your state. DO NOT attend a school that is not licensed by the state Board of Education.

2. Ignore advertisements online or in giveaway newspapers that say things like “Earn $400 – $800 a shift” and “Will Train, no experience necessary”. These are scams and will ask you to pay a “small” fee to be placed or to have them create a web page for you – and then do nothing for you.

3. What about schools that state they are members of the WBTO, PBSA, National Bartenders Association or other important sounding associations? Frequently, these are pay-for-membership associations set up the by schools themselves to make them seem more reputable, larger and attractive when it comes to job placement so they can state they have world-wide or nation-wide job placement. In most cases these are sales gimmicks that schools use to solicit students.

4. What is a “pay-per-click” web site? This is when a bartending school pays to be on a marketing company’s web site. The purpose is to make the school look larger, more reputable, more attractive and to generate leads for that school, for money. Notice that they all have the same colorful high-gloss bartending pictures theme and they use domain names like BEST, BETTER or USA - these are all web site marketers and the schools pay to be on their website.

We hope that you have found this information useful in selecting a bartending school to attend. Please e-mail us if you have any suggestions or questions.

Bartending Schools by state
AL | AR | AZ | CA | CO | CT | FL | GA | HI | IL | IN | IA | KY | LA | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | NE | NV | NJ | NM | NY | NC | OH | OK | OR | PA | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WI

Alabama
ABC Bartending Schools – 601 Beacon Parkway West - Birmingham, AL (205) 941-9998
ABC Bartending Schools – Birmingham, AL (205) 941-9998
Top Shelf School of Professional Bartending – Tuscaloosa, AL (205) 792-2842

Arkansas
The Bartending School – 2725 Cantrel Rd - Little Rock, AR (501) 227-5161

Arizona
ABC Bartending School – 5032 South Ash Ave. - Tempe, AZ (480) 777-2333
Bartending Academy - 2723 North Campbell Ave. - Tucson, AZ (520) 325-5004

California
ABC Bartending School – 5036 Katella Ave - Los Alamitos, CA (562) 596-7009
ABC Bartending School – 2235 N. Lake Ave. - Altadena, CA (562) 596-7009
ABC Bartending School – 15694 E. 14 th St. - San Leandro, CA (510) 317-5980
ABC Bartending School – 1012 E. Cooley Dr. Suite D - Colton, CA (909) 825-8677
ABC Bartending School – 11136 Amalgam Way Suite D - Rancho Cordova, CA (916) 852-0459
ABC Bartending School – 75-110 St Charles Lane Palm Desert, CA (800) 532-9222
ABC Bartending School – Los Angeles, CA (888) 262-5824
ABC Bartending School – Los Angeles, CA - west (1-800) 933-7804
ABC Bartending School – Los Alamitos, CA(562) 596-7009
ABC Bartending School – San Leandro, CA (510) 317-5980
ABC Bartending School – Orange County, CA 1-888-COCKTAIL
ABC Bartending School – Riverside, CA (1-877) TEND-BAR
ABC Bartending School – Sacramento, CA (916) 852-0459
ABC Bartending School – San Francisco, CA (510) 317-5980
ABC Bartending School – San Jose, CA (408) 594-9478 1-888-901-TIPS
American Bartender School – Palm Desert, CA (800) 532-9222
San Francisco School of Bartending – 760 Market St. - San Francisco, CA (888) 254-1100
Victorville Bartending School – 13726 Hesperia Rd. - Victorville, CA (866) 900-6499
National Bartenders School – 870 Market St. - San Francisco, CA (415) 677-977
National Bartenders School - Canyon County, CA (1-800) 508-POUR
San Diego Bartending School – San Diego, CA (619) 461-2800
Bartenders of Santa Rosa – 1050 Hopper Ave. - Santa Rosa, CA (707) 523-1611
International Casino School - Hawthorne, CA (310) 973-7974
National Culinary & Bakery School – 8400 Center Dr. - La Mesa, CA (619) 461-2800
A Absolute School of Bartending – 1447 Fulton Ave. - Sacramento, CA (916) 256-5461
Bartending Academy – 3568 30th St. - San Diego, CA (619) 296-0600
Academy of International Bartending & Casino – 68340 Vickers St. Suites - San Diego, CA (858) 560-6499
Pacific Coast Bartending School – 1320 S. Kellogg - Goleta, CA (805) 964-5400

