If you've decided you want to become a bartender, you will need to have some form of training and professional certification. The right combination of professional schooling and hands-on experience will help make you an exceptional bartender. How should you go about finding the right bartending school?



The first thing you need to do is make sure you only look for bartending schools that are licensed to teach and have the correct professional credentials. A reputable school can provide this information to you, and will not put pressure on you to sign up for a course. They will have affliliations with hospitality industry organizations. Treat your search for a bartending school like you would treat choosing a college or university. Visit the establishment, meet with the instructors, ask to see the schedule of their training course and inquire about what other kinds of services they can provide. Remember, serving alcohol professionally carries legal risks and obligations, so it is imperative that you train through a reputable program.

The first task of a bartending school is to teach students how to make basic and more advanced drinks and cocktails, what is known as the fine art of mixology. Students must learn proper form and techniques, as well as speed and efficiency—not unlike culinary training. A good bartending school should be set up like a real bar, to provide hands-on training as close as possible to the real thing. check out the facilities. Is the classroom and bar area clean? Does it have the appropriate layout to replicate a real bar? There should be a proper sink system, an ice machine, soda dispensers, blenders. They should be fully stocked with all the types of glassware required to properly make drinks, whether for a pub or a martini bar.

Is the staff professional, knowledgable, friendly and helpful? Does the school have proper bartending textbooks? What do they offer students besides training in basic and advanced drink-making techniques? Most schools will give students training in the way the hospitality industry operates, and the different areas you can enter (whether it be restaurants, hotels, resorts, and so on). If someone is serious about the hospitality industry they may be interested in restaurant management and learning how to run a small business. A good school can provide training in this. Ask the instructors what other opportunities they provide, such as financial assistance packages. Does the school have a job placement program? A proper school should be able to make your job search process go a lot more smoothly.

Whether you are new to the hospitality industry or are already working in the industry, a quality bartending school can be of value to you as you seek to acquire new skills or build on existing ones. Hospitality is an exciting industry with the possiblility to not only make excellent money, but to advance into positions of management and ownership. Therefore your choice of bartending school should not be taken lightly.