Advanced Cicerone™ Certification Announced by Cicerone Certification Program

CHICAGO—August 3—The world’s leading certification program for beer servers and experts today announced addition of a new certification for those who have already passed the second level of the program.

“Starting in 2016, the next level available to Certified Cicerones^® will be Advanced Cicerone,” said Ray Daniels, Founder and Director of the Cicerone Certification Program. “Achieving Advanced Cicerone will qualify individuals to take the Master Cicerone^® exam.”

"While we have seen tremendous demand for the Master Cicerone exam, the additional degree of knowledge and skill required to pass is too great for the vast majority of candidates to achieve," said Daniels, noting that in the past two years only 3 individuals have passed out of 46 attempts.  "The new exam level gives serious beer professionals recognition for additional learning and skill development beyond the Certified Cicerone level."
 
“I would have appreciated having a level between Certified and Master,” said The Bruery CEO & Founder Patrick Rue, who became a Master Cicerone in November 2014. “It is such a huge step up that I think it needs to be divided.”
 
A number of Master exam candidates have said the same in recent years. “Many Certified Cicerones feel the urge to learn more and earn additional certification,” said Daniels. “Right now, the only option is to take the Master exam.”
 
The Advanced Cicerone level opens the door for achievement by those who may not have time for the extensive preparation required by the Master Exam. Rue took the Master exam twice. “Before that second exam, I studied for 20 hours a week for 9 months,” said Rue.
 
Daniels pointed out that the one-day Advanced Cicerone exam will also be more accessible than the two-day Master exam. The Master exam is only given once or twice a year in Chicago and has recently required lottery for signups. The Advanced Cicerone exam will be conducted in various cities around the country with six or more exams each year. 
 

ABOUT THE CICERONE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Founded in 2007 by brewer, author and beer educator Ray Daniels, the Cicerone Certification Program seeks to ensure that consumers receive the best quality beer at every service occasion. To facilitate this, those who sell and serve beer are encouraged to acquire knowledge in five areas: 1) Beer Storage, Sales and Service; 2) Beer Styles and Culture; 3) Beer Tasting and Flavors; 4) Brewing Ingredients and Processes; 5) Pairing Beer with Food

To this date, more than 50,000 individuals have been certified through the program. 

For more information on "What is a Cicerone?" visit: cicerone.org/about

MEDIA STYLE GUIDE  
 
The Cicerone Certification Program holds a trademark on use of the word "Cicerone" as it pertains to beer, beer service, beer education and beer events. The titles "Certified Cicerone®" and "Master Cicerone®" are also registered trademarks of the Cicerone Certification Program.
 
It is not appropriate to refer to an individual simply as a "cicerone."  The titles "Certified Cicerone®" and "Master Cicerone®" should always appear in association with the name of an individual who has earned the appropriate certification.
 
Please follow your publication's guidelines for appropriate use of registered trademarks or refer to the AP StyleBook. Always distinguish trademarks from surrounding text by capitalizing each word or writing in all capital letters.
 
* Master Cicerone®, Certified Cicerone® and Cicerone® Certification Program are trademarks of the Craft Beer Institute, a Chicago-based beer and brewing education organization.                                 

For more information, visit:
https://cicerone.org/content/titles-trademarks-proper-use