Thank you Joe & Jonathan for the most intense and rewarding week of summer 2025. I signed up for the course with limited knowledge about liquor, liqueurs, and mixers and making crafted cocktails, margaritas, martinis, and drinks. I can confidently say I am an official certified mixologist because of Professional Bartender School's curriculum and their staff. They go above and beyond to make certain your hard earned money was well spent when you successfully complete the course. read more

This Establishment is beyond the BEST. The staff welcomed me with open arms This is definitely a judgement free establishment. You learn at your own pace. Once your enrolled as a student you are always a student @ PBS. If your ready to become a bartender, please join, it's definitely worth the effort. Shout out to all the instructors.. Especially my instructor ( TY) They are the best.. read more

This place is amazing! The instructors are so knowledgeable, make the lessons memorable and engaging and you can tell they genuinely love what they do. I took the 2 week course and, while it is a lot of information to learn, the environment is set up for you to succeed and learn! Not only do you get lessons from world class instructors, but you are able to practice at a simulated bar! The bar set up is amazing and makes you feel so confident going into a real life bar situation. You get hands on practice which is so crucial to learning the drinks. I'd recommend this place to anyone and everyone! read more

Professional Bartending School - Bartending Schools Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I visited the Professional Bartending School today to get information about the program and tour the facility. I was greeted by Kiki when I arrived and was escorted to her office. There I proceeded to learn about the program and have all my questions answered. She was extremely energetic and enthusiastic which was contagious! She then showed me around the facility. I happened to visit on testing day so I was able to observe current students participating in their speed test. I was able to ask them about their experience as well as observe the speed test. I plan to take classes in June when I am on break and am really looking forward to it! read more

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I loved my learning experience at the schools! The instructors shared their invaluable knowledge in a fun and engaging manner. The hands on practice time while taking the courses and even after is something you just can't find at another school. All of the staff want their students to succeed....in particular the placement office. I've been working events since 2 weeks after I passed my exams. The events keep getting bigger and better! (White House Correspondence Dinner and the MLB All Star Game) If you're a people person, bartending is a fun way to meet people and make $$. read more

Professional Bartending School - My first event was so much fun! Thanks for preparing me PBS! Your services are invaluable!!!!! - Bartending Schools Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Great School Patrick Is Great!!! I came in the school thinking how was I going to learn all of these drink but Patrick is hands on and makes sure you are able to pass the test and get a job. Super grateful will definitely refer s friend. read more

This is hands down the best school I went to in my military career! From enrolling to graduating the entire experience was amazing. They always offer specials for the tuition to come to the school. The hours and program is very flexible! KiKi is amazing she knows it all she will have you enrolled in no time! She explains the different schedule, times and certifications the school has to offer. My instructor was Gabby when I say a walking bartender book she is very knowledgeable! Gabby made the course very fun and easy to learn. She had numerous amount of friendly competitive games to help you retain the knowledge. I had a wonderful experience HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

I loved The Professional Bartending School! My instructor was Oz and he was great! He made sure we were thoroughly prepared for our exams; made sure we knew the drink recipes, liquor brands and types; and gave us a ton of advice about bartending in the real world. No matter how many questions we had, he answered them in detail and was genuinely excited to help us out. I began learning how to be an ambidextrous pourer as soon as I walked into the class (literally). Job placement with Heather was also extremely informative and helpful. I learned a ton from how my resume should look to what to wear on an interview. She sends out job leads constantly and I started at my first job less than a month after graduating! Aside from that, they make learning fun! I'm so glad I took my classes here and I actually made new friends that I talk to and hang out with regularly! I'd recommend the Professional Bartending School to everyone! read more

