How To Become a Bartender in Indiana
Thinking about becoming a bartender in Indiana? It’s more than just mixing drinks. It’s about understanding state laws, obtaining the right certifications, and developing your skills. Indiana has specific rules for those serving alcohol, including age limits and training requirements. In this blog, we’ll explore the step-by-step process to help you meet these requirements and get behind the bar with confidence.
How Much Does a Bartender Make in Indiana?
According to Indeed, the average base pay for bartenders in the state is $15.78 an hour plus tips, which they estimate at $150 a day. This is a little below the national average bartender salary, but that’s due to the relatively low cost of living in the state.
That said, bartenders can earn as little as $2.13 an hour since Indiana uses the federal tipped minimum wage. It’s in your interest to look for the best hourly base pay you can get.
Getting an accurate estimate of typical income for bartenders is always tricky. Hourly wages are one thing, but tips often make up a lion’s share of their income and often aren’t accurately reported to official sources. Annual salaries also tend to assume a 40-hour work week, when bartenders usually work vastly different hours from a regular day job. Your location, type of business, skill, and popularity will all have their own impact on your earnings potential.
What Are Indiana’s Bartending Requirements?
You must be at least 21 years of age to bartend in Indiana, though you can work at a venue that serves alcohol – with restrictions – as young as 18.
Do You Need a Bartending License in Indiana?
Yes – the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC) requires all employees who sell or serve alcohol to acquire an Employee Permit within 120 days of being hired. People sometimes refer to this permit as a bartending license or bar card.
There are two levels of employee permit – Restricted (for 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds) and Unrestricted (for those 21 and up).
What Is Indiana Alcohol Server Training?
Before you can apply for your Indiana Employee Permit, the ATC requires you to complete an approved server training program.
Alcohol server training covers what you need to know to comply with liquor laws. You’ll learn best practices for responsible beverage service, especially related to preventing illegal alcohol sales, including serving minors or already intoxicated people.
What Does Indiana Alcohol Server Training Cover?
By taking ATC-approved alcohol server training, you’ll learn:
- Effects of alcohol on the body
- Seller’s role in public safety
- Seller’s responsibilities and obligations under the law
- How blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is calculated
- Effects of mixing alcohol with other substances
- How to recognize signs of intoxication
- Proper ID procedures
- Strategies for refusing a sale with minimal conflict
- How to catch second-party sales
How To Get a Bartending License in Indiana
To earn your bartender’s license in Indiana, you’ll need to take the following steps:
- Register for an alcohol server training (on-premises) course from an ATC-approved provider like 360training.
- Work through the curriculum online and at your own pace. You can probably complete the course in 2-4 hours.
- Pass the multiple-choice final exam with a score of 70% or higher.
- Save a copy of your certificate of completion for future reference.
- Visit the ATC online portal and apply for the appropriate level of Employee Permit. Paper applications are also available. You’ll need to attach a copy of your alcohol server training certificate of completion when you apply. The application fee is $30 for a restricted permit and $45 for an unrestricted permit.
- According to the ATC’s website, it can take as long as 10-12 weeks for a new permit to be issued. You may need to appear before the local alcoholic beverage board in your home county.
Once your Employee Permit is issued, you can print a copy from the licensing portal at any time. Employers typically want a copy for their own records.
How Long Does an Indiana Bartender License Last?
Unrestricted Employee Permits last for three (3) years. You can initiate the renewal process up to 90 days before and up to 120 days after expiration.
Restricted Employee Permits are valid until the holder’s 21st birthday, at which time they have to upgrade to Unrestricted. This means restricted permits may be valid for less than three years.
What Else Do You Need to Become a Bartender in Indiana?
While an Employee Permit is all you need to become a bartender in Indiana, there are other experiences or qualities you might want to highlight during your job search.
To get the best possible bartending job, consider:
- Going to bartending school or getting other hands-on alcohol training
- Featuring past customer service experience, particularly any time in food service
- Any acquaintance with mixology or beer/wine types
- Completing food handler training if you’ll also be serving food
- Preparing answers related to soft skills like:
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal skills
- Work ethic
- Problem-solving
And for your first day on the job, make sure you’re wearing the right shoes – it’s more important than you think!
Earn Your Indiana Bartender License Online
While earning your Indiana bartending license can be a pain, online ATC-certified server training can make the process easier.
We offer Indiana Alcohol Server Training certified by the Indiana ATC. Online courses are self-paced and mobile-friendly, so you can finish them whenever and wherever it makes sense for you! Planning to also serve food? Bundle it with food handler certification to knock all your compliance training out at once.
