Licensed by the state education department
TIPS? Certified Alcohol awareness program
Alcohol awareness prevention training
Certified Bartending Mixology course
Licensed by Consumer Affairs / Food / Restaurant board etc...
Member of the WBTO , Food and Restaurant, Bartenders associating, Bartending Organization
These are some of the terms that bartending schools use to distinguish themselves from other ones.

Are they just marketing buzzwords thrown in to confuse the student or are they really valid differences. Most bar schools try to get you to believe that a bartender certification is needed in order to be hired as a bartender, secondly they convey that their school is the best. The most important thing you need to know is that most states do not require you to go to bartending school. Those that require training are usually asking for alcohol prevention which is a seminar that takes a few hours to complete. What are the state regulations? You check at http://www.bbbartendingschools.org/States/index.php
Licensed by the state education department
This means that the bartending school is licensed by the education department from that state, and their course is approved by the education department for "mixology" or "bartending". You are learning how to make drinks. These are the safest bartending schools to choose because of the education license required.
TIPS? Certified Alcohol awareness program
TIPS? is the most recognized Alcohol awareness program.
Some places will require TIPS? certification. If your state law requires mandatory alcohol awareness training all you need is this course that takes 4hours to complete.
Alcohol awareness prevention training
This is the actual requirement of state law to become a bartender. This training is meant to recognize patrons who are or have potential to be alcohol intoxicated. Usually a few hours to complete.

Certified Bartending Mixology course
The course is certified by the state education department. Are programs certified by the education department better than those that are not? The majority of the time yes. You also get a diploma at your completion which you will never use.
Licensed by Consumer Affairs / Food / Restaurant board etc...
If a school is licensed by anything other than the education department it is not a school. State education licenses are harder to get than the others. While these places may offer mixology classes and job placement, the fact that they went around the system should leave you with doubt. Many of these places close after the season is over.
Member of the WBTO, Food and Restaurant, Bartenders associating, Bartending Organization etc..
These are mostly marketing terms used to make the school seem more attractive. Some are beneficial and others do nothing.
So what should you look for in a bartending school? Stay tuned for our next article or if you're impatient we have it at http://www.bbbartendingschools.org/bartendingschools/bartendingschools_2.php