Colorado
ABC Bartending School – 3600 Beeler St Suite #130 - Denver, CO (303) 741-5005
ABC Bartending School – Denver, CO (303) 741-5004

Connecticut
Atlantic Bartender School – Waterbury, CT (203) 754-6000
Boston Bartending School – Hamden. CT (800) -357-3210
Boston Bartending School – Wethersfield, CT (860) 296-0141
Connecticut School of Bartending – 78 Franklin St. - Norwich, CT (860) 886-1955
National Bartenders School – 501 Kings Highway East - East Fairfield, CT (203) 338-8223

Florida
ABC Bartending School – 3419 North Dixie Highway - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (954) 566-0488
ABC Bartending School – 1711 Worthington Rd - West Palm Beach, FL (561) 687-9700
ABC Bartending School – 653 North Mills Ave. - Orlando, FL (407) 894-6720
ABC Bartending School – 4601 West Kennedy Blvd. #112 - Tampa, FL (813) 637-0006
ABC Bartending School – 11757 Beach Blvd. #5 - Jacksonville, FL (904) 998-9966
ABC Bartending School – 7329 West Flagler Street - Miami, FL (305) 267-1446
ABC Bartending School – 911 Alton Rd. - Miami Beach, FL (305) 267-1446
National Casino School – Bonita Springs, FL (239) 949-8665
National Casino School – Fort Meyers, FL (239) 334-6300

Georgia
ABC Bartending School – 2359 Windy Hill Rd. - Marietta, GA (404) 705-7070
ABC Bartending School - 2920 Old Norcross Rd. L-2 - Duluth, GA (770) 954-6271
ABC Bartending Schools – Atlanta, GA 1 (800) 933-7804

Hawaii
ABC Bartending School – 2885 South King St. #102 - Honolulu, HI (202) 343-0821

Idaho
At Your Service Bartending School - 824 Resience St. - Wallace, ID (208) 659-6404

Illinois
ABC Bartending School – 1034 West Belmount - Chicago, IL (847) 228-0700
ABC Bartending School – 1699 Wall Street #102 - Mt. Prospect, IL (847) 228-0700
ABC Bartending School - 7242 Benton Dr. - Frankfort, IL (847) 228-0700
ABC Bartending Schools – Chicago, IL - downtown (312) 664-0704
ABC Bartending Schools – Chicago, IL - northwest suburbs (847) 228-0700
ABC Bartending Schools – Chicago, IL - south suburbs 800-933-7804
Charlie's Professional Bartending, Inc - Spring Grove, IL (877) 884-BARS

Indiana
ABC Bartending School– Frankford (1-877) TEND-BAR (NW Indiana)
Midwest Bartending School – 5759 East 86 th St - Indianapolis, IN (317) 577-2727

Kentucky
Kentucky School of Bartending – 1300 Hepbum Ave. - Louisville, KY (502) 584-7222
Lexington Bartending School - 2573 Richmond Rd. - Lexington, KY (859) 269-6060

Louisiana
Crescent School of Gaming and Bartending – 209 N. Broad St. - New Orleans, LA (504) 584-7222
Louisiana School of Bartending – Baton Rouge, LA (866) 21-DRINK

Maryland
Authentic Bartending School – Hyattsville, MD (866) 411-2MIX
Baltimore Bartending School – Baltimore, MD (410) 685-1594
Maryland Bartending Academy - 209 New Jersey Ave. NE - Glen Burnie, MD (410) 787-0020

