Careers & credentials · certifications

CERTIFICATIONS

Every major wine, spirits and bar credential in one place — what it is, how hard it is, roughly what it costs and who it suits. Always check the official site for current fees and rules.

Not sure which WSET level?Read the full WSET guide→

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$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine WSET Wines (Levels 1–4) Wine & Spirit Education Trust The world’s most widely taken wine qualification, taught in dozens of countries through approved providers. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine Wine Scholar Guild Regional Programmes Wine Scholar Guild Deep dives into the great wine countries, taught through structured online courses. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine International Sommelier Guild (ISG) International Sommelier Guild A classroom-based sommelier curriculum with several progressive levels. LevelIntermediateCost$$$$WhereNorth America and worldwide Wine Court of Master Sommeliers (Four Levels) Court of Master Sommeliers The service-focused path to becoming a sommelier, ending in one of the hardest exams in hospitality. LevelEliteCost$$$$WhereWorldwide Wine Master of Wine (MW) Institute of Masters of Wine The most prestigious business-and-knowledge qualification in wine. LevelEliteCost$$$$WhereWorldwide

COMPARE AT A GLANCE

Credential	Focus	Level	Time to complete	How you are assessed	Cost
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)Society of Wine Educators	Wine	Foundation	Self-study; no minimum hours	Multiple-choice exam	$$$$
WSET Wines (Levels 1–4)Wine & Spirit Education Trust	Wine	Intermediate	L1 about a day · L2 several weeks · L3 and Diploma months to two years	Multiple-choice and written exams; Level 3 adds a blind tasting; the Diploma is a multi-unit programme	$$$$
Wine Scholar Guild Regional ProgrammesWine Scholar Guild	Wine	Intermediate	Self-paced study over weeks to months	Online learning followed by an exam	$$$$
International Sommelier Guild (ISG)International Sommelier Guild	Wine	Intermediate	Weekly classes over months	Classroom study and exams	$$$$
Court of Master Sommeliers (Four Levels)Court of Master Sommeliers	Wine	Elite	Introductory: two days · Certified: one exam day · Advanced: multi-day exam · Master: years of preparation	Theory, deductive blind tasting and practical table service	$$$$
Master of Wine (MW)Institute of Masters of Wine	Wine	Elite	Minimum three years; many take longer	Theory and blind-tasting papers plus a 6,000–10,000-word research paper	$$$$

Cost bands are indicative: $ under about US$300 · $$ about $300–1,000 · $$$ about $1,000–5,000 · $$$$ over about $5,000. Fees vary by country and provider.