Written by After running this website since 2008, and having sampled probably 250+ beers and allegedly writing about them, I decided to get craft-beer legit by trying for the the Cicerone ‘Certified Beer Server’ certification.
Spoiler alert. I passed! (See my certification?)
The Cicerone program (website here, when its up) is an effort to establish a baseline of beer knowledge amongst people in the beer industry. There are three levels of Cicerone-ness (my word) beginning with the aforementioned ‘Certified Beer Server’. This certification requires one to pass an online exam consisting of 60 (?) multiple choice questions and a couple of true/false deals.
Its basic, I suppose, but it doesn’t come without pain or stress!
You’ve got to put $69 on the line to take the test and you need to get at least 75% of the questions correct (I got 88.33%, yay!). To keep you moving, there’s a 30-minute time restriction, complete with a countdown clock on your screen! Yikes!
To make you feel better, you do get a second chance to take the exam if you happen to blow it the first time around, but they do provide some nice review materials to check out beforehand. Its not like studying for the Bar, but you do need to have at least some knowledge about beer to get through it within the allotted time. Heck, here’s what their website says about it.
“The Certified Beer Server requires competent knowledge of beer storage and service issues as well as modest knowledge of currently popular beer styles and culture and basic familiarity with beer tasting and flavors as well as brewing process and ingredients. Knowledge of the Cicerone Certification Program’s levels and titles is also required.”
And for my passing, I get a nifty certificate and a lapel pin! This first level exam is a prerequisite toward the Certified Cicerone and Master Cicerone certifications, but those bad boys require real time in the field, and a much greater bite out of the wallet. We’ll see. Perhaps someday.
Anyway, its a start, and I’ve already accomplished something in 2012!
Personally, after taking the exam, I do think that its a good base for people who are actually in the business, unlike yours truly who took the test for the challenge.
On the other hand, coming from the I.T. field, I also understand that there are a lot of people out there who have no technical certifications who have much more skill and real-world experience than someone out of school with a fancy piece of paper. Again, its a start.
So what do you think about the Cicerone certification concept? Do you think its a valuable thing that improves the beer industry?
Congrats! We both got the same score!
I think its a good idea to have some kind of formal certification, especially in an area growing as quickly as craft beer. Sure, there are pros in the field slinging beers that likely know much more than this exam covers, but there is an sense of credibility that comes with something like this.
I was thinking of taking this exam too, just for the heck of it, but the cost has kept me from doing it at the moment. I thought the exam was $50 or $55. I guess it went up!
Congrats on passing!
@Peter – Thanks!
@Meile – Thanks for the comment! Yes, I think the cost went up but whatever. If you’re thinking of taking it, even for the challenge, just go for it!
Nice one mate! Well done.
Oooh, I’d do it just for the lapel pin. Congrats on passing!
@Bob – thanks!
@Lee – I’ll get a picture up of the lapel pin once I get it! Thanks!
Congrats on passing Scott. I honestly don’t know how I feel about the “program.” What do you feel like you gained out of taking it that you couldn’t have found in a book or website? I’m just curious as I have thought about doing this a few times, but I can’t determine if it would actually be of any use. I almost feel like a BCJP cert would be better when it comes to rating beers.
On a side-note, the first link isn’t working, you have an extra period in the URL.
Thanks for the catch Nate.. The BCJB cert would make more sense for ratings, and i might look @ that one too. I sort of took it on a whim, and i guess it demonstrates a basic understanding. Also, ifyou wanted to take the advanced exams, you need this one out of the way first.
Congrats! Like some other folks on this thread, I thought about taking this certification. I didn’t realize you could do this online – thought the first test including “lessons” by a certified cicerone. How long did you prep for and where the provided materials enough in your opinion? I think I’m gonna go for it!
@ Mike Z – thanks! The second test, “Certified Cicerone” requires time in the field, and the practical exam. Plus you need to have passes the first test. Just check the link above for the real dirt.
I think the materials were enough if you have some knowledge already. Knowing I had a second chance if I needed it, I read the review guide and just went for it. I guess ten minutes or so!
I actually have been looking into this for quite some time, is there room in the industry for a female cicerone? I have been tasting good beer for a long time and feel like my palate is developing in a way i could have never though.
<3 Erika.
@Erica – I don’t see why not! I’d say go for it!
Way to go, congrats. I was looking at the test overview on the link you put up, and it didn’t mention food pairings, although I have heard of those being on the test. Were there any questions on the test about that?
@Prof Sudz – I read about that to, but I don’t recall any, but that’s not to say some couldn’t be on there for you!