Cicerone Certification Exam

A section of the Certified Cicerone™ exam will be given on Sunday, May 23rd at the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event at the National Restaurant Association, Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago. This exam includes written, tasting and demonstration components to assess the knowledge and skill of beer professionals. Those who pass this exam earn the right to use the title of Certified Cicerone — a privilege earned by fewer than 100 individuals to date.

The exam will be given between 11 am and 3 pm. Cost is $345 per candidate to be paid in advance to the paid in advance to the Cicerone Certification Program.

The three-hour written exam will consist of more than 100 short-answer (fill-in-the-blank) questions and three essay questions. The tasting component involves sampling 12 beers to answer questions about beer styles, off-flavors and beer acceptance. Finally, there will be a 3-minute demonstration where candidates are asked to perform and describe one or more activities related to beer service. This portion of the exam will be recorded on video for assessment.

A grade of 80% overall and at least 70% on the tasting portion is required to pass.

The knowledge covered in the exam is outlined in the organization’s Master syllabus posted on http://cicerone.org.

Those interested in taking the exam should contact Ray Daniels at ray@cicerone.org or (773) 769-1300.