Professional Bartending School - Practice time at The Professional Bartending School - Bartending Schools Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I started this school years ago and didn't finish. I re-attended and finally completed the program and am so glad I did. The program and teaching are excellent. Ty and Gabby are excellent at teaching and have great personalities. I really feel like I've been equipped with the foundation I need to not only bartend, but incorporate it into future business endeavors. The location of the school is metro accessible. The classes are lively and entertaining...the music is always going. The fact that they have job placement is such a relief and such icing on the cake because if you just walk into a bar and tell them you want a job as a bartender, many places will make you start as a server first! Due to the fact that this school has taken the time to foster and nurture professional relationships with restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels, etc.----we the graduates get to leverage that when it comes to getting our first job as a bartender. This class really surprised me in so many awesome ways. I am making some lifestyle changes and am now fully empowered to do so. Thank you PBS! read more

I went in knowing nothing about drinks or bartending - I'm 21 and I've only ever had frozen daiquiris mixed from the machine - and I'm leaving today with 200 drink recipes, the ability to make 12 drinks in 5 min 22 seconds, the ability to free pour, knowledge of all standard liquors and liqueurs, and most importantly, a bartending job! I loved the school and the atmosphere and the genuine knowledge and experience of the teachers, who can tell you things from their careers that you won't find in any books. read more

I am so glad I attended PBS! I loved the hands-on learning experience, and the encouragement I received from ALL of the staff. What got my foot in the door was the warm invitation from Dave, Kiki and Anna over the phone. They gave me all the need-to-know information about schedules and anticipated graduation dates. The schedules were flexible and made my life much easier! Steve and Ty are amazing instructors with great personalities!!! As a class we played cool, fun, awesome, rad games to help with testing. They made my experience fun and stress free. I love that they are knowledgeable and are dedicated to making sure all of their students succeed. I am so glad I made the decision to register, and I get to be a member FOREVER read more

Professional Bartending School is perfect for people looking for a second career or just a way to make extra money. For me, it was a great refresher course (I bartended 20 years ago). It allowed me to get back up to speed quickly and to break some bad habits. The information was easy to absorb (I now know over 150 drinks), the instructors (Ti and Gabby) were awesome and I received tons of hands on experience! read more

Professional Bartending School - Doing my best Issac from The Love Boat. - Bartending Schools Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I must say I love this place. If your looking for a positive Life Changing Experience, I would say attend Proffesional Bartending School of Arlington. My instructor Brian, Im telling you from an awsome experience that it doesnt get no better than him. I am not only a certified Bartender because of PBS , but also TAM certified.This is the best Bartending school to attend. read more

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This place is great. My teacher, Moe (yea. i know.) is not only a bartender and a teacher, but he is a great entertainer. I was laughing and learning the entire time. I'm taking the 2 week course, and i just finished the first week. My brain is filled with mixology and potions knowledge. I've made really good friends, and everybody is interesting to talk to! Perhaps the bar environment makes us more talkative and sociable, even at 9am. $600 is a LOT of money, but you make that money back in a few shifts which is the great thing about bartending. You can do it anywhere and have a good time =) I can't wait to get a job. They also have a job placement program, with a working relationship with tons of connections to va/dc/md metro area jobs. However, since a lot of us are going out of town for college, they also have the ability to get in contact with out of town bartend schools and hook us up with THEIR job placement programs. I don't know if I'll be putting them through that trouble, because I know where I'll probably be working at in Williamsburg, but as soon as I'm back in town, I'll be sure to hit them up again. It's a lifetime membership and you can go back for refresher courses, and you can always utilize their job placement service. I will update this post once I'm done with my second and last week! read more

Well I have to say that Brian and Myra Have to be the best at teaching you the ins and outs of the Bartending industry. Lots to learn in this course, but you leave feeling confident and very able to start your career. The best advise from them both is practice practice and practice some more. The more comfortable you feel making drinks the more successful you will be. Going in soon to practice some more and then starting my job search. I am very confident that I will land a great job, thanks to Brian and Myra. Thanks again Jesus Quijano read more

