WSET Levels Explained: Which Course is Right for You?

Start at the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines if you have never studied wine. Start at the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines if you already buy, sell or serve wine and can talk your way through a wine list; you do not need Level 1 first.

Take the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines once you have Level 2 or equivalent knowledge and want to explain why wines taste as they do, including a blind tasting exam. The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines requires a Level 3 pass.

Then pick a format. Choose on-demand to start today at your own pace, live online for an instructor and a cohort, or in person if you learn best tasting in a classroom.

Which level fits you?

Find the row that matches what you do with wine today.

Still unsure between two levels? Read Level 1 vs Level 2 or Level 2 vs Level 3, or email support@napavalleywineacademy.com with a sentence about where you are.

WSET Levels 1 to 4 at a glance

Pass rates are Napa Valley Wine Academy candidates in the 2024–25 WSET academic year, first attempts only: 1,269 candidates at Level 1, 1,106 at Level 2, 859 at Level 3 and 558 Diploma unit sittings. WSET does not publish pass-rate data, so no provider comparison is possible. See our full figures and how we count them. Prices on this page update automatically from our course catalog.

On-demand, live online or in person?

The qualification and the exam are the same whichever way you study. What changes is how much live teaching you get and when you can start.

Level 1 and Level 2 exams are taken online. Level 3 is examined in person, whether you take the course online or in person. Pay over time with Shop Pay Installments at checkout.

A rule of thumb worth printing: if you have started and abandoned self-paced courses before, choose live online. The cohort deadlines help you do the work.

Ready to choose?

Level 1 on demand, $289 · Level 2 on demand, $599 · Level 3 online, $1,135. All three include your first exam sitting; tasting wines are not included. On-demand courses start the moment you enroll; instructor-led courses run to a fixed cohort schedule. Compare every format and location.

What comes after Level 3?

The WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines requires a Level 3 pass. Plan on at least 18 months and a minimum of 500 hours of study, with exams sat in person in Napa. For an honest look at the step up, read Making the Jump from WSET Level 3 to Level 4 Diploma.

Studying spirits, beer or sake?

NVWA teaches spirits, beer and sake courses online. See WSET spirits courses (Levels 1 to 3), WSET beer courses (Levels 1 and 2) and WSET sake courses (Levels 1 and 2).

Not ready for an exam?

If you want to taste with more confidence without sitting an exam, Premier Crew membership includes monthly Zoom tastings (with a wine list or an optional wine kit), the TasteCoach™ wine courses, NVWA's regional wine courses, study tools for every level, maps, pronunciation guides and more, for $29.99 a month or $299 a year.

Common questions

Can I skip WSET Level 1 and start at Level 2?

Yes. Level 2 has no prerequisite. If you already know key grape varieties and their styles, how grapes grow and become wine, and basic food-pairing concepts, start at Level 2.

Do I need Level 2 before Level 3?

WSET strongly recommends Level 2 or an equivalent level of knowledge, but does not require it. Level 3 builds on the Level 2 tasting method and adds depth, and its exam adds short written answers and a blind tasting of two wines. Without Level 2, plan extra study time.

How long does each level take?

WSET's minimum study time, counting class and self-study, is 6 hours for Level 1, 28 for Level 2, 84 for Level 3 and 500 for the Diploma. Live online courses at NVWA run 4, 5 and 10 weeks for Levels 1 to 3. On-demand, you set the pace within 12 months.

How hard is WSET Level 3?

It is a big step up from Level 2. You are asked to consider and explain the key influences on the style and quality of wines around the world. To pass, you need 55% on both parts of the theory paper (multiple choice and short written answers) and on the blind tasting. NVWA's first-attempt pass rate in the 2024–25 WSET academic year was 73.8% at Level 3 and 95.1% at Level 2.

Can I do WSET entirely online?

Levels 1 and 2, yes: you study and then sit the exam online. For Level 3 and the Diploma you can study online, but the exams are held in person.

Which level helps if I work in a restaurant or wine shop?

Level 2 if you already handle wine at work, Level 1 if you are brand new to wine. If your goal is floor service as a sommelier, note that WSET does not test service; the Court of Master Sommeliers does.

Is the exam included in the course price?

Yes. Your first exam sitting is included at every level, from Level 1 through the Diploma; resits are charged separately. Tasting wines are not included in on-demand or live online courses. For the Diploma, WSET's $482 New Diploma Candidate Registration is a one-time fee charged with your first unit.

On-demand or live online: what's the difference?

On-demand starts the day you enroll and has no live sessions. Live online follows a cohort schedule with a dedicated instructor, live virtual webinars and personal feedback on your assignments. The qualification and exam are identical.

Is WSET worth it?

It depends on what you need it for. A WSET qualification is externally examined to one standard worldwide with a published pass mark, so the certificate means the same thing wherever you studied. That makes it most useful in retail, distribution, importing, education and hospitality, where product knowledge is the job, and for enthusiasts who want a structured, assessed path. It is not a service qualification: if your goal is working the floor as a sommelier, the Court of Master Sommeliers tests service in a way WSET does not. At Napa Valley Wine Academy, costs run from $289 for Level 1 on demand to $7,330 across the six Diploma units, so start at the level that matches what you already know.

What our students say

“I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the first webinar. You are interesting and engaging — it was very refreshing (I am a little ‘over-zoomed’ these days). You really packed a ton of great info into the hour, and delivered it clearly.”
— Joelle Casteix, WSET Level 1 with Jean Cox

“Enjoyable and engaging course. The videos tie in quite well with the textbook, and the virtual tastings with Jean included overviews of textbook and tasting note materials, in addition to live interaction, which was on point and also fun. … I did my WSET Level 1 with another provider, and the Level 2 with Napa Valley Wine Academy really set the bar much higher for quality of instruction, preparation of students, and interaction during a ‘virtual’ class.”
— Heather Shannon, WSET Level 2 graduate with Jean Cox

“I had the distinct pleasure of checking my email towards the end of my work day … to learn that I had passed the WSET Level 3 certification with merit. … [Your] Harvest Class at the end of Sept was superb and a fantastic interactive learning experience. I am sure the course was invaluable in my success in passing the test.”
— Matthew Zarka, WSET Level 3 graduate with Monika Bielka-Vescov

About WSET and Approved Programme Providers

WSET is a London-based awarding body, founded in 1969, that sets the syllabus and exams for qualifications in wines, spirits, sake and beer, from Level 1 to the Level 4 Diploma. It authorizes Approved Programme Providers to teach its courses and run its exams: WSET writes the syllabus, sets the exam and issues the qualification, while the provider teaches the course, supplies the tasting program and runs the exam under WSET's rules. The qualification is identical everywhere; the teaching, the wines poured, the instructor support and the exam locations differ by provider. Napa Valley Wine Academy is an Approved Programme Provider.

See every WSET course we run, in all four subjects and every format.

Catherine Bugue, DipWSET, is VP of Education and Co-Founder of Napa Valley Wine Academy.