The eligibility hours are in place to ensure that the exam taker has worked within the cheese industry long enough to experience a lot of what is covered with the exam. In the case of the Certified Cheese Professional® Exam, the exam taker is being assessed on their expertise in all aspects of cheese production from the Animal Breed, Cheese Production, Affinage (Aging), Distribution, Safe Food Handling, Cutting, and Pairings. Completing a certification indicates a certain level of training or expertise in a given field. You study course supplied materials and are then tested.Ī certification is a professional credential that is earned through an assessment (or professional training program). First, I need to explain the difference between a Certificate and a Certification – A certificate is evidence of education, while certification is evidence of passing an exam or meeting industry standards.Ī certificate may be granted after completing an academic program of study. This has to be the second most asked question. To achieve the CMS Master Sommelier level, this can be an investment of up to 10 years! So, how long does it take to get to the top level of both?.Well, to achieve the WSET IV level (or diploma level), The WSET estimates it to take a minimum of 500 hours and that takes between 18 months to 3 years to pass.

The WSET is more for Wine Buyers, Wine Retailers, Wine Journalists, and Wine Educators while the Court of Master Sommeliers, or CMS, is more for the hospitality trade. There are two main certification bodies for Wine… The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, simply known as WSET. To become a “Subject Matter Expert” in wine, you would really have to follow the path of my friend, Gayle DeCaro of Gelson’s Markets in Southern California who has now completed the WSET II level.

I live in Northern California (home to some of the most celebrated vineyards), I know many of the varietals of wines…So really, I appreciate wines…and I guess you could say I am a “Wine Enthusiast”.

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