- What do your students and graduates think of the course?
- What classes do you offer at American Bartenders School?
- When are classes held at American Bartenders School?
- What is the difference between a bartender and mixologist?
- Do I need to be certified to bartend?
- What is the difference between your school and others?
- Will the school help me find a job?
- How soon can I get a job after graduation?
- What happens if I can’t learn it all in 1 or 2 weeks?
- What happens if I can’t make the hours of the class because of a scheduling conflict?
- Do you use real liquor in the bartending school?
- If you don’t use real liquor, how do you know how the drinks will taste?
- How much do bartenders earn?
What do your students and graduates think of the course?
One of the best ways to evaluate any school is to hear directly from the people who have attended it. Over the past 55+ years, American Bartenders School has trained more than 100,000 students from all walks of life—college students, career changers, hospitality professionals, entrepreneurs, and people simply looking for a flexible way to earn additional income.
Many of our graduates tell us that the hands-on training, supportive instructors, small class sizes, and job placement assistance were among the most valuable aspects of their experience. Students frequently comment on the confidence they gain behind the bar, the practical nature of the training, and the welcoming atmosphere created by instructors who have spent years working in the hospitality industry.
Perhaps most importantly, our graduates consistently tell us that they leave the program feeling prepared. Whether their goal is to land a first bartending job, pick up a flexible side income, work private events, or build a long-term hospitality career, they appreciate learning skills they can put to use immediately.
We encourage every prospective student to do their research. Read our student reviews, browse testimonials, and see what real graduates have to say about their experience at American Bartenders School. Their stories provide valuable insight into what you can expect from the training, the instructors, and the opportunities that can follow graduation.
What classes do you offer at American Bartenders School?
Our primary program is the 40-Hour Professional Bartending Certification Course, a hands-on training program designed to take students from beginner to job-ready in as little as one or two weeks.
The course covers everything needed to work behind a professional bar, including mixology, spirits knowledge, beer and wine fundamentals, customer service, alcohol awareness, bar setup and operations, interview preparation, job placement assistance, and lifetime refresher training.
Whether you’re looking to start a bartending career, earn additional income, gain a flexible skill, or explore opportunities in the hospitality industry, our certification program provides the practical training and support to help you achieve your goals.
When are classes held at American Bartenders School?
We offer several scheduling options designed to fit almost any lifestyle, work schedule, or availability. Students can complete our 40-Hour Professional Bartending Certification in as little as one week through our Full-Time Program, or over two weeks through our Part-Time Program.
Full-Time Program (1 Week) Monday–Friday | 8 Hours Per Day
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
1:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Part-Time Program (2 Weeks) Monday–Friday | 4 Hours Per Day
Morning: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Afternoon: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Evening: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Flex Program: Need a more customized schedule? Our Flex Program allows you to combine class times and create a schedule that works around your job, school, family commitments, or other responsibilities.
At American Bartenders School, we never rush students through the program. Our goal is to help you learn the material thoroughly and build confidence behind the bar at a pace that works for you.
As an added benefit, all graduates of our 40-Hour Certification Course receive Lifetime Refresher Training, allowing you to return anytime to practice, review techniques, and sharpen your skills throughout your bartending career.
What is the difference between a bartender and mixologist?
While the terms are often used interchangeably, there is an important distinction between a bartender and a mixologist.
A bartender is a hospitality professional responsible for serving guests, preparing drinks, managing bar operations, handling transactions, maintaining cleanliness, and creating a positive customer experience. Bartending requires a broad set of skills that includes speed, accuracy, multitasking, customer service, product knowledge, responsible alcohol service, and the ability to perform efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
A mixologist, on the other hand, is someone who specializes in the craft of creating and developing cocktails. Mixologists often focus on cocktail history, flavor profiles, ingredient combinations, advanced techniques, and beverage innovation. They may create original drink menus, develop signature cocktails, and explore the artistic side of beverage creation.
At American Bartenders School, our primary focus is preparing students to become successful, employable bartenders. While you’ll learn hundreds of popular cocktails, proper mixing techniques, spirits knowledge, and the fundamentals of mixology, our goal is to teach the practical skills employers are looking for when hiring new bartenders.
The reality is that most successful bartending careers begin with mastering the fundamentals: making drinks accurately, providing excellent customer service, working efficiently under pressure, and creating great guest experiences. As your experience grows, your mixology skills will naturally continue to develop throughout your career.
Our training is designed to give you a strong foundation in both bartending and mixology, helping you become job-ready while providing the knowledge and confidence to continue growing as a hospitality professional long after graduation.
