Level 2 · Online course by Advanced Cicerone Chris Cohen

crush the certified cicerone® exam

Pass on your first take.

Everything you need to pass the CC exam, at the exact right depth, in one well-organized course, with weekly live tastings, full practice exams, and a pass-or-refund guarantee.

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The majority of Certified Cicerones® since 2014 used Beer Scholar to pass
Watch first · free training
How to crush the Certified Cicerone® exam without wasting a minute of study time
With Chris Cohen, Advanced Cicerone®
~35%CC exam pass rate
$400Exam fees per attempt
~4,900Certified Cicerones worldwide
9,500+US breweries hiring
Why prep matters

The CC exam has a lower pass rate than the Bar exam.

The exam costs $400 to attempt, and most people put in around 100 hours of study. Retakes are the expensive path. The cheapest way through is to pass the first time, and that's exactly what this course is built for.

01 · Learn

Only what the exam tests

Short video lessons and quizzes that track the latest syllabus topic-by-topic (US, CA, UK, and International versions) at the exact depth you need. No over-reading.

02 · Drill

Practice like it's real

Four full practice exams that mirror the real thing, three of them all short-answer and essay, plus flashcard decks covering every syllabus topic.

03 · Pass

An expert in your corner

Panel-by-panel tasting exam prep, exam-day strategy, and weekly live Tastings + Q&As with an Advanced Cicerone® who took the exam and passed.

What's inside

Everything you need to crush the CC exam.

The core course

Certified Cicerone® Course

Complete prep for both the written & tasting exams
  • Short video lessons & quizzes tracking the latest syllabus & BJCP guidelines
  • Tips & tricks for both the written and tasting portions
  • 4 full practice exams (3 all short-answer & essay)
  • Flashcard decks for every syllabus topic
  • Weekly live tastings + Q&As and an active online community
  • The full Certified Beer Server course, included free
Enroll now
The bonuses

Stacked on top

Extras that shave weeks off your prep
  • "The 20" flashcard deck: only 20 styles need stats memorized, not ~70
  • Easy Blind Tasting Proctor Guide
  • CC Quick Start Package + Accelerated Study Schedule
  • Resume & LinkedIn workshop for your new credential
  • 15% discount on Siebel off-flavor kits
  • Full course-price credit toward the Advanced Cicerone® Course
Read the FAQ
🛡

Become a Certified Cicerone® or your money back.

Do the course and don't pass? Full refund. Plus a 30-day no-questions-asked refund window from the day you enroll. You risk nothing.

"If I was only able to have one resource to study from for the Cicerone® Certification Program exams, Chris Cohen's Beer Scholar course is it."
Lauren Lerch · Certified Cicerone · Salt Lake City, UT
★★★★★
"It helped me make sense of a dizzying amount of information and calmed my nerves going into the exam."
David Nilsen
David Nilsen
Advanced Cicerone · Dayton, OH
★★★★★
"I can say with absolute certainty that without the Beer Scholar course and practice tests I would not have been able to pass on my first attempt."
Casey Hinman
Casey Hinman
Certified Cicerone · GM, Jack Brown's Joint · Nashville, TN
★★★★★
"The practice exams alone are worth every penny. I passed with a 93% and it really boosted my confidence."
Michele Best-Miller
Michele Best-Miller
Advanced Cicerone · Burlington, WA
Chris Cohen, Advanced Cicerone, raising a glass
Your guide

I guessed what to study, over-prepared, and went in nervous.

When I studied for the Cicerone® exams, I wanted someone to show me exactly what to study, at what depth, and how to beat the tasting exam. It was frustrating, so after passing I built it myself. Since 2014, the majority of Certified Cicerones® have used my Beer Scholar course to pass.

Today I'm an Advanced Cicerone, a National BJCP beer judge, and a sensory and beer educator. I've spent over a decade turning the Cicerone syllabus into the fastest path to passing.

Advanced Cicerone®National BJCP JudgeGABF Judge (4x)Partner, Old Devil MoonCo-founder, SF Homebrewer's Guild
Enrollment

Are you ready to crush the CC exam?

Certified Cicerone® Course
$499
12 months of access · CBS course included
Enroll now

Most students study ~100 hours over 1–3 months. Want a discount? Join the mailing list and we'll send you a course discount code.

Questions

Frequently asked questions.

What exactly is in the course?

The core: short video lessons that track the syllabus, four full practice exams, weekly live tastings + Q&As, an active online community, and the full Certified Beer Server course included free.

The bonuses: "The 20" flashcard deck (only 20 styles need their stats memorized, not ~70), the Easy Blind Tasting Proctor Guide, the CC Quick Start Package with an Accelerated Study Schedule, a Resume & LinkedIn workshop, a 15% discount on Siebel off-flavor kits, and full course-price credit toward the Advanced Cicerone® Course.

And two guarantees: a 30-day no-questions refund, and pass-or-your-money-back.

Is it worth the price?

The exam alone costs $400 per attempt and only about 35% pass. Retakes, not prep, are the expensive path. This course exists to make sure you only pay for the exam once, and it's much more comprehensive than any other option on the market.

Who created it?

Chris Cohen: Advanced Cicerone®, National BJCP judge, 4x GABF judge, sensory and beer educator, co-founder of the SF Homebrewers Guild, and partner at Old Devil Moon in San Francisco. Featured in Serious Eats and the SF Chronicle. Teaching Cicerone exam prep since 2014.

Why become a Certified Cicerone® at all?

It's the beer industry's standard credential. There are ~4,900 Certified Cicerones in the world and 9,500+ breweries in the US alone. Every brewery, distributor, and beer bar would love CCs on staff, and most have none. It reliably leads to raises, promotions, and better jobs.

What's the difference between the CBS course and this one?

The Certified Cicerone® Course is much more robust. The CC exam is a different beast from the level 1 exam. The full CBS course is included with this one, so if you haven't passed level 1 yet, you're covered.

Is Beer Scholar associated with the Cicerone® Certification Program?

No. Beer Scholar is fully independent. Cicerone®, Certified Cicerone®, and Advanced Cicerone® are registered trademarks of the Craft Beer Institute. We prepare you for their exams; we don't administer them.

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Get free study resources

Join the mailing list and we'll send you free resources including a CBS & CC study guide, discount code for the courses, and the monthly Beer Scholar Six Pack newsletter.