NOCHI FREE Bartender Training Class!: Job Overview, Location, and Employment Details

The NOCHI fellowship program focuses on providing specialized spirits industry skills to individuals who have never worked behind a bar before. It aims to develop both industry-specific skills and important life skills that can help participants secure high-quality jobs within NOCHI and its network of employer partners.

The onsite training at NOCHI covers a variety of topics including an introduction to spirits and spirits production, the essentials of bartending, bartending fundamentals, responsible vendor certification, and life skills such as interview preparation and conflict resolution.

No, there is no cost to participate in the fellowship program, making it accessible to those interested in building a career in the spirits and food industry.

Participants will learn important professional skills such as interview preparation, conflict resolution, and budgeting, which are essential for success in the hospitality and food service industry.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, residents of the Greater New Orleans area, authorized to work in the United States, able to communicate in basic English, and capable of arriving on time, lifting 50 pounds, and standing for 8 hours.

The upcoming cohorts are scheduled for March 23 to 27, 2026, April 20 to 24, 2026, with an evening class from 3:30 to 8:30 PM, and May 18 to 22, 2026.

Participants will receive responsible vendor certification as part of the bartending fundamentals training, which is an important credential for working responsibly in the spirits industry.

Applicants must be able to lift 50 pounds and stand on their feet for up to 8 hours, which are necessary physical requirements for participating in the hands-on training.

No, prior bartending experience is not required, as the program is designed specifically for individuals who have never worked behind a bar before.