This was a really great experience. By having multiple fully stocked bar stations made it a lot easier for everyone to get hands on experience making drinks. I was skeptical about spending $595 for the class but it is well worth it. What you pay for is the lifetime use of the facility come and go as you want as long as they are open and lifetime job placement assistance. Also, 24 hour free parking. I took evening classes to accommodate my 9-5 work schedule and it worked out perfect. Myra was my instructor and she was amazing. She is very knowledgeable about what she teaches, great answering questions, and makes the class very fun and entertaining. She helps you lose any anxiety any beginner will have to prepare you for a real life job behind the bar. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone interested in becoming a bartender. read more

I just graduated from the PBS - and I have to say it was one of the best experiences ever! I was able to take classes at a discounted rated through a holiday special and the staff was awesome - as were my classmates. Because I'm so aggressive I decided to complete the class in a week - and I'm so glad I did. Now, I'll be able to get started in the field and i feel so confident given everything i've learned! Jewels - our instructor was simply AMAZING! She was really energetic and went beyond the book to give us insight into things we would absolutely need to know before entering the field. This was so impactful and I could tell she really cared about how each one of us was progressing. I will never forget this experience! read more

I bought this as a gift for my son who was home from college during the pandemic. He loved the trainers and experience and already has a bartending job at a high-end DC restaurant. Most of all, it was a bright light in a time he was very down and isolated, and the trainers were true professionals and COVID safe. Best money I've spent in years. read more

This place is great! I am graduating today and I am so glad I picked this school. All the instructors and managers are always willing to help and answer questions. I had both Patrick and Alex and they are hilarious and great instructors. I know so many drinks.... but I could learn that from a cocktail book and there is no such thing as a bartenders license, so why did I take the class? Because it is the easiest way to get into the bartending world! Alex and Patrick are bartenders still, they tell you what you need to expect in real life and the tips and tricks of the trade plus i got TAM certified and know how to properly pour as a bartender, all the right glasses, garnishes, and things that I need to say to get a job. PLUS there is job placement. If you don't want to spend months as a barback or cocktail waitress waiting for a bartender to call in sick or leave their job just to become a bartender then the $600 dollars is worth it. I had a friend who went here and graduated and said she made all her money back in one night! It's so worth it! read more

Absolutely love the Professional Bartending School, everyone there is very helpful and friendly. They made me feel right at home as soon as I walked through the door. Heather is great at keeping you informed and responds promptly to any inquiries. My instructor was Brian, very funny and knowledgeable about the business. So much so, I received an offer as Lead Bartender in a upscale restaurant my first week after graduating. Trust me, if you're considering enrolling in the Professional Bartending School, think no further the Professional Bartending School is where you want to be hands down. read more

I just graduated from this Bartending school this past Friday and I must say it was such a wonderful learning experience. My instructor was Gabby, who was phenomenal & very attentive to the class. The rest of the staff was also very welcoming & helpful as well. I loved the atmosphere / vibes! I will truly miss going to this school every morning and starting my day off with some fun learning. I wish future students the best of luck! read more

I have been associated with various organizations through the years; but I have to say that Professional Bartending School is the greatest of them all. Not only are they very professional, but they seem to have the ability to put everyone at ease while at the same time are able impart their vast knowledge and experience. They also can make even the nervous types relax and enjoy the whole experience. I would recommend PBS to any and everyone. read more

