In Indiana, anyone who serves or sells alcohol MUST be certified by the state. Unfortunately, the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) for the state of Indiana makes this a very confusing process.

So we’re here to help but bare with us… The ATC requires a lot (too many in our opinion) of steps.

For starters, the state of Indiana has 2 types of employee permits:
1.) The Restricted Permit – for 19 and 20 year olds.
2.) The Unrestricted Permit – for persons 21 and up.

• When a restricted employee becomes 21 year of age, the employee must obtain an unrestricted permit in order to continue to serve alcoholic beverages.
• There is a $45 fee to obtain/transfer the permit
• The unrestricted employee permit is valid for 3 years

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Regardless of age, any certification MUST be obtained no later than 120 days from the date of hire at an alcohol establishment.

This post was updated on April 1, 2020.

Minimum Age To Be A Bartender In Indiana:

• 21

Restricted Permit Laws and Information (for employees who are 19 & 20 years old)

All 19 & 20 year olds MUST successfully complete a state-certified server training program PRIOR to applying for a restricted permit.

• The training is provided through the Excise Police District in your area.
• HERE is a list of scheduled Server Training Programs (PDF). Online providers appear at the end of the list.

Free Training

Before browsing through the above link for training providers, the Indiana ATC offers a free online training program that meets all the requirements for server certification. The programs provided in the PDF document above will likely come with a fee.

There are 2 ways to access this free training:

1.) When applying online for a new employee permit, you are offered the option to complete the training DURING the application process. HERE is the link to start the Employee Permit application process

2.) If you have already applied for and have received your permit by using a paper application, follow this link HERE to start the Online Training

Once the employee successfully completes the training program, the restricted employee should then submit an application to the Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission with the certification attached along with the other required information.

Notable Laws & Regulations For The “Restricted Employee”

• In order for the restricted employee to serve alcoholic beverages, the employee must be supervised by someone who has successfully completed a state-certified server training program.
• The restricted employee may not act as a bartender or serve alcoholic beverages in the bar room.
• The restricted employee may NOT mix drinks as well as:
  • Draw beer from a tap or spigot into a pitcher or mug
  • Pour pre-mixed beverages into containers to be served at a table or dining area
• Restricted employees may ONLY serve in family areas of retail establishments.
• A restricted employee is ALLOWED to garnish a drink prepared by a licensed bartender and may uncork and pour wine from a bottle at a customer’s table
• The restricted employee may not serve drinks in a recreational area such as a pool room, arcade room, or in the stands at a sports arena
• The restricted employee may serve alcoholic beverages in the banquet room of a hotel or restaurant but may NOT serve over a bar or act as a bartender.

Unrestricted Permit Information: (for those 21 & up)

Although an employee may be over the age of 21, the state still requires everyone who serves/sells alcoholic beverages to be certified.

For those that are applying for their “unrestricted” employee permit for the first time, follow this link to register for a new employee permit. The site will provide the application steps along the way.

Please note: The Indiana ATC offers a free online training program that meets all the requirements for the server certification. The program will offer the option to take the free training during the application process.

• HERE is the list (pdf) of State-Approved Third-Party Training Providers. This will most likely cost money… and online providers will appear at the end of the list.

Employees have to (1) successfully complete a state-approved training program and (2) complete application process with the ATC for an Employee Permit

Unrestricted Permit Renewal Indiana

If you are up for renewal for a bartending license in Indiana, simply follow this link. These certifications expire every 3 years.
If you are up for renewal and do not know your permit number, you can look it up HERE

Qualifications and Other Limitations

• If you have not been living in the state for the past 10 years, you will have to provide an out-of-state driving record.
• Also, if you have had any OWI or DUI charges within the past 10 years… this may affect your application process

Other Requirements That May Be Helpful

• Driver’s License or Passport
• Proper Non-slip Bartending Shoes
• Knowledge of basic drink recipes

For more information, please contact your local City Clerk’s office.

CHEERS!

Some bartending schools offer licenses and some offer certifications. What’s the difference? And, more importantly, do you need a license to bartend? What about a certificate?

Let’s look at what bartending certification is, what a bartending license is, and the difference between the two. Then we'll see whether or not you need them to start bartending.

What is a Bartender Certification?

People use the phrase bartender certification in two ways. The first is in reference to a document a bartending school issues you after completing their course. The second is in reference to a document your local city, country, or state requires you have to tend bar.

Ideally, your bartending school fully prepares you for the job market beyond bartending 101, by including any required local certification, license, or permit in their course. Along with all the bartender duties you need to know like drinks every bartender should know and what a well drink is. But that’s not always the case.