Massachusetts
Boston Bartending Schools – Boston, MA (800) 877-3210
Boston Bartending Schools – Dracut, MA (800) 357-3210
Boston Bartending Schools – Hyannis, MA (800) 357-3210
Boston Bartending Schools – Saugus, MA (800) 357-3210
Boston Bartending Schools – West Springfield, MA (800) 357-3210
Boston Bartending Schools – Worcester, MA (800) 357-3210
Cape Cod School of Bartending - 12 Enterprise Rd. - Hyannis, MA (888) 437-4657

Michigan
ABC Bartending School – 6551 N. Wayne Rd. - Westland, MI (248) 547-7740
ABC Bartending Schools – Madison Heights, MI (248) 547-7740

Minnesota
Minnesota School of Bartending - 2426 University Ave. - St. Paul, MN (651) 645-1252
Minnesota School of Bartending – Minneapolis, MN (612) 333-6692

Mississippi
Crescent School of Gaming and Bartending – 1205 25th Ave. - Gulfport, MS (228) 822-2444
Crescent School of Gaming and Bartending – 2981 Grand Casino Pkwy S. - Robinsinville, MS (662) 363-9999

Missouri
Bartending Institute – St. Louis, MO (314) 997-7797
International School of Professional Bartending – Kansas City, MO (816) 753-3900

Nebraska
Midwest Bartenders School – 4957 NW Radial Hwy. - Omaha, NE (402) 551-2351

Nevada
ABC Bartending – 557 East Sahara Ave. #222 - Las Vegas, NV (702) 650-2510
Reno Taho Bartending School – 3702 S. Virginia St. - Reno, NV (775) 329-5665

New Hampshire
Boston Bartending School - Nashua, NH (603) 595-9105
Master Bartender School - 84 Main St - New Market, NH (603) 659-3718

New Jersey
ABC Bartending Schools, NYC 800-933-7804
American Bartending School – Wayne, NJ (800) 532-9222
Art of Bartending, Inc – Toms River, NJ (732) 506-7750
Authentic Bartending School – Edison, NJ (732) 248-5059
Bartending 101 Bartending School – Hopatcong, NJ (937) 601-9227
Mix Em Up Bartending Institute – 623 North Wood Ave. - Linden, NJ (908) 925-6499
Mix Em Up Bartending Institute – 14 Fulper Rd. - Flemington, NJ (908) 782-6001
Mix Em Up Bartending Institute – 340 Bloomfield Ave. - Verona, NJ (973) 857-0200
Mixology Wine Institute - 215 E. Route 70E - Cherry Hill, NJ 1 (888) MIX DRINKS
Mixology Wine Institute - Lawrenceville, NJ 1 (888) MIX DRINKS
National Bartenders School – 53 Main St. - Woodbridge, NJ (732) 750-8775
White Horse Bartending School – 409 S. White Horse Pike - Berlin, NJ (856) 767-8646

New Mexico
The Bartending Academy – Albuquerque, NM (505) 292-4180

New York
ABC Bartending Schools – NYC (212) 594-4146
ABC Bartending – 500 Eighth Ave. #801- Manhattan, NY (212) 594-4146
All Star Bartending – Medford, NY (800) BARTEND
American Bartender School – New York, NY (800) 532-9222
Authentic Bartending School – White Plains, NY (800) TEND-BAR
Columbia School of Mixology – New York, NY (212) 854-4537
Bartenders Professional Training Institute – 1550 Jefferson Rd. - Henrietta, NY (716) 874-9112
Bartenders Professional Training Institute– 3815 Delaware Ave. - Kenmore, NY (716) 874-9112
Bartenders Professional Training Institute– 634 Old Liverpool Rd. - Liverpool, NY (800) 448-0211
National Bartenders School – 901 N. Broadway - N. White Plains, NY (914) 949-8888
Northeast Bartenders School – 1 Barney Rd. - Clifton Park, NY (518) 279-4201

North Carolina
Bartending University – 1 Marine Blvd - Jacksonville, NC (910) 347-5006
Charlotte Bartending School – Charlotte, NC (704) 566-8777
Raleigh Bartending School – Raleigh, NC (919) 676-0774 or (888) 676-0774
Professional Bartending Institute - 2606 Phoenix Dr. - Greensboro, NC (336) 294-9550

