There is no such thing as a “Bartending License”. In any state.
Have you ever asked how to become a licensed bartender?
Some people don’t realize that there is no bartending license.
Becoming a bartender doesn’t require some sort of state or national standard.
There is no standardized testing given by the Board of Education to determine
a persons ability to work as a bartender.
There are bartending schools that advertise a bartending license as part of their program.
They might be using the term, on websites or advertising, in order to attract people
to their program. I see nothing wrong with that as long as they clarify that actual bartending
doesn’t require a license.
If they’re misleading you with that then you might want to reconsider going to their school
HOWEVER:
Some states do require that you take some sort of Alcohol Safety
and Service Training.
This training will teach you about:
- Your legal responsibilities when serving alcohol.
- How to responsibly serve Alcohol.
- Not serving minors.
- Not over serving customers.
- Specific State Laws.
- Spotting fake IDs.
Two examples of programs that cover this type of training are
ServSafe and TIPS.
This type of training doesn’t teach you how to properly mix a drink or pour
a draft beer.
If you want to be a bartender then find a State approved program and take that course.
Do this even if your state doesn’t require it.
This will be a PLUS when applying for jobs and show that you
know how to serve alcohol responsibly and you aren’t a liability.
Here are a few links for some states.
Alabama
https://www.alabcboard.gov/licensing-compliance/responsible-vendor-program
Alaska
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/amco/AlcoholicBeverageFAQs.aspx
Arizona
https://azliquor.gov/communications/trainers/trainers.cfm
Arkansas
https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/alcoholic-beverage-control/responsible-permittee-program/
California
https://www.abc.ca.gov/education/register-for-licensee-training/
Colorado
https://sbg.colorado.gov/liquor-enforcement-laws-rules-regulations
Connecticut
https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/liquor.htm
Delaware
https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws/Chapter?id=27946
Florida
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/alcoholic-beverages-and-tobacco/
Georgia
https://dor.georgia.gov/alcohol-tobacco-1/alcohol-tobacco-regulations
Hawaii
https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/departments/liquor-control
Illinois
https://www2.illinois.gov/ilcc/Education/Pages/BASSET/Home.aspx
Idaho
Montana
https://mtrevenue.gov/liquor-tobacco/liquor-education/
Missouri
New York
https://sla.ny.gov/training
Louisiana
https://www.servsafe.com/access/ss/Catalog/ProductList/104
Pennsylvania
https://www.lcb.pa.gov/Education/RAMP/Pages/RAMP-Training.aspx
Texas
https://www.tabc.texas.gov/training_and_certification/approved_seller_training_schools.asp
Washington
https://lcb.wa.gov/mastrvp/mandatory_alcohol_server_training