Advanced Sommelier Programming

Advanced Sommelier Course

  • A three-day educational program exploring the Court of Master Sommeliers standards in beverage sales and service in greater depth. Presentation on specific topics designed to give candidates a template for upper-level exam study and a clear understanding of expectations at the Advanced Sommelier Examination.
  • Recommendations prior to applying:
    • Wait at least one calendar year after passing the Certified Sommelier Examination in order to adequately prepare for the Advanced Sommelier Course.
  • Advanced Sommelier Course Eligibility:
    • Applicant has passed the Certified Sommelier Examination at the time of submitting the application.
    • Applicant must have a minimum two years of restaurant experience in a service/sales position within seven years of the date the application is submitted. Current employment must be in the restaurant/hospitality or beverage industry.
    • Applicant has NOT previously attended the three-day Advanced Sommelier Course. 
    • Advanced Sommelier Course is a prerequisite to the Advanced Sommelier Examination.
    • Applicant cannot apply for the Course and Examination in the same year.

Please see the Examination Site Policy that defines where a candidate may sit depending on geographic location and exam history. 

2024 Advanced Sommelier Course Application

  • US Advanced Sommelier Course
    • For students from the US, Canada.
    • Opens October 1, 2023 and closes November 1, 2023 - No late applications will be accepted.
    • Students applying for the US Advanced Sommelier Course will be required to take the Sommelier Knowledge Assessment (SKA).
      • November 6-24, 2023 Advanced Sommelier Course applicants will have access to schedule their SKA on the Pearson VUE website.
      • December 1-15, 2023 Advanced Sommelier Course applicants will take the SKA in-person at a Pearson VUE Center.
         
  •  Advanced Sommelier Course - Seoul, South Korea - April 16-18, 2024
    • For students living in South Korea and other Asian Countries
    • Application opens November 2, 2023 and close November 30, 2023
  • Advanced Sommelier Course - Mexico City, Mexico - August 7-9, 2024
    • For students from from Mexico, Central America, South America, adn Spanish speaking Caribbean countries and US territories.
    • Application opens November 2, 2023.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Mexico/South America Advanced Sommelier Course

2024 Advanced Sommelier Theory Examination Application

  • US, Canada, Mexico, South America, South Korea, Asia – see Examination Site Policy for other locations
    • Opens October 1, 2023

NOTE: The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe continues to offer a five-day Advanced Course and Examination. The respective Boards of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas and the Court of Master Sommeliers, Europe work together to ensure a common global standard. The only difference is the format in which the programs are offered.

Advanced Sommelier Examination

The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas (CMS-A) launched a modified format for the Advanced Sommelier Examination in 2022. This evolution provides candidates with greater access to the examination and improved feedback. The new format, which is outlined below, mirrors the format of the Master Sommelier exam in which the Theory portion of the exam is separated from the Practical and Tasting portions of the exam.

Students applying for the Advanced Sommelier Exam will NOT be required to take the Sommelier Knowledge Assessment (SKA).

Theory
Beginning with the 2022 exams, candidates pursuing the Advanced Sommelier Certification will be required to successfully complete the Theory portion of the exam first. The Theory portion remains a written exam, that will now be administered at a local-to-you, industry-leading Pearson VUE testing center.

  • Upon passing the Theory portion, candidates will be invited to sit the Practical and Tasting portions later in the year.
  • Candidates that do not pass the Theory portion must wait until the next calendar year to re-take it.
  • Candidates are still required to pass all three portions of the examination within a calendar year; if a candidate passes Theory but does not pass the Practical and/or Tasting portions, they must begin again with Theory the following year.

Hospitality & Service Practical and Tasting
There is no change to the Hospitality & Service Practical and Tasting Portions of the exam. These will continue to be administered in-person by a team of experienced Master Sommelier examiners at appropriate hospitality venues.

