How to become a certified bartender?!

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I just did it in AZ in November 2010! You have to attend a bartending school. I attended the Bartending Academy they have affiliate schools in many states.

You learn to mix drinks professionally. You learn product and drink knowledge. You must pass at the end a speed test where you mix a number of drinks within an allotted time. A written test that includes drink recipes, garnishes, product knowledge etc. And you must sit through a lecture/film on your state liquor laws and bartender responsibilities/liability and then you must take a written and multiple choice exam and pass that to acquire your servers license which has to be renewed every few years as laws may change.

There were quizzes also after each lesson. Each lesson and practice behind the bar is 4 hours long. The course requires you to put in a given number of hours based on your school or state requirements. It took me 6 weeks and I have worked in and gone to bars for years so the product knowledge was easiest for me. They say some people go full-time 8 hours a day and finish in 1 or 2 weeks. I found memorizing the 120+ drink recipes alone to hard to do the classes that fast. Then you need to practice a lot and you can do this anytime at a Bartending Academy once you finish and get your certificate to keep you sharp. Your location should also help you with job placement.

Bartending Academy of Tempe AZ. I became Certified as of Nov 2010 myself.