Barista Work & Study (6 Months)
You start earning in month one. Instead of stopping work to study first and looking for a job later, you work at a café on salary from the start, attend class every Wednesday, and in six months earn SKM Level 2 and Level 3 skills certificates issued by JPK, plus SCA certification.
Fees are paid monthly — no lump sum needed to begin.
Admission is confirmed after the interview. We keep each intake small so every student gets enough machine time and direct trainer attention. Once an intake is full, applicants move to the next intake.
How it works
You work, study and build towards your certifications at the same time. You do not have to finish the course before you start gaining paid café experience.
| Work | You work at a café and earn a salary, paid by the café. It can be a partner café recommended by JWC or one you find yourself. Shifts are 8 working hours plus a 1-hour break, on a rotating schedule. Weekly hours are capped at 60 — that is a ceiling, not a standard week. The café sets the actual roster based on its staffing needs, and how your class day fits is confirmed before you start. |
| Study | Attend class one day a week — every Wednesday — at our Kuala Lumpur campus for six months. You work during the rest of the week. |
| Certify | At the end of the programme, you sit for assessment and earn SKM Level 2 and Level 3 skills certificates, plus SCA certification. |
SKM — national skills certification, not a school certificate
Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) is part of Malaysia’s national skills framework, administered by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK), the Department of Skills Development under the Ministry of Human Resources.
JWC is registered within the JPK framework as a Pusat Amali, or practical training centre. JWC delivers the practical training component, while SKM certificates are issued by JPK.
That distinction matters when you apply for work. SKM is a formal national skills certification understood by employers and government agencies. Most specialty coffee schools in Malaysia operate outside the national skills framework.
You learn what you actually use
Everything you learn connects directly to café work — extraction, milk texturing, latte art, service pace and customer handling.
When you face a problem behind the bar on Monday, you can bring it to your trainer on Wednesday, fix it and apply what you learned on your next shift.
That is the advantage of learning while working: learn it, use it immediately, then return with real questions.
How this differs from a paid short course
| Work & Study (this programme) | |
| Income while studying | Paid café work — a paid short course gives you none |
| How you pay | Monthly — short courses are usually paid upfront in full |
| What you finish with | SKM Level 2 + 3 (issued by JPK) plus SCA certification — short courses issue a completion certificate |
| Inside the national skills framework | Yes — most specialty coffee schools sit outside it |
| Real production experience | Six months of real orders and service — short courses are classroom practice |
Who this is for
A good fit
- You want to become a barista but cannot stop earningYou attend class one day a week and work during the rest of the week.
- You are 16 or older and do not have an academic qualificationNone is required.
- You want formal skills certification employers understandSKM is a national skills certification, not a course-completion slip.
- You already work in a caféYour current job can count towards the programme.
- You have never made coffee beforeNo previous experience is needed.
Not a good fit
- You only want to learn coffee as a weekend hobbySee our 2-Month Weekend Coffee Course.
- You do not want to work in a caféPaid café work is part of the programme, not an optional extra.
- You want to open your own café as soon as possibleThe 12-Month BMART Diploma covers business and production in greater depth.
What you get
1. A salary, with fees paid monthly
Your café work is paid, and your salary comes directly from the café.
Course fees are paid monthly, so you do not need to prepare one large payment before starting. Your income and course payments both run month to month.
How the fees are structured: a registration fee to confirm your place, then one payment a month across six months, plus an assessment fee at the end.
Amounts are quoted per intake — message us and we will send you the full payment schedule.
2. SKM Level 2 and Level 3
Malaysia’s national skills certification, issued by JPK and understood by employers and government agencies.
SKM Level 2 and Level 3 are skills certificates, not diplomas.
3. SCA certification
The Specialty Coffee Association is an international organisation for the specialty coffee industry. SCA certification is recognised by employers locally and abroad.
4. Real work experience
You gain six months of actual café production and service experience.
You work with real orders, real customers and real service pressure — experience that a classroom-only course cannot give you and employers look for when hiring.
5. Job placement support
JWC helps recommend partner cafés. Partner employers include Bookmark, Oomph, The Messengers by JWC, Monster and Beer, and Remedy — these are cafés we actually work with, not a list of names.
Placement depends on attending interviews and following the placement arrangements.
Everything included in this intake
- 6 months of paid café experienceA real job, not an unpaid internship.
- SKM Level 2 + Level 3Malaysia’s national skills certification, issued by JPK.
