Top Bartending Classes In Philadelphia

Bartending is one of the most recession-proof jobs: Customers drink when they're happy and doing well, and they drink when they're sad and upset. Young and old alike, college students and retirees, are turning to bartending to increase their income. These are the area's most legit, offering classes sure to help you rake in a little extra cash while you play behind the bar.

Main Line Center for Bartending
4400 Baker St.
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(215) 487-1229
www.mainlinebartending.com

Price: $490

For 19 years, this Manayunk school has turned out quality bartenders. Its grads receive a certificate for completing the course, and free national job placement assistance for life. The course can be completed in as little as one week (five days of classes that run for about eight hours per day), two weeks (10 nights of classes at roughly four hours per night) or through five eight-hour Saturday classes. Enjoy learning from the true pros: These instructors are professional bartenders. If a past graduate begins to feel rusty, they are always welcome back to the Center for free refresher classes. Main Line also offers optional courses, such as Training for Intervention Procedures by Servers of Alcohol, a four-hour workshop teaches how to handle and prevent overserving, underage drinking and drunk driving. Most restaurants and bars require employees to become TIPS certified at some point.

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BarStar School of Bartending
1520 Locust St. 11th floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 227-7827
www.barstarschool.com

Price: $800

BarStar students say their instructors and classmates feel like family. That could be due to small classes of only two to eight students or the obvious affection the owner and instructor shows for her students. She truly works to ensure every one of them succeeds. In just 32 hours, and with a very flexible schedule, students may earn their license and be ready to do just about anything behind the bar. Some of the classes at BarStar are Bar Set-up and Break-down, Sanitation, Free Pouring and Liability. There is a job placement counselor available to all, and through the company's enthusiasm and contacts, the instructor always seems to know about a new job opening up.

Mixology Wine Institute
7708 City Ave. Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19151
(215) 878-1300
www.bartendingschoolphiladelphia.com/

Price: $880

Mixology Wine Institute has been training bartenders since 1992. The Essential Program usually takes three weeks to complete. The staff is very accommodating, allowing students to mix and match day, night and weekend classes. Mixology also offers optional classes focusing on TIPS, beer, wine and flair (those cool bottle-throwing, flame-spitting tricks Tom Cruise did in the movie "Cocktail.") It boasts a Bar Externship Program and a dedicated job placement director who works one-on-one with graduates to help them find the perfect bartending job. MWI is licensed by the PA Department of Education and has locations throughout the Philly area and in New Jersey.

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Trish Deitemyer is a freelance writer living in Philly. She covers Food & Drink and has been writing since 1986. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.