Do I need to be certified to bartend?
Do I Need to Be Certified to Bartend?
In most cases, no—you do not need a bartending certification to legally work as a bartender. Many bartenders enter the industry without formal training and learn on the job.
That said, certification and professional training can provide a significant advantage, especially if you’re new to the industry and don’t have prior bar experience.
Many employers prefer candidates who already understand drink preparation, bar terminology, responsible alcohol service, customer interaction, cash handling, and the basics of bar operations. Hiring a trained bartender often requires less time, supervision, and expense than training someone from scratch.
A professional bartending course can also help you build confidence before your first shift. Instead of learning under pressure while customers are waiting for drinks, you’ll have the opportunity to practice behind a real bar, learn common cocktails, become familiar with bar tools and equipment, and develop the skills needed to work efficiently in a professional environment.
Beyond the training itself, graduates often benefit from career resources such as resume assistance, interview preparation, job placement support, industry connections, and ongoing refresher training—resources that are typically unavailable to someone attempting to enter the industry entirely on their own.
The bottom line: certification is usually not required, but for many aspiring bartenders it can be one of the fastest and most effective ways to gain the knowledge, confidence, and professional support needed to land a first bartending job and succeed once hired.
What is the difference between your school and others?
There are several bartending schools in New York, but few can match the experience, reputation, and industry relationships that American Bartenders School has built over more than five decades.
Since 1969, we have trained more than 100,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to work in bars, restaurants, hotels, private clubs, event venues, and hospitality businesses throughout New York City, across the United States, and around the world. That history matters. After more than 55 years in business, we’ve learned what works, what employers are looking for, and how to prepare students for success in the real world.
Our instructors are experienced hospitality professionals, many of whom are graduates of the school themselves. They teach practical skills in a hands-on training environment that simulates the demands of a working bar. Students learn behind real bar stations using professional equipment, not simply through lectures or videos.
Perhaps our biggest differentiator is our career support. We maintain one of the most comprehensive job placement programs in the industry. Graduates receive assistance with resume development, interview preparation, one-on-one coaching, and ongoing career guidance. We help students understand not only how to get interviews, but also how to present themselves professionally and identify quality opportunities.
Graduates also receive access to our private job board, featuring positions from hospitality employers who actively seek trained bartenders. While no school can guarantee employment, these opportunities often provide a valuable introduction to employers who are already familiar with American Bartenders School and our graduates. That can be a significant advantage compared to applying through large public job boards where candidates are often competing with hundreds of applicants.
Beyond training and career support, our reputation is reflected in our graduates’ experiences. Over the years, we have accumulated hundreds of positive reviews, testimonials, and success stories from students who have used their training to launch new careers, earn additional income, build hospitality careers, and achieve personal goals.
Ultimately, the difference is not just the course itself—it’s the combination of experience, hands-on training, industry connections, career support, and a proven track record built over more than half a century. When you attend American Bartenders School, you’re not simply enrolling in a class. You’re joining a community of more than 100,000 graduates and gaining access to resources and relationships that can continue to benefit you long after graduation.
it’s best to come in and see what you are getting in-person.
Will the school help me find a job?
Yes. Job placement assistance is included for graduates of our 40-Hour Professional Bartending Certification Course.
Our placement team helps students prepare for the job search process by providing guidance on resumes, interview skills, professional presentation, and how to approach employers with confidence. Graduates also receive access to our private job board, featuring opportunities from bars, restaurants, hotels, catering companies, event venues, private clubs, and other hospitality employers.
More importantly, we help students understand how to identify quality opportunities. Not every bartending job is the right fit, and part of our role is helping graduates evaluate potential employers, understand earning opportunities, and avoid situations that may not support their long-term goals.
While no school can guarantee employment, American Bartenders School has spent decades building relationships throughout the hospitality industry. Many employers actively seek out our graduates because they know they have received hands-on training and understand the fundamentals of professional bartending.
Perhaps the biggest advantage is that our support doesn’t end after graduation. Graduates receive lifetime job placement assistance, meaning you can continue to utilize our resources, job leads, and industry connections whether you’re searching for your first bartending position, looking for a better opportunity, relocating to a new city, or returning to the industry years later.
Our goal is simple: not just to teach you how to bartend, but to help you build a successful bartending career. We hav a very high success rate.
How soon can I get a job after graduation?
There is no single answer, as every student’s situation is different. Some graduates begin interviewing immediately after completing the course and secure a position quickly, while others may take more time depending on their availability, location, experience, schedule preferences, and the types of establishments they are targeting.
