Every level of the Court has an entry requirement, and most of them are simply the level before. But there are a few rules that catch candidates out: an age limit, a time limit after the Introductory, and a rule about staying with the chapter that accepted you.
This article gathers them in one place, level by level.
01Level by level
The requirements build on each other. At each level you need the level before, and at the top you need an invitation:
| You need | |
|---|---|
| Introductory | At least 12 months of practical hospitality experience and a good basic knowledge of wine |
| Certified | The Introductory, passed within the last three years |
| Advanced | The Introductory and the Certified |
| MS Diploma | The Introductory, Certified and Advanced, and an invitation |
02Age and experience
Enrolment is open to anyone aged 18 or over, and every candidate needs an appropriate amount of service experience in hospitality, working with wine and beverages. That experience is judged individually for each candidate, and the Court may ask applicants to verify their age, identity, address and qualifications.
For the Introductory there is a figure: a minimum of twelve months of practical hospitality experience, with a good basic theoretical knowledge of wines. Experience matters because service is examined. The Court strongly recommends that candidates have some experience, and it points those in the wider wine trade who do not need service examined towards the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.