This place is a scam....please be aware! I just graduated a few months ago after attending the two week long 9-1 class. My instructor was mainly Alex, and Patrick helped out a couple time in between. It's upstairs and set up like an actual bar, bar stools and all. The first impression from walking into this place is how dirty and outdated it is. I wasn't expecting it be like a chic club inside or anything...but all the equipment from the bottles, speed pourers, glasses, and soda guns are over used and dirty. As far as the instructors go they were mediocre at best. I liked Patrick, but he mainly teaches the afternoon and nighttime classes. Alex on the other hand is a douche bag. Bartenders have a reputation of being a little arrogant and Alex displays this well...even when looking like a motorcycle cop who just rolled out of bed. One time while talking about working with other bartenders he actually said "I don't care about the other bartender when I'm back here." Now after working in a few bars since I can tell you this is the guy that you do not want to work with...ever! The actual material is not that bad with the exception of the book being a little outdated. You will basically go everyday to hear the instructor read through drink recipes in the book then practice with the partner. However don't expect much feedback from your instructor. Instead of paying attention and helping you correct mistakes that you might be making they will sit in the back of the room and chill until it's time to clean up and leave. At the end of your course you will take a 130 written question test and a practical test where you will have to make 12 drinks in 7 minutes with no more than 3 mistakes. Neither of which is too difficult. So my number one complaint about this place is the "job placement". This is complete and utter bullshit people! You are going to go in and talk to their "placement" guy who is going to fill you full of common knowledge such as what to wear to an interview. At the end he is going to give you a list of places that this school has networked with and that will be you job placement. Peace! Good luck! I don't know about you but I expected for this lazy asshole to call places, possibly set up interviews. You are going to get a piece of paper with out of date information. I happen to be friends with a person who was listed as the head chef of a restaurant on this list that quit over a year ago, and is still listed. I called a few places all of whom said they were not hiring. One lovely gentleman told me he would never hire a person who had attended this place again. I went out and did the footwork myself to land a job and had absolutely no help from this place what-so-ever. Bottom line is if you want to learn to make drink...go out and buy a copy of "Bartenders for Dummies" This place is going to charge you $600.00 to read recipes to you and hand you a piece of paper with shitty leads on them. If you are like me and hoping that dealing with all these losers is worth it because they will help you find a job then don't bother. And if you want their list of contacts then just hit me up and I'll give it to you! But please do not waste your time or money to fund this incredibly lazy and dishonest establishment. read more

i tremendously enjoyed my classes and experience here. the instructors (i had moe and crystal) were hilarious and the real bar set-up was the perfect learning environment. they have the classes set up in a way that you can complete everything in one week, two weeks, or over the course of a few weekends. and for someone like me, who has a choppy schedule that changes, they will work with you to fit your needs. :-) i was able to complete all 10 classes w/o issue and passed the tests my first time. you meet a lot of interesting people and the staff is always very helpful and friendly. i also really like that you can go back at any time for a refresher course or courses, and that they have a job placement service. they don't actually place you in a job, but have contacts at a ton of places with bartending needs and can offer leads you wouldn't otherwise hear about/have the opportunity to apply to. i've been bartending for almost 2 years and while it (the courses/certificate) wasn't a prerequisite for this particular job, it most definitely helped with my comfort level behind the bar and lack of need to be trained. they (my employer) were so pleased with my work that they put me on the schedule to work a private party after only my 3rd shift working there, and took me off of trainee status after 2. i definitely recommend professional bartending school to any locals who want to get into bartending. i plan on going back for a couple of refreshers myself, this spring. read more

I love this school!! I had the pleasure of having Ty as my instructor! She's is the BOMB!!!! She created such a comfortable, realistic, fun practice environment. She provided us with "live" situations such as turning off the lights while we practice in case we work in a bar with the lights off aka a night club. She also had us work in scenarios which was awesome like working with customers who pay at one side of the bar and walk to the next without paying first. Ty was very patient and taught well to all students. The one thing I love about the school is you can always come back and practice!!! Also they provide job placement. I highly recommend this place! And they often have discounts on tuition so check their website often! read more

