A statement from the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe

The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe would like to issue a statement to all current and prospective candidates following examination programmes, other than those which are to be conducted in the USA, commencing 2014

The Board of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas has, for operational reasons, made the decision to make substantial changes to the way in which the Advanced Sommelier course and examination and the Master Sommelier Diploma examination are offered to candidates undertaking the programmes in the United States.

The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe will not implement the changes to these qualifications and will continue to offer a five day advanced course and examination.

The Master Sommelier examination will also continue to be held annually over a continuous three day period with no requirement for candidates to first obtain the theory examination before progressing to the practical or tasting modules of the qualification.

The respective boards of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas and the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe work together to ensure that the level of the qualifications remains the same no matter where candidates undertake to take them.
Candidates should note that the only differences to the qualifications are the format in which they are offered.

Because of this, candidates who are currently registered with the CMS Americas or CMS Europe must continue to take the MS qualification in the country which they first passed the first part of their MS qualification. In exceptional circumstances, such as the candidate relocating to Europe / America to live and work the candidate will need to consult with the board with which they are registered, to gain permission to continue the qualification in the opposite CMS chapter. Only official approaches from one CMS board to the other will be permitted.

We hope that this statement will clarify the situation and reassure candidates that the Court of Master Sommeliers is working together to ensure that qualifications offered worldwide remain the same no matter where they are undertaken.

The Board of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe – October 2013