Earning a bartending certificate or license from a bartending school has its benefits. If you’re totally new and wanting to learn how to become a bartender so you can make a career switch, it can help you quickly and efficiently cover bartending basics. Or if you're a barback looking to press the fast-forward button on your bar career. Bartending school forces you to spend hour after hour perfecting your bartending technique.

• Bartending School Cost And Length
• Bartending School Cost
• National Bartending School Cost
• Bartending School Cost Atlanta

National Bartenders Bartending Schools began in 1984 with our first school campus in Los Angeles, California. Since then, we’ve grown, but our vision has always stayed the same – to train the best bartenders in the area. We now feature high quality, affordable bartending schools across Southern California & New York. Bartending School in Houston / Austin, Texas with schools from Coast to Coast. We offer one, two and three week bartending classes with Nationwide Job Placement assistance for our graduates at no additional cost. Owner Tony Sylvester has been training and placing bartenders since 1977.

But going to bartending school doesn’t guarantee you a bartending job upon graduation, nor is it even required to get a job tending bar. You may even find yourself managing a bar afterward, earning a bar manager salary and not tips.

So what good is it? Let’s look at some pros and cons of going to bartending school, then compare that with the average cost of attending bartender school. Only then will you know if bartending school is worth it.

The Pros of Bartending School

The best parts bartending school are the expansive curriculum, being forced to get bartending experience, and networking with people in the industry.

Bartending School Curriculum

The topics and bartender responsibilities covered at any bartending school will be far-and-away more extensive than topics covered during new-hire training at a bar. Here’s a list of material typically covered in a bartending school:

• Bar setup for both front and back bars
• Bar equipment operation and maintenance
• Liquor types, history, and usage
• Beer keg sizes and types
• Customer psychology
• Industry legalities
• Alcohol awareness
• Etiquette
• Physical techniques, complete with simulation and practice
• Upselling drinks and maximizing sales and gratuities
• Glassware
• Bar cleaning and maintenance
• Money handling
• Mixology, basic bar drinks, and the drinks every bartender should know
• Bartending lingo like 86 meaning

Some bartending schools even offer modules on bar inventory management, audio-visual equipment, bar and restaurant technology, and menu engineering. Hands down, the biggest pro to going to bartending school is the depth and breadth of industry knowledge you’ll get. Other people may spend a year figuring out what bartending school teaches you in weeks.

Bartending Experience

The best way to get experience bartending is to bartend. But bartending has the classic catch-22 of job seeking. You can’t get hired without experience, and you can’t get experience without being hired.

Enter bartending school. You’ll spend hours simulating pouring, mixing, and drink-making techniques using real liquor bottles—of all liquor bottle sizes. Sometimes they’re filled with water, sometimes not. Depends what the exercise is. If no one will give you a chance to bartend, bartending school gives you enough experience to get your foot in the door.

This benefit is less pronounced if you opt for an online bartending course. They’ll still cover the physical techniques like standard pours and how to pour beer, but it’ll be up to you to practice on your own with no real-time feedback.

Networking for Bartenders

70% of employers prefer word-of-mouth over job websites when looking to hire someone. Networking and building relationships in the industry is probably the easiest and quickest way to get a bartender gig. After your class graduates from bartending school, people are going to get hired. If you were chummy with them throughout the course, you’ve got an in.

But networking doesn’t end when the course ends. Use your bartending course as a springboard to attending industry events, expos, and conferences or joining online communities. Then you’re not just increasing your job prospects, you’re getting a whole new drink-slingin’ family.

Job Hunting Support

Many bartending schools will help new grads get their resumes and LinkedIns together, work on interviewing skills, and curate job opportunities for them. The higher a bartending school’s job placement rate, the better they look. And the more new recruits they get. It’s part of the business model, and it’s a big help.

The Cons of Bartending School

It’s Not Required

This is something a lot of bartending schools don’t necessarily want broadcast, but bartending certificates and licenses aren’t required to bartend.