Love this place. If you're interested in bartending but don't know how to get your foot in the door, check The Professional Bartending School out. The people I spoke to over the phone were extremely helpful, followed up by sending me information in the mail (including a dollar bill as my first "tip") and offered to have me sit in on a class to get a feel for the class. I did visit the school and the teachers and recruiters were friendly and eager to answer all of my questions and address all of my concerns. So I went ahead and signed up. Ron was my primary teacher, but I also had classes taught by Chris and Dimitris. They were all funny, helpful and seemed sincerely interested in helping each student learn and improve. You focus on a category of drinks every class and start out with a lecture where the teacher will demonstrate how to make each beverage. Then you partner up and practice, which is the fun part. There are full bar set ups which I thought was extremely helpful. The school provides different types of exercises to practice in preparation for your speed test, which is a graduation requirement in which you have to make 12 drinks in seven minutes or less with no more than three mistakes. It sounds hard, but it's not. If I can do it anyone can. You also have to take a written test, which is also not a big deal if you come to class and study the drinks. I commuted to the school from Baltimore over the span of two weeks and finished the class without any problem. If you do have any issues, the school is very flexible and will work with you to accommodate your needs as long as you communicate those needs to them in advance. After you pass the course, you are eligible to take a placement class in which you will get tips for preparing your resume, job hunting, and interviewing. You're also eligible to receive job leads in the DMV area. You have lifetime access to the school after graduating, so you can come to practice whenever you like and are able to sit in on classes as "refreshers." I *just* graduated and will actually miss going to class because it was so much fun! I have not yet found a job because I am trying to relocate and I'm trying to work out the details with that. I do, however, feel confident in finding a job and that I will do really well once I start bartending because of how well prepared I feel from this school! Cheers, PBS! read more

I traveled to Arlington's Professional Bartending School for a free exploratory class with no particular expectations. However, I quickly discovered that there's something special happening here. The instructor for my free class, Brian, was knowledgable, professional, and a great teacher. He really made the material come alive. So much so, in fact, that I signed up for the whole course. The course was rigorous but fun, covering the practical and realistic expectations of making drinks and serving customers in a real bartending environment. The classroom is set up like an actual bar and students are encouraged to start making drinks on their very first day. Thanks to everyone involved at the Professional Bartending School! read more

I actually attended PBS a couple of years ago through a site similar to the now Living Social & Groupon sites. I took my husband out for a date to learn the basics of bartending. It was fantastic, I wanted to take advantage of their deal & go to the actual school to really become educated to become a bartender, but their prices were a bit much. I would recommend them because their instructors are amazing & they have actual bar setups if you have the money. read more

I first heard about PBS when it was described by an acquaintance as "this supposedly really good bartending school in Arlington..." That vague description led me to a Google search, and from there, attending the initial free class. By the end of that first day, I eagerly committed to the two-week course. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the industry - they answered all of my initial questions and set the tone to make me feel welcome right from the start. Brian is a fantastic instructor - enthusiastic and a great storyteller. It's obvious from the outset he has a passion both for teaching and for bartending. His classes were full of anecdotes and insider tips that rounded out the facts and 100+ recipes we learned. One of the things that impressed me most was his emphasis on individuality. While he stressed the importance of mastering technical skill and developing good form, he also made it clear that we were there to become the bartender "version" of ourselves - not to fit into an preconceived notion of a what or who a bartender should be. He encouraged questions and insights. I left the class feeling confident in my job search, and the experience has ignited an interest in the history and culture of drink-making. I can't give this place enough stars! read more

This school is amazing they are very informal and show you how to do every drink hands on they are very understanding and flexible with your schedule and they are very helpful they have job placement after you graduate and even after you graduate you will always be a member and can go back and practice drinks etc I would recommend this school to anybody interested in bartending they are the best read more

It's awesome. The course is super fun and the instructors know what they're talking about. You get to learn how to make well over 100 drinks. The people are nice. You get to work together and you can have someone call out drinks that you just learned how to make and vice versa. It's like a real bar! Just none of the alcohol is actually real. I graduated in January and am constantly getting job opportunities sent to me. I got hired but as a server. Not sure if I'll take it. I feel like even if I don't get a job, I know how to make a ton of drinks off the top of my head and I have valuable knowledge not everyone has about mixology. Trust me, it's a good course. You'll learn a lot and be the life of the party. Now fill your swimming pools full of liquor and dive in! read more

