Requirements To Become A Bartender

Legal Requirements

The minimum age requirement to become a bartender in the state of Maryland is 18. There are some cities, Annapolis for instance, where the minimum age is 21. Here is a chart with the other state’s minimum ages to become a certified bartender:

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AL – 21
AK – 21
AZ – 19
AR – 18
CA – 21
CO – 18
CT – 18
DE – 21
DC – 21
FL – 18
GA – 18
HI – 18
ID – 19
IL – 18*
IN – 21
IA – 18
KS – 21
KY – 20
LA – 18
MA – 18
ME – 18
MD – 18*
MI – 18
MN – 18
MS – 18
MO – 21
MT – 21
NE – 19
NV – 21
NH – 18
NJ – 18
NY – 18
NM – 21
NC – 21
ND – 21
OH – 21
OK – 21
OR – 21
PA – 18
RI – 18
SC – 21
SD – 18
TN – 18
TX – 18
UT – 21
VT – 18
VA – 21
WA – 21
WV – 18
WI – 18
WY – 21
* Indicates Stricter Cities of 21

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Other Requirements

If you meet the legal minimum age requirement, you are half way to becoming a bartender. But there are a bunch of personal qualities that will help you become successful. Assuming your goal is to get and hold a good paying bartender job, you have to have:

Great manners – since you will be dealing with customers during the entire course of your work day, and since they are your paycheck (tips), you want to have a great attitude and good manners to serve them with.

Patience – a requirement to become a bartender because you may encounter unruly customers. If they are impatient, you must be more patient, understanding that they have had a few drinks and would otherwise not act like they are.

Stamina – considering the fact that you will be standing for several hours on end, you will need to have the wind to carry you all the way through a busy day at the bar.

Honesty – most people pay with cash when at the bar, and thus you will be handling a lot of money. Also, you have the ability to pour drinks, charge the customer for them, but never ring them up. Only do this if you want to get fired really fast.

Good sense of humor – People usually visit the bar because they are looking to loosen up and have a good time. Therefore, if you have a good sense of humor and can joke with your customers, they are likely to tip you more and have a good time. If you’re really good, they will frequent the bar you work at and ask for you specifically!

Beyond those personal qualities, there aren’t any other requirements to become a bartender.