Some towns, counties, or states do require a certification or permit to bartend, but it varies from place to place. And some municipalities don’t require anything. But there isn’t a uniform, national bartending certificate or license that will allow you to legally work everywhere.

What a bartending school primarily sells you is a wealth of industry knowledge, low-stakes practice, and networking opportunities. And, ideally, the legal permit or certification you need to tend bar where you’ll be looking for work.

It Takes Time

You’ll need to devote about 40 hours of class time to graduate from bartending school. Usually those 40 hours are in the evenings over a few weeks.

A schedule like Monday through Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. for 2-3 weeks is standard. If you’re taking an online bartending course, it may be less than 40 hours, and you can do it at your own pace.

And it Costs Money

The only way to figure out if it’s all worth it is to compare all of the above with how much bartending school costs.

How Much Does Bartending School Cost?

A 40-hour in-person certification course at a bartending school costs between $400 and $800.

How Much Does Online Bartending School Cost?

An online certification course at a bartending school costs between $50 and $200.

Is Bartending School Worth It?

If you’re totally new to bartending or are having trouble getting your first bartending job, yes. It’s worth it.

If you have some experience bartending and only need the specific certification or permit required to work in your area, no.It’s not worth it. Figure out what your local alcohol laws are and get that specific certification. You may be able to get away with just alcohol server training.

For example, in Texas the TABC certification is all that’s required. It costs about $10 and takes a few hours to do the coursework and pass the exam.

Online bartending school is worth it if you have zero to little experience bartending. Or if you need to get your foot in the door and don’t have the time or resources to attend an in-person school. Anything relevant to put on your resume will help. An online bartending certificate is no exception.

You won't learn industries skills like how to stock a bar or the sizes of wine bottles, but we can fill in the gaps for you. We can even give you a bartender duties checklist to make your work easier.

Short answer: It depends.

Let’s face it, bartending school can be quite the investment. But that doesn’t exactly that your money is NOT worth it. Like any school or course, one can take full advantage of the opportunity in front of them. You’ll be forced to read, study bartending terminology and recipes, and practice your craft. You can either take the learning material seriously, or as many of us did high-school or college, do whatever you have to do to pass the final exam (without actually retaining the information).

At the end of the day, the question shouldn’t be “is bartending school worth it?” Instead, we urge all prospective bartenders to ask themselves:

Short answer: Yes.

Generally speaking, those who enroll in a bartending school and successfully pass the course will have a stronger resume than those who apply for jobs without any prior experience. In a sense, attending a bartending school will set yourself apart from the competition when applying. Once you complete the course you’ll be rewarded with a course certification.

Furthermore, many reputable bartending schools will provide students with job-placement assistance. As you can image, having instructors walk you through the entire application process… and potentially recommending you local bars and restaurants… your chances of landing a job dramatically increase.

One important, yet overlooked benefit of bartending school is the opportunity to build confidence. If you have no prior experience working in the industry, bartending school is a great platform to brush off the jitters or any anxieties before the real thing.

Are you on the fence about bartending to begin with?What if you’re not sure sure bartending is the job you want? While bartending school comes with a price, perhaps the experience will help you with these decisions.

Roughly 80% of students who attend bartending school, don’t get hired after course completion. But it’s not because they can’t get hired. It’s because they choose to not apply. Through bartending school, they’ve realized bartending doesn’t suit them. If that becomes the case for you, that’s perfectly fine! You can’t hate anything until you try it, right? But at least you won’t have to endure the headache of applying, getting hired, and then committing to a weekly shift… only to find out you don’t like the job weeks later.

While it’s important to weigh out the benefits of bartending school before taking out your wallet, it’s equally important to study the cons of bartending school as well.

How Much Is Bartending School?

Generally speaking, bartending schools will cost anywhere between $50 to $500. Bartending school prices greatly depend on a number factors such as location, where you live, and the bartending school or course itself.

