Requirements to Become a Bartender

Legal RequirementsTN - 18
The minimum age requirement to become aTX - 18
bartender in the state of Maryland is 18. ThereUT - 21
are some cities, Annapolis for instance, where theVT - 18
minimum age is 21. Here is a chart with the otherVA - 21
state's minimum ages to become a certifiedWA - 21
bartender:WV - 18
WI - 18
AK - 21WY - 21
AZ - 19* Indicates Stricter Cities of 21
AR - 18Aside from the age requirement, you must also
CA - 21have a clean criminal record (no felonies).
CO - 18Other Requirements
CT - 18If you meet the legal minimum age requirement,
DE - 21you are half way to becoming a bartender. But
DC - 21there are a bunch of personal qualities that will
FL - 18help you become successful. Assuming your goal
GA - 18is to get and hold a good paying bartender job,
HI - 18you have to have:
ID - 19Great manners - since you will be dealing with
IL - 18*customers during the entire course of your work
IN - 21day, and since they are your paycheck (tips), you
IA - 18want to have a great attitude and good manners
KS - 21to server them with.
KY - 20Patience - this is only a requirement to become a
LA - 18bartender because you will often be dealing with
MA - 18drunken customers. If they are impatient, you
ME - 18must be more patient, understanding that they
MD - 18*are intoxicated and would otherwise not act like
MI - 18they are.
MN - 18Stamina - considering the fact that you will be
MS - 18standing for several hours on end, you will need
MO - 21to have the wind to carry you all the way
MT - 21through a busy day at the bar.
NE - 19Honesty - most people pay with cash when at
NV - 21the bar, and thus you will be handling a lot of
NH - 18money. Also, you have the ability to pour drinks,
NJ - 18charge the customer for them, but never ring
NY - 18them up. Only do this if you want to get fired
NM - 21really fast.
NC - 21Good sense of humor - People using visit the bar
ND - 21because they are looking to loosen up and have a
OH - 21good time. Therefore, if you have a good sense
OK - 21of humor and can joke with your customers,
OR - 21they are likely to tip you more and have a good
PA - 18time. If you're really good, they will frequent the
RI - 18bar you work at and ask for you specifically!
SC - 21Beyond those personal qualities, there aren't any
SD - 18other requirements to become a bartender.