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Is this the right course for me?

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Knowing what to expect from any training or college course is important when you’re deciding if it’s right for you. By choosing to invest in yourself, you’re making a commitment to spending your time and money wisely. Along with these financial and personal decisions, you also need to know how a training program is designed to help you learn.

Certified Wine Expert is a self-paced online training program that is also instructor-lead. We have created the Certified Wine Expert training program to empower you to – learn whenever and wherever you like – using multiple learning styles that take into account the way you learn – and fun and achievable activities that help sharpen your interview and networking skills to help you focus on building a wine career.

So, what is self-paced online training?

“Self-paced, online courses are a specific type of online training in which students use a Web browser to access a course management system and complete Web-based courses at their own pace. While completing these courses, students do not interact with an instructor or other students.” – Journal of Educational Computing Research

The benefit of a self-paced online program is that it makes it very convenient for you to study how you want, when you want, and at the speed you want. For example, you might want to understand the big picture so you may skip ahead to a later lesson, while someone else wants a step-by-step process and will follow each lesson in order.

If you’re thinking that self-paced might sound a bit lonely, well it doesn’t have to be (unless you prefer to work alone). There are several activities designed to help you interact with people in the industry and even interview a wine professional. We also have weekly instructor chats and discussion forums to encourage peer-to-peer interaction. We practice “Active Learning” and use assessment as an aid to learning – not simply to compare or rank students against each other.

If you’re not too keen on the idea studying when the kids are in bed or when you are in your pajamas at home, then you may want to consider another training program that may work better for you. (But we’d love it if you gave us a try as your first online training experience!)

We’re here when you need us!

We want you to succeed, so if you need to reach out to an instructor during your program, we offer optional weekly chat sessions to ask your instructor any questions that may come up during your studies. You will also receive instant feedback on your learning progress with the online flashcards and practice quizzes. Your instructor will provide meaningful feedback on all of your assignments so you will know if you’re on the right track! Your instructor will also monitor your progress. If it looks like you may be stuck, need some help or a little encouragement to keep on going, we’re here to coach you.

Understanding how you learn

The actual process of learning involves several factors including audio, visual and kinesthetic methods – this means that your brain may tend to learn best by hearing, seeing or doing an activity. We know that everyone benefits from learning in multiple ways, so our courses involve all three aspects.

Retaining what you learn

Certified Wine Expert has included a number of activities including research and field activities, because your brain is designed to learn and remember more when you actually DO things rather than when you read about things. We also make the lessons relatable to a specific wine region that you would like to concentrate on as the focus of your assignments.

In your independent study and written assignments, we build upon what you already know and “scaffolds” on previous lessons. We also ask you to observe and make evaluations or judgments. Because wine is subjective, we include assignments that don’t have a straight answer because your brain will learn and remember more when it has to work it out. The more you engage your brain, the more likely you will focus, remember and be even more successful in learning over a longer period of time.

Apply what you learn immediately to your career success

With this program, we give you the information you need to decide which career path you want to choose. By going through our training, you get the core knowledge; vocabulary and skill set you need to prepare for a career change. By giving you structured assignments based around a fun activity, we are helping you sharpen your interviewing skills and giving you the tools to start networking. By having you interact with other professionals for your assignments, we are helping you make connections in the industry right away that may even help you land a job! You will also have access to several job boards for the wine, food and hospitality industries as well as resources to help you create your resume, cover letters and business cards.

Time & Money Commitment

You’re building the foundation for your wine career by investing in your education. The return on your investment for this training means that you will have skills and knowledge to last a lifetime. By taking this course you will be learning about wine’s history, vocabulary, science, economics and geography! You will also build up your skills in sensory perception and evaluating wine aromas. In addition to becoming proficient in wine, the lessons will give you the knowledge you need to decide what career path you wish to take. Assignments and activities will also help you apply your knowledge and encourage you to interact with wine professionals.

Comparison of other programs

There are many different types of wine training programs to choose from. Some may or may not include certification. Here’s how some of the other wine training programs compare to Certified Wine Expert.

† Travel and lodging can be estimated at $100/day for lodging plus $300 airfare, if applicable.

† Fees may be charged for course or exam retakes/refresher courses, if applicable.

(1) CWP Level I Exams are conducted in a few hours and are offered twice per year in at the campus in St. Helena, CA. Level II Exams require two consecutive days. Individual courses run two-to-three days and are offered in semi-consecutive days requiring one month + two weeks for completion of course studies required for exam. Courses are available one to three times per year based on subject. Travel and lodging fees not included. Fees reflect Course Fees and Exam Fees required for certification. Foundational courses advise students should have experience with tasting array of wines and additional knowledge suggested for higher level courses.

(2) PCI offers part-time (evening) or full time (daytime) classes; five days per week. Courses are offered twice per year. A 150-word personal essay on how attending PCI will help you achieve your career goals. Ability to read and write in English is pre requisites. Travel and lodging fees not included.

(3) Court of Master Sommeliers – Each section of the exam is given a set period of time in which testing needs to be completed. Must first pass the Introductory Sommelier Course & Exam prior to sitting the Certified Exam. Must have three years’ experience in wine service. Fees reflect Course Fees ($495) and Exam Fees ($295). Advises candidates read recommended books before taking course (not included in tuition fees). Travel and lodging fees not included.

(4) International Wine Guild offers programs six times a year at different locations with a rotation of Level II courses. Fees reflect recommendation for students to take both Level I ($495) & Level II ($1900-$1975) courses for certification. Locations are in Denver, Virginia, Texas. Exam retake fees are approximately $50 - $75. Travel and lodging fees not included.

Understanding differences between training programs

As you can see, there is a wide range of different training programs available for different people and learning styles. Sommelier training programs range from a basic wine appreciation course, maybe only covering introductory information about wine, to intensive long-term programs. Other programs are so demanding or exclusive that only a few people worldwide may have successfully completed the course. Some programs may also require that you have previous work experience or related wine knowledge for you to succeed or even enroll in the program. Some programs may also charge you to retake any courses or exams. Also consider that certification from programs that are only one to two days long are less likely to be retained since you’re only engaging your brain for a brief period of time.

How we are different

Certified Wine Expert provides education when you’re ready. There are no classrooms to drive to, no parking permits to pay for and no student body fees. No exams that you have to take on campus. The course curriculum beats (if not matches) many of the programs offering certification and is delivered in a straightforward and supportive online training environment.

We do not charge separately for books, lab materials, exams or certification. We offer this to you as a complete package. With our program, there's no waiting for courses to become available and dragging out your learning over semesters. You can start right away! You are not subject to waiting for course availability and class or exam schedules. No waiting for others to catch up with you and no feeling lost if the rest of the class may be moving ahead if you’re not ready. Your time is spent as you decide.

More information about the program at FAQs

If you're serious about getting your Certified Wine Expert^® credentials and building your credibility, visibility and success in a wine career of your choice, we urge you to GET STARTED!