Professional Bartending (Cocktails) (7106)

Last Updated: 15 Dec 2023
Want to become a bartender or get a qualification that recognises your skills?

With the Award in Professional Bartending you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to prepare cocktails and provide a high standard of customer service. You'll also have the option to learn free pouring techniques.
The Award in Professional Bartending is for people who work as or want to work as bartenders.

You must be at least 18 years old to take this qualification. You may be working in an environment that offers cocktails already, but it is not a requirement.
Available to deliver in the following:
  • England
  • Wales – please check QiW website for available funding
  • Scotland
  • Northern Ireland

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

General Information

What Is Involved In Studying This Course?

You'll cover areas like:

  • the use and cleaning of equipment
  • how to prepare the bar for service
  • cocktail-making techniques
  • cocktail recipes
  • beer, wine and spirits service
  • responsible serving of alcohol.

For this qualification you'll learn in a group environment with your training provider. You'll be assessed using a practical assignment where you'll demonstrate your ability to prepare and serve drinks. You'll also complete a short answer test covering the background knowledge essential to bartending.

If you take the optional unit on free pouring you'll complete 1 additional assessment that covers free pouring skills and knowledge.

Is this level right for me?

Level 2
You want to gain a basic qualification in hospitality. You may be working in hospitality already, or looking for your first job as a bartender.
What Careers Can This Lead To?

This qualification could help you get a job as a bartender or move forward in your current job.

To advance further in the hospitality sector you may want to continue onto additional qualifications:

  • Level 1 and 2 Certificate/Diploma in Professional Food and Beverage Service (7103)
  • Level 1, 2 and 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery (7100)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership NVQ (7250).
What Is Involved With Delivering This Course?

You will assess learners using assignments that include both practical tasks and a short answer test. This assignment is set by City & Guilds and marked by staff within the centre using City & Guilds' marking guidance.

Learners completing the Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails) will complete 1 assignment, while those taking the Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails with free pouring) will complete 2 assignments.

You will need to provide learners with the equipment they need to complete all the practical activities. A full list of necessary equipment can be found in the course handbook. The list includes items such as:

  • beverages 12oz unstamped
  • double old fashioned 12oz
  • martini cocktail approximately 8oz
  • 6-8 oz Champagne flutes
  • thimble measure 25/50/175/250ml GS
  • Boston shaker can 28oz
  • bar cocktail spoon 11in with masher
  • decozest zester
  • stainless steel pourer medium freeflow
  • chopping board
  • bar caddy
  • muddlers.

All learners must be 18 years or older. You must make sure they can access all the resources they need to complete the qualification.

To find all the resource requirements, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.

Level 2

This will suit you if you want to gain a qualification specifically within this area. You may be working in hospitality already, or looking for your first job as a bartender.

You can choose to complete either the Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails) or the Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails with free pouring).

For full details, download the qualification handbook from the centre documents section.
What Careers Can This Lead To?

This qualification could help you get a job as a bartender or move forward in your current job.

To advance further in the hospitality sector you may want to continue onto additional qualifications:

  • Level 1 and 2 Certificate/Diploma in Professional Food and Beverage Service (7103)
  • Level 1, 2 and 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery (7100)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership NVQ (7250).
Level 2 Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails with free pouring) (7106-01)
Last Registration Date: 31 Mar 2024

Level 2 Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails with free pouring)

  • Accreditation No: 500/8081/7 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 9 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 60 - 60 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 90 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/03/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £63.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.
Level 2 Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails) (7106-11)
Last Registration Date: 31 Aug 2024

Level 2 Award in Professional Bartending (Cocktails)

  • Accreditation No: 500/8071/4 This is a reference number related to UK accreditation framework
  • Type: Credit based qualification This is categorisation to help define qualification attributes e.g. type of assessment
  • Credits: 7 Credits are a measure of the size of the qualification
  • Guided Learning Hours: 45 - 45 This is the average contact time a centre would typically commit
  • Total Qualification Time: 70 The total time for the qualification
  • Key Stage: Data unavailable This shows the equivalent Key Stage level.
  • Last Certification: 31/08/2026 This is the last date that a certificate can be issued
  • Qualification fees in the UK: £57.00 Our typical price is the one that is most often paid by a centre for a completed learner. Some prices are made up of multiple charging points so action like taking difference units or specialisms to complete and resitting assessments may mean the cost for some learners differs.

Here you can find all documents related to this suite of qualifications.

By clicking on the section headings below, you can access a variety of documents such as the qualification handbooks and assessment materials, Statements of Purpose, and recognition letters from industry and employers.

Some documents may be password protected. Passwords can be retrieved by logging in to Walled Garden and visiting the Administration section of the relevant qualification catalogue page.

Interested in delivering this qualification?

Find out more about how to become an approved City & Guilds centre or fill out our online customer application form. 

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