Best Sommelier Certification: Compare WSET, CMS, and More

Wine education is having a moment. In 2022 alone, more than 108,000 students enrolled in Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses worldwide. In 2024, WSET reported a 15% rise in students pursuing their level 4 Diploma (their highest-level certification).

But if you’re considering wine education to become a sommelier, you’re probably wondering which certification is the best?

In your research, you may have come across the two big names in the industry:

• WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) – Known for its structured, academic approach, great for wine retail, distribution, or education.

• CMS (Court of Master Sommeliers) – A high-prestige track that focuses on service, tasting, and restaurant work.

Many people in the wine industry say: If you want to be a sommelier in a restaurant, go CMS. If you want to work elsewhere in wine, go WSET. But it’s not quite that simple.

Yes, CMS certification is a serious challenge. Passing their exams comes with a lot of respect. But it’s not the best fit for everyone — especially if you’re still exploring wine career options.

Depending on your learning style, your career goals, and how far down the wine rabbit hole you want to go, WSET (or another program) may offer a better path.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the best sommelier certification programs (and what makes each one unique), so you can choose the one that best fits your future in wine.

What Is a Sommelier?

The title sommelier carries a lot of prestige (and a bit of confusion).

In plain terms, a sommelier is someone who manages a restaurant's wine program. This means choosing the wines, keeping the list balanced, making smart buying decisions, storing bottles correctly, and helping guests select the perfect wine for their meal.

But over the last decade, the role has grown beyond the restaurant floor.

Today, sommeliers often work in wine bars, hotels, private clubs, wineries, and even online wine retail. They may work in the front of the house to serve customers and/or in the back of the house, developing wine programs and buying new bottles. Some go on to become educators, importers, consultants, or social media influencers.

Good sommeliers tend to have:

• Deep knowledge of wine styles, grapes, and regions

• Strong tasting ability and memory

• Experience with service, food pairing, and wine storage

• Great communication and people skills

• A sharp sense of hospitality

Do You Need a Certification To Be a Sommelier?

There’s no law that says you have to pass a certain level of exam to call yourself a sommelier. Plenty of people still have “sommelier jobs” without formal training.

However, without certification, it can be much harder to move up in the wine world.

Here’s what certifications actually give you:

• Knowledge. Self-taught knowledge won’t stand out unless it’s paired with credentials and put to the test. Wine certification gives you a reliable foundation.

• Prestige. Employers, customers, and coworkers often associate certain programs (like WSET or CMS) with professionalism and dedication.

• Connections. Certification programs often connect you with instructors, alumni, mentors, and future employers who can open doors.

• Pay Raises. Certified professionals often command higher pay.

Of course, you’ll build your career on much more than a piece of paper. Experience, attitude, and curiosity all matter. But a good sommelier certification shows people you’re serious about your craft.

Overview of the Best Sommelier Certifications

Many wine schools and wine education programs can take you on your journey as a sommelier. Here’s a quick overview of the best in the industry:

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)

Based in the UK, WSET offers structured, globally recognized wine certifications designed for people who want a deep, well-rounded understanding of wine.

Unlike other programs that focus on restaurant service, WSET emphasizes theory, grape varieties, winemaking, tasting technique, and regional knowledge.

It’s a great choice if you're interested in wine distribution, retail, education, collecting, or hospitality.

Learning Style

WSET courses are structured and consistent, with official study guides, classes taught by trained instructors, and optional wine tasting kits. Courses are offered in-person and online through providers like Napa Valley Wine Academy (NVWA).

WSET also uses its own tasting framework: the Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), which teaches you how to taste, describe, and evaluate wine like a professional.

WSET Levels

• Level 1: Beginner-friendly. A one-day class covering wine basics, food pairing, and tasting.

• Level 2: Intermediate. Builds your wine vocabulary and introduces important regions and styles.

• Level 3: Advanced. Goes deep into theory and includes blind tasting (~12 wines).

• Level 4 Diploma: Expert level. A ~2-year deep dive into global wine regions, production, and business.

Time Commitment

• Level 1: About 6 hours total (1 day).

• Level 2: 2–3 days in person, or 5+ weeks part-time online.

• Level 3: Around 40 hours of class time plus self-study, or 10 weeks part-time online.

• Level 4 Diploma: ~500+ hours of study over 18–24 months.

Career Potential

WSET is respected worldwide. Holding a WSET Level 4 Diploma shows serious wine knowledge and can open doors far beyond restaurants.

