How Do I Become a Bartender in Ontario, Canada?

Serving alcohol in Ontario requires the Smart Serve certificate.

Bartenders require only the Smart Serve certificate in order to legally serve alcohol in Ontario, Canada. The Smart Serve program teaches responsible serving practices, which include protocols for avoiding over-serving patrons, controlling problem situations and understanding the legal responsibilities of hospitality staff and servers. A number of schools and colleges offer bartender specific training as well.

Smart Serve Certification

Register an account on the Smart Serve Ontario website and purchase a token for a training package. The basic online training package is $34.95 CAD and will give you everything you need. You will have 30 days to complete the training, but the entire program normally only takes two to three hours.

Training

Bartending training is called mixology. Enroll in a well-respected bartending program, ideally at a university (for example, the Bartending Ontario College Certificate program at Waterloo).

Applying

Apply to as many businesses as possible, preferably in person. The service industry is competitive, especially in Toronto, and preference is given to people with experience and official training. Check frequently on websites such as Monster.ca and the Toronto section on craigslist.org for job postings, and read popular weekly publications such as the Toronto Now or the Ottawa XPress for additional listings.

References

• Smart Serve: Frequently Asked Questions
• Smart Serve Ontario

Resources

• University of Waterloo: Bartending Ontario College Certificate
• Craigslist: Toronto