Q: Do I need WSET Level 1 and Level 2 before enrolling in the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines?
A: No. WSET sets no mandatory prerequisite for the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, but it recommends the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines or an equivalent level of wine knowledge, and we agree - Level 3 begins from the assumption that you already recognize the major grape varieties and classic regions. All students must be at least 21 years of age and present valid government-issued photo ID on the first day of class. Candidates sitting the exam in English as a second language are advised to have IELTS 6.5 or above.
Q: Where does the in-person WSET Level 3 Award in Wines course take place?
A: Scheduled Level 3 in-person cohorts run at Napa Valley Wine Academy headquarters, 2501 Oak St, Napa, CA 94559, from 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific each day. Level 3 is currently offered in Napa only; our WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Award in Wines in-person courses also run in Tampa and Nashville.
Q: How long is the in-person course, and what happens on each day?
A: Six consecutive days: five days of classroom instruction totaling 40 hours, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific, followed by the WSET Level 3 examination on the sixth day. A cohort listed as November 17 to 22, 2026 therefore teaches November 17 through 21 and examines on November 22, so plan your time off accordingly.
Q: How much study do I need to do outside the classroom?
A: WSET specifies a Total Qualification Time of 84 hours for this qualification. Our 40 hours of classroom instruction already exceeds WSET's 32.5-hour guided learning minimum, which leaves roughly 44 hours of private study, and the great majority of it should happen before you arrive rather than after.
Q: What do I get access to between enrolling and the first day of class?
A: You receive our online prep course immediately on enrollment, plus free access to the WSET digital textbook through the WSET Global Reader on web, iOS and Android for two years from purchase. The prep course is self-paced and available 24/7, with videos, hands-on experiments and interactive quizzes. Come to Napa having read the textbook once already, because five days is not enough time to meet this material for the first time.
Q: What is the format of the WSET Level 3 exam?
A: Two independently graded components, both sat on the final day: a two-hour theory paper of 50 multiple-choice questions and four short written-answer questions, and a 30-minute blind tasting of two wines assessed using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting®. You must score at least 55% in each component to be awarded the qualification.
Q: Can I sit the WSET Level 3 exam remotely?
A: No. Because of the blind tasting component, the Level 3 exam is only offered in person at any WSET provider worldwide - remote invigilation is not available for this qualification. Seating is limited to between 14 and 26 candidates per location and WSET requires exams to be ordered 30 days in advance, which is why your exam registration is included in your enrollment rather than booked separately.
Q: What are Merit and Distinction, and how are they awarded?
A: The pass mark is 55% in each of the two components, graded independently, so a strong tasting result cannot rescue a failed theory paper. Merit is awarded for an aggregate score of 65 to 79%, and Distinction for an aggregate of 80% or above with no individual paper below 65%.
Q: What is Napa Valley Wine Academy's WSET Level 3 pass rate?
A: From 3,016 graded sittings between 2023 and 2026, 60.2% of our candidates passed the theory paper and 89.8% passed the tasting. The two components are graded independently, and the gap between them is the most useful planning fact we can give you: theory is what fails most Level 3 candidates, so weight your study toward it.
Q: What happens if I do not pass the exam?
A: You are eligible to resit, you do not need to retake the course, and there is no deadline on the resit. Because the components are graded independently, a partial pass means you only resit the component you failed - pass the tasting and fail the theory, and you resit theory alone. Resit fees are $225 for a single component and $280 for both.
Q: When will I get my results and my certificate?
A: Results are issued approximately 10 to 12 weeks after the exam date, because all Level 3 papers are graded at WSET's headquarters in London rather than locally. For exams taken after 17 August 2025, WSET issues digital certificates and badges instead of shipping paper certificates and physical pins. On passing both components you are entitled to describe yourself as WSET Level 3 Certified and to use the WSET logo on your professional materials.
Q: What is included in the $1,755 price, and what costs extra?
A: The price covers the five-day in-person course with 40 hours of live instruction, the online prep course, guided tastings of approximately 80 benchmark wines, the WSET digital textbook for two years, mock exams, and your WSET exam registration and fees. Optional extras are a printed copy of the textbook, which can be added at checkout or bought later, and our Complete Exam Prep Package, which is included free with NVWA membership. Group discounts apply when booking together: 5% for two students, 8% for three and 10% for four.
Q: Can I cancel my enrollment or move to a different cohort?
A: Yes, if you act at least 60 days before your course start date. Cancellations made in that window incur a $50 administration fee plus the cost of study materials and exam fees already committed, with the remaining balance issued as store credit. One transfer per person per course is permitted on the same 60-day deadline and the same $50 fee, and you can move to either an in-person or an online cohort. Inside 60 days, or once the course has begun, no refunds or transfers are available without documented medical evidence; our General Policies page carries the full terms.
Q: Can I keep my course place but move only the exam date?
A: Yes, and it is handled separately from a course transfer. Rescheduling the exam with more than 30 days notice costs a $99 transfer fee, while less than 30 days notice, or an exam you missed, triggers the full $280 reorder fee. If you miss the exam for medical or other exceptional reasons, submit WSET's Special Consideration form with supporting evidence within seven days of the exam date; if WSET approves it, you are rescheduled without additional fees.
Q: How many wines will I taste, and am I expected to swallow them?
A: You will taste approximately 80 benchmark wines across the five teaching days, selected to illustrate the styles and quality levels the exam expects you to recognize, including still, sparkling and fortified wines. Spitting is standard professional practice in every session and is actively encouraged, because the course trains you to assess wine analytically rather than to consume it. Even so, we recommend arranging transport or staying nearby rather than driving after a full tasting day.
Q: Who teaches the in-person Level 3 course?
A: Your educators are WSET-certified instructors, including WSET Level 4 Diploma holders, Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and working Napa Valley winemakers, who teach the reasoning behind the qualification rather than facts to be memorized. Napa Valley Wine Academy was named WSET Educator of the Year in 2016 and again in 2019.
Q: I need a reasonable adjustment for a disability or learning difficulty. How do I arrange it?
A: Reasonable adjustments are available but must be approved by WSET before we can implement them, and applications for Levels 1 to 3 must reach WSET at least six weeks before the exam date. Contact us as early as possible and we will help you prepare the application. If you have an approved adjustment and then cannot attend, notify us in writing at support@napavalleywineacademy.com at least 24 hours in advance, or a $50 late cancellation fee applies.
Q: Is the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines the same qualification wherever I take it?
A: Yes. The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is a single global qualification set by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London, delivered against one published specification and graded to one standard worldwide, which is why it is recognized across the wine trade internationally. What differs between providers is the teaching, the wines poured and the exam preparation, not the credential. You can download the official course specification from this page before you enroll.
Q: What can I do after completing Level 3?
A: The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is the required entry qualification for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines, which is the standard route on toward the Master of Wine. It is also the level at which the wine trade generally treats a candidate as able to assess quality and value independently and advise on wine selection with authority, which is why it is common in buying, sales, distribution and supervisory floor roles.
Q: Can I speak to someone before I book?
A: Yes, and we would rather you did than guess at whether the level is right for you. Email support@napavalleywineacademy.com or use our help centre, and a member of our student support team will talk you through the prerequisite, the study commitment and which cohort suits your schedule.