However, many sommeliers do just fine with WSET Level 2 or 3 (especially if they acquire hands-on service experience in parallel).

WSET is also a strong option if you want career flexibility down the line — just in case you ever get burnt out working at a restaurant. A WSET certification also sets you up for other career paths like:

• Wine distribution or sales

• Wine education

• Importing or exporting

• Winemaking

• Wine tourism

• Writing or media

Cost (via Napa Valley Wine Academy)

Here’s a general breakdown of WSET pricing through Napa Valley Wine Academy:

Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS)

Founded in 1977, CMS is a highly respected sommelier certification program focusing on training wine professionals in service, tasting, and hospitality.

Blind tasting, service exams, and live role-play scenarios are central to the program. Candidates are expected not only to know about wine — but to work with it in a real restaurant setting, answering customer questions on the spot.

Learning Style

CMS is mostly self-directed. You’ll get a syllabus, reading recommendations, and exams. For the Intro level, you have a choice between in-person or online study. After that, most candidates study on their own, join tasting groups, and practice service skills with mentors or peers (often  in a restaurant setting).

In-person performance is a key part of the CMS journey. From Level 2 onward, you’ll be expected to demonstrate your skills live. You’ll need to decant wine under time limits and answer detailed pairing questions.

Higher-level exams are only offered in select cities (and only a few times a year), so travel is also part of the process.

CMS Levels

• Introductory Sommelier: A two-day course plus a 70-question multiple-choice exam. A broad overview of wine, beer, spirits, and service.

• Certified Sommelier: A one-day, in-person exam with three parts: blind tasting (4 wines), written theory, and a practical service exam. You need to pass all three sections with 60% or higher. This is considered a working sommelier credential.

• Advanced Sommelier: You must pass a Sommelier Knowledge Assessment to even qualify. Then, you’ll attend a 3-day course led by Master Sommeliers, followed by another three-part exam — written theory, oral tasting (6 wines), and live service.

• Master Sommelier Diploma: The ultimate achievement in wine service. There is no course; just a challenging exam that includes oral theory, blind tasting (6 wines), and advanced service. Fewer than 300 people in the world have ever passed this exam.

Time Commitment

With focused study, you might complete the Intro and Certified levels within a year.

However, Advanced and Master levels are multi-year commitments. You’ll likely need years of hands-on restaurant experience, constant practice, and strong peer support to succeed. For most, CMS is a long journey that rewards patience and deep commitment.

Career Potential

If you want to work in restaurants, CMS is a powerful credential (especially from the Certified level onward). Advanced or Master Sommeliers often go on to lead beverage programs at top hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.

That said, CMS doesn't necessarily dive as deep into business aspects of the wine industry as WSET.

Still, achieving Master Sommelier can open nearly any door in the wine world.

Cost

Here’s what you should expect to pay in completing CMS:

Society of Wine Educators (SWE)

Also founded in 1977, the Society of Wine Educators (SWE) is a respected nonprofit that offers professional certifications in wine and spirits. Known for its academic approach and flexible learning style, its certifications are recognized in the U.S. and internationally.

If you love studying and prefer a self-paced format, SWE might offer a good path. There’s also no live service component or tasting exam for the entry-level certifications.

Learning Style

SWE is largely a self-study path. You buy the study guide and workbook, prepare at your own pace, and take the exam when ready. Exams are taken through Pearson VUE, either online or at a local test center.

There are no required classes or tasting components for most levels. However, SWE offers a free 12–16 week online prep course for first-time test takers of the CSW and CSS (more on those later).

Resources include weekly webinars, quizzes, and study support — all included with membership.

SWE Certifications

SWE offers a range of individual certifications in both wine and spirits (not necessarily in chronological order):

• Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW): SWE’s most popular certification covers core wine theory like grapes, regions, winemaking, and laws. No tasting or service exams. Great for future wine educators, retail staff, distributors, or serious enthusiasts.

• Certified Wine Educator (CWE): The highest-level wine credential from SWE. To qualify, you need to pass the CSW first. Then, you’ll face a series of advanced exams, including blind tasting, theory, and a teaching demonstration.

• Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS): Focuses entirely on spirits (whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.). This one-hour multiple-choice exam with no tasting requirement is ideal for bartenders, bar managers, and brand reps who want formal knowledge.