About the Examination and Eligibility

  • The Advanced Sommelier Examination tests the Court of Master Sommeliers standards in beverage sales and service. The exam represents a significant increase over the Certified Sommelier Examination in required experience, knowledge, and skill level.
  • The examination consists of three sections:
    • Theory (written)
    • Tasting (verbal)
    • Practical
      • Hospitality and Service
      • Business of the Sommelier
         
  •  Advanced Sommelier Examination Eligibility:
    • Applicant has attended the three-day Advanced Sommelier Course at the time of submitting the application.
    • Applicant must have a minimum three years of restaurant experience in a service/sales position within seven years of the date the application is submitted. 
    • Current employment must be in the restaurant/hospitality or beverage industry.
  • Passing requirement:  A candidate must achieve a minimum of 60% on each section within one calendar year.
  • Eligible Certified Sommeliers may sit for the Advanced Sommelier Theory examination in perpetuity. In the following cases, they will be required to wait an additional year between efforts to allow for the preparation necessary for a reasonable chance of success:
    • A first attempt at Practical without at least a 40% score
    • A second consecutive year’s attempt at Practical without at least a 50% score.
    • A third consecutive year’s attempt at Theory or Practical without at least a 55% score.
    • Note: There is no required minimum score on any attempt at the Tasting portion

Advanced Application Process:

  • Applicants can only apply for the course or exam, not both
  • Application fee of $100.00 due at time of application submission

Letters of recommendation are not needed for ANY CMS-A programming application.

In 2023 the CMS-A expanded the capacity of the Advanced Sommelier Course from 150 to 200 seats and expanded the metrics as to how we allocate seats to include not only a candidate's performance on the SKA but also to include additional factors for inclusion of underrepresented communities. Our aim is to continue to encourage unique perspectives, promote a more inclusive dialogue, and serve as a more accurate representation of the make-up of the hospitality industry as a whole. Eligible students for 2024 will receive an authorization from Pearson VUE the first week of November. 

Eligible students who apply for the Advanced Sommelier Examination will be required to successfully complete the Theory portion of the exam first. Information on scheduling the Theory exam at a Pearson VUE center will be provided in November. In 2024 the Advanced Sommelier Theory Examination will have an unlimited number of seats to accommodate all qualified applicants who meet the eligibility criteria.

2024 Advanced Dates & Application

The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will offer three Advanced Sommelier Courses, one Advanced Sommelier Theory Exam and two Advanced Sommelier Practical and Tasting Examination in 2024. 

Advanced Sommelier Courses:
Dallas, Texas – June 17-19, 2024 - $1799
Seoul, South Korea – April 16-18, 2024 - $TBD
Mexico City, Mexico – August 7-9, 2024 - $TBD

Advanced Sommelier Theory Examinations: $399
Pearson VUE Testing Center – February 22, 2024 – For candidates living in North, Central and South America
Pearson VUE Testing Center – March 19, 2024 – For candidates living in South Korea and other Asian Countries

Advanced Sommelier Hospitality & Service Practical and Tasting Examinations: 
July 15-16, 2024 Phoenix, AZ - $999
Fall 2024 Seoul, South Korea - $TBD
Candidates who pass the 2024 Theory Examination are invited to sit the Practical and Tasting portions

Eligibility

  • To apply for the 2024 Advanced Sommelier Course:
    • Applicant has passed the Certified Sommelier Examination at the time of submitting application.
    • Applicant must have a minimum two years of restaurant experience in a service/sales position within seven years of the date the application is submitted. Current employment must be in the restaurant/hospitality or beverage industry.
    • Applicant has NOT previously attended the three-day Advanced Sommelier Course. 
    • Advanced Sommelier Course is a prerequisite to the Advanced Sommelier Examination.
    • Applicant cannot apply for the Course and Examination in the same year.
  • To apply for the 2024 Advanced Sommelier Exam
    • Applicant has attended the three-day Advanced Sommelier Course at the time of submitting application.
    • Applicant must have a minimum three years of restaurant experience in a service/sales position within seven years of the date the application is submitted. 
    • Current employment must be in the restaurant/hospitality or beverage industry.

Scholarship Info

SommFoundation provides scholarships for the Advanced Sommelier Course & Examination and Master Sommelier Diploma Examination. Please visit their website at www.sommfoundation.com/scholarships for more information.