How Do You Get Certified to Be a Bartender?

Enroll in a bartending school in person or online and complete the course. But every location—city, state, or county—has their own bartending regulations and requirements in place. Some municipalities require the completion of an alcohol awareness course. Some require nothing at all. Look at your local laws and make sure you check off all the boxes required to bartend in that area.

How Long Does It Take to Get Certified as a Bartender?

Bartending certification courses usually include 40 hours of coursework and require about 2 to 3 weeks to complete.

But to meet the bare minimum to bartend, often it’s just a matter of taking a legally-mandated alcohol awareness course. In Oregon, for example, if you pay about $20, it’ll take just a few hours to get OLCC certified. And that’s all you need to tend bar in Oregon. Other states have similar requirements, so it’s important to do your research.

Do You Need a Certificate to Be a Bartender?

The short answer is no. There is no formal, nationally recognized and required certification to bartend. Local alcohol laws and what’s required to tend bar in one city or state are not the same everywhere. If you have the time and the drive, you can pick up a fifth of alcohol (it's the standard alcohol bottle size), replace the booze with water, and practice pouring on your own. Master the standard pours, how to pour a beer, and the standard wine pour and you'll be outperforming licensed bartenders in no time.

Can I Get My Bartending Certificate Online?

You can, and it’s often cheaper than attending a bartending school in person. The drawback to getting your bartending certificate online is that you’ll miss out the hands-on training. Online bartending courses cost around $50-$200 while in-person courses clock in at around $400-$800.

If you’re completely new and wanting to start with a bartending 101, it may be worth shelling out the extra dough. It'll make sure you know exactly how to physically interact with the equipment and tools you’ll be using. And how to execute each bartending technique. And how to upsell drinks in a bar.

Bartender Needed For Event

But maybe you’re just looking for a legal job. If so, get any local permits or certifications required to tend bar online. No need for a proper bartending school.

What Is a Bartending License?

Like bartending certificates, there is no formal national bartender licensure. A bartender license can refer to two things. First, what a bartending school gives you when you complete the course. Second, what the local laws require to tend bar.

Let’s use Texas as an example. You can attend a bartending school in Texas, go through roughly 40 hours of coursework, and earn what the school calls a bartending license.

But the only thing required in Texas to be a bartender is the TABC certification, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission certification. This certification is based solely on alcohol awareness and preventing sales of alcohol to minors or intoxicated people. You can get a TABC certification on its own, and that can also be called a bartending license.

How to Get a Bartending License

You can enroll in a bartending school and complete the course. Or you can figure out what your local laws require to tend bar and just get that. In Texas, visit a TABC certification website, pay around $10, spend a few hours, and be allowed to bartend in Texas.

Do You Need A Bartender License In Florida

How Long Does It Take to Get a Bartending License?

If you enroll in a bartending school that offers a bartending license, it’ll usually be a 40-hour commitment. If you’re only after the bare minimum required to legally tend bar in your area, it takes as little as 2 hours.

Do You Need to Have a Bartending License to Become a Bartender?

No, you do not need a license to become a bartender. Some local laws require permits or certificates, but there is no formal bartending license in the U.S. If you’re trying to figure out what’s needed in your area to bartend, this is a good place to start.

Can I Get My Bartending License Online?

You can! There are hundreds of online bartending schools that offer their own bartending licenses. You can also usually take any legally required courses online, if you’re not after the entire bartending school experience.

Is a Bartending Certificate the Same as a License?

Need Bartender License

Effectively, yes, they are the same thing. Bartending schools will issue you a bartending certificate or a bartending license when you complete their course. Both the words license and certification are used by the industry. That's because there is no nationally recognized document or training needed to legally bartend. The requirements are different in every part of the country, so people use different words.

License To Be A Bartender

What’s important when asking 'do you need a license to bartend' is that to legally tend bar in your area, you need to check your local laws. Do not assume that the bartending course you’re taking will include everything you need to legally start working. They often do, but it’s worth double-checking.

Do I Need A Bartender At My Wedding

When looking into how to get your bartending license, think about your goals. If you want training on everything from mixology and popular cocktail recipes to bartending techniques and beyond, bartending school is a great option. You'll learn to free pour counts, how to stock a bar, bartender lingo like the 86 meaning, and things like par level definition and how to use bar POS systems and other bar and restaurant technology. But it may not be worth it if you’ve got some bartending experience and you’re only looking for lawful employment. You can save time and money by taking the required course online.