The biggest attributing factor towards cost is undoubtedly the course format: Online or offline

Online bartending schools are the cheapest, with costs usually ranging anywhere between $40 to $200. Offline bartending schools, also known as in-person bartending schools, are fairly expensive. These courses are often held in a classroom environment, have an instructor, and are usually a bit more comprehensive and time-consuming. For this reason, offline bartending school typically costs anywhere between $250 to $1,000.

Is Online Bartending School Worth It?

If you’re looking to quickly learn about bartending without having to drive back and forth to a classroom, online courses are your best bet. Online schools are also less time-consuming and cheaper. But just so everyone’s aware, you likely won’t learn as much with online formats in comparison to an in-person, professional bartending school.

Bartending School Cost And Length

Simply put, you get what you pay for.

Heads up: As you search for online bartending schools, be aware that there are scams. Unfortunately, many online bartending schools don’t teach you anything you can’t find on Youtube for free! Furthermore, their “certification” may not even be nationally recognized. For these reasons, we suggest prospective bartenders to closely read the reviews before spending any money whatsoever.

When deciding to pay for either an online or offline bartending school, it’s important to understand not only the differences between the two and their costs… but also the learning material provided. Keep your expectations realistic and explore the differences between online and offline bartending schools below.

Online Bartending School

• Costs: $40 – $200
• Course Length: 4 – 15 hours
• Curriculum: Alcohol Awareness & Safety, Serving Etiquette, Liquor Types & History, Mixology and Basic Drink Recipes, Beer Types, Industry Legalities, General Bartending Terminology

Key Advantages:

• Not as costly
• Less time-consuming
• Quick and easy
• May provide you with a state-certified bartending license upon course completion

Offline Bartending School

• Costs: $250 – $1,000
• Course Length: 2 – 6 weeks
• Curriculum: Customer Psychology, Alcohol Awareness & Safety, Maximizing Tips, Serving Etiquette, Industry Legalities, Equipment Usage, Mixology and Basic Drink Recipes, Pouring and Shaking Techniques, Bar Setup Procedures, Beer Types and Keg Operations, Money Handling, Liquor Types & History

Key Advantages:

Bartending School Cost

• Learning real, cup-in-hand bartending skills & techniques
• Job-placement assistance
• Provide state-certified bartending licenses upon course completion
• Quality bartending education
• Classroom experience; will meet others in the industry

How to Find The Best Bartending School

National Bartending School Cost

After reading this post and deciding if bartending school is for you, here are a few steps to take in order to find the best school near you.

1. Reach out to us
   For absolutely no cost, bartendingschool.com will provide you a list of the BEST schools in your area. This is a great way to start exploring your options, hassle-free.
   
2. Meet The Instructor
   One key difference between a good school and an unfavorable one, is the quality of the instructor(s). First impressions are generally accurate. If you can’t visit the location prior to registering, just give the school a call and try to speak to them one-on-one.
   
3. Sit-in On A Class
   Despite the costs, reputable schools are usually open to allow prospective students the chance to get a sneak-peek at all the action. If you have the time, sit through a portion of the class, observe, and take notes on the people around you and their level of engagement. If the bartending schools you reach out to don’t allow this, they’re likely hiding something for a reason.
   
4. Read the Reviews Online
   Online bartending school reviews are tricky. Some are reliable, while others are scammy and arguably fake. Regardless, they can help you narrow down your options available.
   
5. Ask Your Local Bartenders
   This one is fun, relatively easy, and super valuable. Visit some local bars in your area and spark up a conversation with the staff. Not only will they know where to point you, but some bartenders will even give their unfiltered opinion :). Bartenders are usually quick to share information about their career path, how they got to where they are today, and which schools (if any) do they recommend. Just be sure it’s a slow day so they have enough time to talk to you without too many distractions.

It’s Your Call

Bartending School Cost Atlanta

Believe it or not, every single day new bartenders are entering the workforce despite ever enrolling in a bartending school. But will they be as prepared or confident in comparison to those did go to school? Will they know how to earn more tips off the bat? Will they craft darn good drinks, keep managers happy, and create returning customers?

We won’t claim to know.

But we do know where the pendulum swings…