CERTIFICATIONS

Wine Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Society of Wine Educators A self-study wine credential from a US educators’ society, taken at testing centres or online. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Spirits Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Society of Wine Educators A broad self-study spirits credential covering whisky, vodka, gin, rum, tequila and mezcal, brandy and liqueurs. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Spirits Bourbon Steward (Stave & Thief Society) Moonshine University The Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s official bourbon education course. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereUnited States Bar & mixology Diageo Bar Academy Diageo Free online training on bartending, spirits and responsible serving. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereOnline Service & licensing TIPS Responsible Alcohol Service Health Communications, Inc. The most widely accepted responsible-service training in the United States. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereUnited States Service & licensing ServSafe Alcohol National Restaurant Association Another widely recognised US responsible-service certificate. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereUnited States Service & licensing UK Personal Licence (APLH / SCPLH) Awarding bodies approved in the UK The legal qualification needed to authorise alcohol sales in a UK venue. LevelFoundationCost$$$$WhereEngland & Wales Wine WSET Wines (Levels 1–4) Wine & Spirit Education Trust The world’s most widely taken wine qualification, taught in dozens of countries through approved providers. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Spirits WSET Spirits (Levels 1–3) Wine & Spirit Education Trust The broadest, most recognised qualification in spirits, covering whisky, rum, gin, brandy, tequila, mezcal and more. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Sake WSET Sake (Levels 1 and 3) Wine & Spirit Education Trust A structured way into sake: brewing, styles, tasting and service. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine Wine Scholar Guild Regional Programmes Wine Scholar Guild Deep dives into the great wine countries, taught through structured online courses. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine International Sommelier Guild (ISG) International Sommelier Guild A classroom-based sommelier curriculum with several progressive levels. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereNorth America and worldwide Spirits Master of Whiskey Programme Council of Whiskey Masters A whiskey-focused programme that starts with bourbon and widens to world whiskies. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereUnited States and online Bar & mixology BarSmarts BarSmarts A well-known online bar programme covering mixology, spirits and bar management. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereOnline Bar & mixology USBG Advanced Mixology Certification United States Bartenders’ Guild The American bartenders’ guild certification in advanced mixology. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereUnited States Bar & mixology IBA Bartender Courses International Bartenders Association Courses from the international association behind the IBA cocktail list. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Education & management Certified Wine Educator (CWE) Society of Wine Educators Qualifies you to teach wine professionally. LevelAdvancedCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Education & management Certified Spirits Educator (CSE) Society of Wine Educators Qualifies you to teach spirits professionally. LevelAdvancedCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Spirits IBD Distilling Qualifications Institute of Brewing & Distilling The technical qualification for people who make spirits. LevelAdvancedCost$$$$WhereUnited Kingdom and worldwide Education & management Hospitality & Hotel Management Degrees Universities and hotel-management institutes A broad academic route into food, beverage and hospitality management. LevelAdvancedCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine Court of Master Sommeliers (Four Levels) Court of Master Sommeliers The service-focused path to becoming a sommelier, ending in one of the hardest exams in hospitality. LevelEliteCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine Master of Wine (MW) Institute of Masters of Wine The most prestigious business-and-knowledge qualification in wine. LevelEliteCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Spirits Keepers of the Quaich The Keepers of the Quaich An honorary society recognising people who have served Scotch whisky. LevelEliteCost$$$$WhereScotland and worldwide