The Professional Bartending School was a great experience. The school offers several class schedules for busy adults. When I first considered attending the Bartending School, I visited the school to sit in on a free class. I felt a little more comfortable about my decision after visiting the free class and discussing the school and what it offered with Jenee. Once I started, I was a little nervous because I'm not a drinker and it seemed so intense, but the staff was very positive and reassuring. The instructor for the evening class was Jewelz. She was energetic and kept the class fun. We learned over 150 plus drinks over the 2 weeks that I took the course. Brian instructed a few of the classes for Jewelz. Brian made learning the material fun, while giving personalized attention to the students, as needed. Both instructors were great. Once I graduated from the course, I was very impressed with the school. I received Job Placement counseling from Heather. Heather gave a very in depth breakdown of how to search for a Bartending position and resume and personal presentation. By day, I'm an office professional and things are totally different in the food and beverage industry. Heather's tips helped me tremendously, while starting my job search as a professional Bartender. I landed an interview in less than 2 weeks from the time I graduated. Before the interview, I reached back out to the Brian for interview tips and he provided me with great tips that helped me land the job. The post-graduation reach back may have been the most impressive part of the Bartending School. After graduation, the school continues to provide support; therefore I don't feel like the school had just taken my money for class and then were done with me. This reach back is available for all graduates, which is awesome. read more

I had Brian and Jewels as my instructors and I have to say that they were very efficient in their teachings and they were very helpful. The course itself is not difficult, it is just large in volume because of all the basic mixologies. The school is open to graduates to return and practice and school also gives you a directory of businesses that hire graduates. read more

AH-MAZING! I soley went to the Professional Bartending School based on reviews I seen on Yelp, Facebook and Google and all the reviews were exceptional. I've been putting off going to bartending school for a while now so I went on a whim...I saw that there was a special and signed up for the two week class. Jewels and Brian are great teachers! It's so much to learn but it's so worth it and I'm glad I decided to take the class. You also meet a lot of great people which made the class even more enjoyable and fun to learn. With all of the tips, advice and information they provide, I am sure I will find a great job to be able put what I learned into play and I can't wait. It was a lot of information to grasp in two weeks but they make it fun and worth while. I highly recommend the Professional Bartending School, they're absolutely amazing! read more

Great place to start as a professional bartender. Within two weeks, this place can turn someone like me who only knew three drinks at a bar to a kickass bartender who can make people at the bar like they know nothing about drinks. They can help you everything from how to pour liquor right to getting a job as a bartender. It didn't even feel like school because instructors and students are so interesting and loves to learn and teach about the art of bartend. Definitely recommend it. read more

I graduated from the Professional Bartending School in June 2012. I absolutely loved the classes and results they provided. The curriculum is thorough and comprehensive; the instructors are attentive and extremely knowledgeable; and the school's placement director is excellent and efficient about placing graduates in jobs. I made back my tuition -- with a profit -- within a month and a half of graduating. In fact, my first gig after graduating was a private party that paid me several hundred dollars for a few hours of fun work. I would recommend the Professional Bartending School to anyone. read more

I just graduated from here and I loved it. The staff is experienced, awesome, and really helpful. I'm so glad I attended PBS and I'm so excited to see where it gets me! I took the one week - morning and afternoon classes. I had both Brian and Myra as my instructors and they were both great. This is the first school I've enjoyed going to and I have no doubt it will be worth the money. I definitely recommend them! read more

Just finished the two week course (though it took me three weeks because I had a very complicated personal schedule that included preparing for law school). I knew absolutely nothing about bartending and have never worked in the industry, but now I feel extremely comfortable when talking about and preparing drinks. I took classes from both Jewels and Brian. They were both outgoing and easy to pay attention to during classes. You must remember to practice, practice, practice - they will remind you every chance they get, so there is no chance you will forget! read more

I attended a free class today! It was great! Lecture and hands on was wonderful ! I will be signing up soon. ( I'm not easy to impress but this school was very much on point !) read more

Graduated the other week and I got to say my confidence in making drinks is higher than I ever thought possible! I started pretty clean slate, no knowledge of bartending before attending the class. The instructors are extremely experienced and very helpful, they want you to succeed and be the best bartender you can be. All of the instructors are good but I had Jewels and she is very down to earth and will give you one-on-one time if you are struggling with anything. If you are having any doubts and want to be a bartender, sign up no hesitation! You won't regret it! read more