Announcing the Spring 2016 Master Cicerone exam

We are happy to announce the dates for the Spring 2016 Master Cicerone® Exam.

The Spring 2016 exam will be held in Chicago, on April 19th & 20th.

The exam will be limited to 24 participants. ALL registration for the Master Cicerone Exam is done via a lottery. We will randomly select 24 names from the lottery pool to fill the Spring 2016 exam roster. We will continue with random selection until the pool is exhausted to generate a list of alternates for that exam. Any confirmed Spring 2016 candidates will be asked to submit payment within one week or forfeit their spot. Alternates will be emailed and notified of their alternate number. In the event that a candidate withdraws from the exam, alternates will be notified in order, and asked to submit payment within one week. The alternate list for this exam is separate and independent from alternate lists for other Master Cicerone exam dates.

More information about the lottery has been sent to all Certified Cicerones. Please email us if you have not received it.

About the Master Cicerone Exam

Candidates for Master Cicerone® Exam will participate in a two-day examination that includes multiple written, oral and tasting components. The written component will consist of essay questions in which candidates demonstrate the depth and breadth of their knowledge in each portion of the Master Syllabus.  Oral examinations will be conducted by industry experts and often involve hands-on demonstrations of knowledge. Taste assessments will include a broad range of off flavors, blind assessment of beer styles, and advanced assessment of beer flavor profiles.

The exam covers all of the five main areas of study, found on the Master Cicerone syllabus, and candidates are responsible for all of the knowledge on the Master Cicerone Syllabus. This exam has been given nine times, and only nine people presently hold the title.

Group hotel rates are being arranged, and registered candidates will be regularly updated with details about the exam.

Signing Up for the Master Cicerone Exam

Any confirmed Spring 2016 candidates will be asked to submit payment within one week or forfeit their spot. First time exam fees are $895. Please be sure that you will be ready and able to take the Master exam in April 2016 prior to submitting payment. Once you register, your fees are not refundable.

Should you change your mind about taking the exam and notify us that you wish to withdraw six months prior to the exam, you will receive a credit worth 50% of your original registration fee which you can use to register again in the future.

We appreciate your attention and compliance to these policies as they are intended to ensure that those candidates who are prepared for the exam have access to the exam.

Retaking the Master Cicerone Exam

Candidates can take the Master Cicerone exam no more than 1 time in an 11 month period. Candidates can take the Master Cicerone exam no more than 2 times in a 36 month period*.  Retakes are charged at 80% the current fee. The code for retake registration is “2016MCR”- only use of the code by those retaking the exam will be honored.

*Candidates who scored 81% or higher, can petition the Cicerone Certification Program for an exception when there is available space in an upcoming exam.