One advantage of training in New York City is the hospitality industry’s size and diversity. With thousands of bars, restaurants, hotels, event venues, private clubs, and entertainment destinations, there are often opportunities available for motivated candidates who are prepared and actively searching.
Throughout the program, we’ll help you prepare for the job search process by assisting with resumes, interview skills, professional presentation, and understanding what employers are looking for in entry-level bartenders. Graduates also receive access to our private job board and ongoing job placement assistance.
Ultimately, the students who find jobs the fastest are typically those who are flexible, responsive, professional, and proactive in their search. The combination of hands-on training, career support, and industry connections helps position graduates to enter the job market with confidence.
Our goal is not simply to teach you how to bartend—it’s to help you become employable and give you the tools, resources, and support needed to launch a successful bartending career.
What happens if I can’t learn it all in 1 or 2 weeks?
Don’t worry—most students don’t master bartending in one or two weeks.
The purpose of our training is not to turn you into a seasoned veteran overnight. Our goal is to give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to begin working behind a bar and continue developing your abilities through real-world experience.
Everyone learns at a different pace. Some students pick up drink recipes quickly, while others need more time to build confidence with pouring, multitasking, customer interaction, or bar operations. That’s completely normal.
At American Bartenders School, we never rush students through the learning process. If you need additional practice, our instructors are available to help, and graduates receive Lifetime Refresher Training, allowing you to return and review material, practice behind the bar, and sharpen your skills whenever needed.
The reality is that professional bartending is learned through a combination of training and experience. The course provides the foundation, but your skills will continue to grow with every shift you work, every customer you serve, and every new situation you encounter.
What matters most is not memorizing every drink recipe or becoming an expert before graduation. What matters is developing a strong foundation and the confidence to step into your first bartending job ready to learn, contribute, and succeed.
What happens if I can’t make the hours of the class because of a scheduling conflict?
We are 100% flexible. We understand that life happens. Work schedules change, family obligations arise, and unexpected events can interfere with your training.
That’s why we offer flexible scheduling options designed to accommodate busy students. If you miss a class or encounter a scheduling conflict, our staff will work with you to arrange a makeup session whenever possible. Because classes are offered throughout the week at different times of day, many students can make up missed material by attending another session.
For students with particularly demanding or unpredictable schedules, our Flex Program allows you to combine different class times and create a customized training schedule that fits your availability.
Our goal is not to rush you through the program—it’s to make sure you successfully complete your training and feel confident behind the bar. We have helped students balance bartending school with full-time jobs, college schedules, family responsibilities, and other commitments, and we’ll do our best to help you stay on track if scheduling challenges arise.
If you anticipate a conflict, simply speak with a member of our staff, and we’ll work together to find a solution
How much do bartenders earn?
Bartending income can vary dramatically depending on where you work, the type of establishment, the clientele you serve, and the shifts you are assigned.
In New York City, bartending can be an exceptionally lucrative profession. Experienced bartenders working in busy venues, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, popular nightlife destinations, private clubs, and event spaces can earn very substantial incomes through a combination of wages and tips. In some cases, top bartenders in the right environments earn incomes that rival or exceed those of many traditional office-based professions.
However, not all bartending jobs are the same. Earnings can differ significantly among a neighborhood pub, a sports bar, a fine-dining restaurant, a rooftop lounge, a catering company, or a private event venue. Factors such as beverage prices, customer volume, tipping culture, and shift assignments all play an important role in determining earning potential.
Income can also vary from city to city and country to country. What a bartender earns in a small town may differ significantly from what a bartender earns in a major hospitality market such as New York City, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago, or Los Angeles.
One of the reasons so many people are attracted to bartending in New York is the sheer size and diversity of the hospitality industry. With thousands of bars, restaurants, hotels, event venues, and entertainment destinations serving millions of residents and visitors each year, the city offers opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.
While no school can guarantee earnings, bartending remains one of the few professions where individuals can develop a marketable skill relatively quickly and potentially earn a strong income while enjoying a flexible schedule and a dynamic work environment.
Ready to take the next step?Â
The best way to determine whether American Bartenders School is right for you is to schedule a one-on-one visit. During your visit, you’ll meet our staff, tour the school, observe active students in training, and have the opportunity to sit in on a live class.
We encourage you to schedule your visit as soon as possible. To ensure every student receives plenty of hands-on instruction and individual attention, class sizes are intentionally kept small, and seats can fill quickly.