The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1977 to encourage quality standards for beverage service, and it examines sommeliers at four levels. Each level must be passed before you can move on to the next, so the order is fixed: Introductory, Certified, Advanced, then the Master Sommelier Diploma.
This page sets the four levels side by side. Every other article in this section goes deeper into one part of the journey, from the fees to the rules on resits.
01What the Court examines
The Court is a certification body for sommeliers and beverage professionals. Its syllabus is structured around three core skills: wine theory, deductive wine tasting and practical service. Those three skills run through every level. What changes from one level to the next is the depth expected of you and the format of the examinations.
The programmes are written for people who work in hospitality: in restaurants, hotels, clubs and wine or cocktail bars. The certifications emphasise formal service in a fine-dining setting. The four levels, in the order you take them:
01Introductory
02Certified
03Advanced
04Master Sommelier Diploma