• Certified Spirits Educator (CSE): You’ll need to pass the CSS first, then complete blind tastings and a professional teaching demo. It’s a great fit for experienced professionals ready to lead and teach about spirits.

• Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate (HBSC): An affordable, online, entry-level certificate covering wine, beer, sake, cider, and spirits. It’s designed for front-of-house staff and anyone new to the beverage world.

Time Commitment

• CSW / CSS: Most candidates spend 3–6 months studying part-time using the official resources.

• CWE / CSE: These take longer (usually 6–18 months) because they include tasting exams, presentations, and a broader scope of material.

• HBSC: Being a more practical certification, this will likely only take ~10–15 hours total (depending on your speed of study).

Career Potential

SWE credentials are widely used in wine retail, distribution, education, and import/export roles. Sommeliers who want to deepen their theory knowledge may pursue a CSW to complement their tasting and service skills.

Cost

First, you’ll need an SWE membership to access the courses and study tools (which cost extra).

Here’s one example cost breakdown for the CSW:

Other Sommelier Certifications To Know About

We’ve covered the most common and respected programs, but there are still several other options to explore.

International Sommelier Guild (ISG)

The International Sommelier Guild offers a three-level Sommelier Diploma Program that blends wine theory with service training. While not as widely recognized as CMS or WSET, it has a loyal following in parts of North America and offers a well-rounded curriculum.

ISG Level 3 is comparable to a mid-level sommelier qualification. The program includes both classroom instruction and exams, with some online options available.

Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW)

The Institute of Masters of Wine is a famously challenging program based out of the UK with an intense academic structure. Their Master of Wine (MW) title is one of the highest honors in the wine world.

Even before applying, you typically need a WSET Diploma or an equivalent certification. The IMW program includes years of self-directed study, a multi-day exam covering theory, tasting, and business, and a final research paper.

The MW certification is more focused on global wine industry business and trends. As of now, there are fewer than 400 MWs in the world.

Wine Scholar Guild (WSG)

The Wine Scholar Guild offers region-specific certifications like:

• French Wine Scholar (FWS)

• Italian Wine Scholar (IWS)

• Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS)

These programs deeply explore specific wine regions. If you’ve already completed WSET Level 2 or 3 (or if you’re a sommelier looking to strengthen your knowledge of a particular region) WSG is a great next step.

Courses are available online or in the classroom, and each ends with a proctored exam. While these aren't “sommelier” credentials in the traditional sense, they’re highly respected among importers, educators, and wine tourism professionals.

Choosing the Best Sommelier Certification (for You)

The best wine certification depends on your goals and learning style. Here are some tips to make your best choice:

• For a restaurant sommelier career: CMS and WSET are both strong options. CMS is built around service and blind tasting, which is excellent for hospitality. However, WSET is also valued by restaurants, especially at Levels 2 and 3. It also gives you a deeper foundation in wine knowledge that may open more doors in the long run.

• For a broad wine industry role or more flexibility: For roles in distribution, education, or retail, WSET is ideal. It’s also the best certification for anyone considering the Master of Wine path.

• For self-paced, academic study: SWE’s CSW offers great value. There’s no tasting or service exam, just solid wine theory. Good for busy professionals who want to shift into being writers or educators.

• Want both theory and service? Many wine pros combine programs. For example, WSET Level 2 can give you academic depth before jumping into CMS Certified for hands-on service (or vice versa).

Think Long-Term

• If your dream is to become a Master Sommelier at a world-class restaurant (and you plan to stay there), CMS is your roadmap.

• If you want to direct wine programs, teach, or stay flexible, WSET through Diploma offers broader opportunities.

• If you're drawn to more focused or independent study, consider SWE.

You don’t have to pick just one path. Your wine journey can (and probably will) evolve. The right mix of certifications can help you grow throughout your career, wherever it takes you.

Start Your Wine Journey With Napa Valley Wine Academy

The best sommelier certification is the one that fits your goals, learning style, budget, and the kind of wine career you want to build. Whether you're aiming for the floor of a Michelin-starred restaurant or a flexible role in education, sales, or writing, there’s a path for you.

At Napa Valley Wine Academy, we aim to make that path clearer. Our expert-led WSET courses have helped thousands of students pass their exams and take the next steps in sommelier certification.

We also provide a welcoming, passionate community of wine learners, mentors, and pros who support each other every step of the way.

Explore WSET certifications today (online or in-person), and see where wine education can take you.