Certified Cicerone® is the second level of recognition in the Cicerone Certification Program. Those who achieve this certification have a deep and well-rounded knowledge of beer and beer service as well as competence in assessing beer quality and identity by taste.
Prerequisites - Must have passed the Certified Beer Server exam. Candidates for this level of certification must be of legal drinking age.
Exam Format & Components - Written exam with short answer and essay questions plus tasting and a demonstration component. The written portion of the exam may be completed online, separate from the demonstration and tasting. A grade of 80% overall and at least 70% on the tasting portion are required to pass.
Exam Cost (all prices listed in US Dollars) - The total cost is $400 (the written portion of the exam is $225 and the tasting/demonstration portion is $175). Exam fees are non-refundable. Retakes are available if a passing score isn't achieved on the initial attempt, the cost is $175 for a written retake and $125 for a tasting/demonstration retake.
Initiating an Exam - Certified Cicerone® exams are scheduled frequently around the world. The written portion of the exam is now available online. See the Exam Schedule for upcoming exams, be sure to select your time zone to view the most relevant options.
Knowledge Area Responsibilities - The Certified Cicerone® must have detailed knowledge of retail beer storage and service best practices and issues, excellent knowledge of modern beers and styles with some familiarity with beer history and historical styles, competence in identifying flawed beers and recognizing appropriate and in-appropriate flavors in modern beer styles, good understanding of the beer ingredients and familiarity with the brewing process and its common variations plus knowledge of beer pairing principles and the ability to recommend reasonable beer pairings for common foods. Consult the Certified Cicerone® Syllabus for a comprehensive catalog of the knowledge required.
Preparation for the Exam - This is a challenging exam which requires substantial preparation. Use the Certified Cicerone® Syllabus to guide your preparations and pursue training and knowledge from a variety of sources. Please see our Recommended Resources at the bottom of the Certified Cicerone page for more information.
If You Receive a Passing Score - You will receive a results email from Chris(at)cicerone(dot)org, then:
- Your status will be updated on the roster.
- We send you out a lapel pin, an iron-on patch, and a certificate via USPS First Class mail (to the address on your profile.) Please allow 3-6 weeks for delivery.*
Other Certified Cicerone Exam Policies, Such as Rescheduling
You may view the Certified Cicerone exam policies at cicerone.org/cicerone-exam-policies#cc