Ohio
ABC Bartending School – 1505 Bethel Rd Suite #101 - Colombus, OH (614) 442-9400
ABC Bartending Schools – Colombus, OH (614) 442-9400

Oklahoma
Oklahoma School of Bartenders – Oklahoma City, OK (405) 947-5678
Oklahoma School of Bartenders – Tulsa, OK (918) 743-5678

Oregon
American Bartending College - 8101 SW Nyberg Rd. - Tualatin, OR (503) 885-8885
Infinity Bartending School – Troutdale, OR (503) 674-3887 or (866) 674-3887
Portland Bartending Academy – Portland, OR (503) 227-0700

Pennsylvania
Allentown Bartender School – Whitehall, PA (610) 821-9450
Authentic Bartending School – Philadelphia, PA (800) TEND-BAR
Bartenders School of Roslyn, PA – Roslyn, PA (215) 657-0833
Bartender School of Pittsburgh – 2121 Noblestown Rd. # 105 - Pittsburgh, PA (412) 921-9227
Capitol Bartending School – 419 N. 2nd St. - Harrisburg, PA (717) 214-6153
Mixology Wine Institute - 7780 City Ave. - Philadelphia, PA (888) MIX DRINKS
Philadelphia School of Bartending – Philadelphia, PA (800) 264-9835
Professional Bartending Institute – 2961 W. Liberty Ave. - Pittsburgh, PA (412) 344-9100
The School of Culinary Arts at Yorktown Business Institute – York, PA 1 (800) 840-1004


Tennessee
Pro Bartending School - 8078 Kingston Pink - Knoxville, TN (865) 693-6609
Pro Bartending School - 2710 Old Lebanon Pike - Nashville, TN (615) 885-5800

Texas
ABC Bartending School – 4021 Beltline Rd. #212A - Addison, TX (972) 720-8282
ABC Bartending School – 3300 Chimney Rock Rd. #102 - Houston, TX (713) 706-3330
ABC Bartending School – 6850 Manhattan Dr. - Fort Worth, TX (817) 590-2800
ABC Bartending School – Austin, TX (512) 323-2002
ABC Bartending Schools – Dallas, TX (972) 720-8282
ABC Bartending Schools - Fort Worth, TX (817) 590-2800
ABC Bartending Schools – Houston, TX (713) 706-3330
Alianza Certification Training – 4938 South Staples - Corpus Christi, TX (361) 882-8195
San Antonio School of Bartending - San Antonio, TX (210) 967-4600
Texas School of Bartenders – Austin, TX (512) 323-2002
Texas School of Bartenders - Brownsville, TX (956) 986-6200
Texas School of Bartenders – Houston, TX (713) 522-4600

Utah
Rocky Mountain Bartending Academy - Salt Lake City, UT (801) 532-7127

Vermont
Professional Bartenders School – 1068 Williston Rd. - Burlington, VT (802) 419-6218

Virginia
Barmasters of Virginia Beach - Virginia Beach, VA (757) 464-0500
Tri-City Bartending School – 100 Piedmont Ave. - Bristol, VA (276) 591-5699
The Academy of Bartending – 9907 Warwick Blvd. - Newport News, VA (757) 595-2274
Pro Bartending Academy - 4615 W. Broad St. - Richmond, VA (804) 285-7077

Washington
ABC Bartending School – 1002 Industry Dr. - Tukwila, WA (425) 656-0600
ABC Bartending Schools - Seattle, WA (425) 656-0600

Wisconsin
Bartending Academy – 6713 Odana Rd. - Madison, WI (608) 277-TIPS
Bartending Academy – 8626 W. National - WI (414) 351-TIPS
Bartending College - Milwaukee, WI (800) BAR-TEND
The Bar School – 1033 Caledonia St. - La Crosse, WI (608) 785-1833

Bartending School