- SCA certificationAn internationally recognised specialty coffee credential.
- Pre-course trainingLearn the fundamentals before your first café shift.
- Partner café placement supportBookmark, Oomph, The Messengers by JWC and others.
- Taught by championship-level trainersWBC 4th place, dual Q Grader and three-time Malaysian Latte Art Champion.
- Early-bird bonus: V60 pour-over setContinue practising at home.
- Fees paid monthlyNo lump sum required.
How to join
| 1 · Enquire | Contact us to check the current intake date and understand how the class and work schedule will fit your situation. |
| 2 · Interview | The interview is held online. It is not a coffee skills test, and no experience is required. We want to make sure you understand the commitment: six months of working and studying at the same time while following a rotating café shift schedule. |
| 3 · Pre-course training | Before you begin working at the café, you complete a short pre-course training block. You will learn the fundamentals and how a café operates, so you are not starting from zero on your first shift. |
| 4 · Start | Begin working at the café and attend class every Wednesday for six months. |
Entry requirements
| Age | 16 and above |
| Academic qualification | None required |
| Coffee experience | None required |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Do I need a job first? | No. JWC can recommend partner cafés. If you already work at a café, your current job can count. |
| Campus | Kuala Lumpur (Bukit Jalil) |
Your trainers
The people teaching you have competed and judged at international level — they are not part-time instructors reading from a manual.
Nelson Lai
Founder
Dual Q Grader for Arabica and Robusta. World Coffee Competition judge. PCA sensory judge. Has set up more than 30 cafés.
Jason Loo
Head Coffee Trainer
4th place, World Barista Championship. More than 20 international competitions.
Lucas Eng
Latte Art & Competition Coach
Top 10, 2017 World Barista Championship. Three-time Malaysian Latte Art Champion. 2016 China International Barista Champion. PCA latte art judge.
Foong
Senior Trainer
World Coffee Competition judge. Southeast Asian PCA latte art judge. Holds three SCA international certifications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I earn money during the programme?
Yes. Your café job is paid, and your salary comes directly from the café.
You attend class every Wednesday and work during the rest of the week according to the café’s roster.
Can I pay the fees in instalments?
The fees are already structured as monthly payments. You do not need to pay the full course fee upfront.
Message us to check the payment schedule for the current intake.
Which day are classes?
Every Wednesday for six months. You work during the rest of the week according to the café’s roster.
Do I need experience?
No. You can join without any coffee experience.
The programme starts with the fundamentals, so you do not need to know how to use an espresso machine or make coffee before applying.
What qualification do I need?
None. You can join from age 16, and no academic qualification is required.
Who issues the SKM certificates?
The SKM certificates are issued by Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK), the Department of Skills Development under Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources.
JWC is registered within the JPK framework as a Pusat Amali, or practical training centre, and delivers the practical training component.
Is SKM the same as a diploma?
No. SKM Levels 1 to 3 are skills certificates. Within the JPK framework, Level 4 is the Diploma Kemahiran Malaysia (DKM), and Level 5 is the Diploma Lanjutan Kemahiran Malaysia (DLKM).
This programme covers SKM Level 2 and Level 3 skills certificates.
Do I find the café myself, or does JWC arrange it?
Either option works. JWC can recommend partner cafés, or you can work at a café you find yourself. Your working days and hours will depend on that café’s roster.
I already work at a café — can I join?
Yes. Your current café job can count towards the programme.
You can continue working while turning your experience into formal national skills certification.
What are the working hours?
Each shift is 8 working hours plus a 1-hour break.
Work follows a rotating schedule and is capped at 60 hours per week. The café sets the actual roster.
Is the interview difficult? Will I be tested on coffee?
No. It is not a coffee test.
The interview is held online and is there to confirm that you understand the programme: you will work and study at the same time for six months while following a rotating café shift schedule. No previous coffee experience is required.
Is there any training before I start working?
Yes. Before your first café shift, you complete a short pre-course training block covering the fundamentals and how a café operates, so you are not walking into your first shift completely unprepared.
Can I apply for PTPTN?
PTPTN is not available for this programme.
Fees are paid monthly. Message us and we will explain the current payment schedule.
Where are classes held?
Classes are held at our Kuala Lumpur campus in Bukit Jalil.
Ask about the next intake
Intake dates and fees are confirmed separately for each intake. Message us and we will walk you through the schedule, work arrangement and monthly payment structure.
Certificates issued by JWC can be verified publicly at jwcacademy.com/verify.