Ontario Bartending Certification
Ontario Bartender’s License
Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Kitchener, Barrie, and Thunder Bay, Ontario Bartending Schools
About Our Ontario 2-Week Bartending Course
Since 2010, Local Bartending Schools (NEBS) has been training bartenders in the greater Ontario area. Our first school opened in Toronto, and we have since expanded to locations including downtown Vegas, Worcester, and Tampa, Florida. Read what Harvard College says about us!
We now offer a two-week, 35-hour bartending course at the Holiday Inn for only $849.00.
In addition to this course, we offer other certification programs such as Bartending 101, Bartending 201, and Bartending 301. We also provide online programs, group classes, and in-person lessons tailored to local Ontario areas, including Toronto, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls. Bartenders in these tourist-popular areas can earn good tips, making it a lucrative career option.
We recommend reviewing our #1 Canada bartending course for comprehensive training. For pricing, schedule, and availability of these programs, please contact your local Ontario representative.
Ontario Bartending Certification Requirements
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulates the consumption, sale, and serving of alcoholic beverages in the province of Ontario. The name of the certificate in Ontario is called, Smart Serve.
Smart Serve is mandatory under ON policy.What is Smart Serve?
The course, priced at $44.95, covers liquor responsibility training and is valid for 5 years, with recertification available at $29.95.
Training typically takes around 4 hours to complete and can be done at your own pace within a 30-day period. The Final Test comprises 33 randomly generated multiple-choice questions, with a passing score of over 80% required for certification.
It’s important to note that a valid government-issued photo ID is necessary for test access.
Technical requirements include a reliable internet connection, preferably on a desktop or laptop computer, with pop-ups enabled and a functioning webcam and microphone for the Final Test.
Contacts
Bartending License regulations for sellers and servers in Ontario
ON Dram Shop Laws: Yes
ON Happy Hour Laws: The Province of Ontario does not have Province-wide Happy Hour Prohibitions. Such laws may exist in your city or county. Check with your local jurisdiction for any restrictions.
Ontario Province law requires all bars to close by 2:00 AM. (Some municipalities require an earlier closing.)
In Ontario, the legal drinking age at establishments licensed for liquor sales is 19 years old. It is prohibited by the Liquor Licence and Control Act, 2019 to serve individuals under this age.LBS of Ontario Headquarters
251 Consumers RdSuite 1200, Toronto, ON M2J 4R3
877-879-7958
Ontario Certification Online
Courses may be taken online. All final tests are conducted online and will be proctored. You must enable your webcam for ID verification and allow screen sharing for monitoring during the test. You have the flexibility to launch your test at any time, 24/7.
LBS certification is valid throughout Ontario. Ontario accepts our online certification. The control board does not require a proctored exam, which means you don’t have to sit in front of a person to take the test. The test will take about half an hour. Additional proctoring fees apply. These fees are not included in the cost of the course.
On-Premise and Off-Premise Ontario Special Requirements & Other Ontario Alcohol Regulations
A Special Occasion Permit (SOP) is necessary whenever alcohol is served outside of a licensed establishment or a private venue. A private venue refers to an indoor space typically not accessible to the public and closed to the public during the event (such as a boardroom, private office, or residence). Private Event SOPs are specifically for occasional gatherings with invited guests, such as birthday parties or weddings.
Applying for a liquor license in Ontario typically involves a processing time of approximately 10-12 weeks. It’s important to note that serving alcohol before receiving your liquor license is illegal. Alongside your application, you’ll be required to submit the necessary fees.
Anyone involved in serving, handling, or selling alcohol, including security personnel, must hold a Smart Serve certification.
Drinking alcohol in public and public intoxication are serious offences in Ontario. The province’s Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act considers having an open container in a public space a crime. Additionally, being intoxicated in public is also prohibited under this regulation.
Alcohol in Ontario is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. This regulatory body oversees the retail sectors to ensure that beer, wine, and cider are not sold to individuals under the legal drinking age of 19 or to intoxicated adults. They also mandate that sales must be conducted by well-trained staff who uphold Ontario’s standards for social responsibility at all times.
In Ontario, the standard alcohol limit for drivers with a G license is 0.08%, which equates to 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches or exceeds this limit while operating a passenger vehicle, you are legally considered impaired and may face charges related to impaired driving (“over 80” charge).
Our students sit at the bar and watch our qualified instructors prepare and explain each drink in front of them. Our students then spend the rest of their class making the drinks behind an actual bar under the close supervision of our instructors.