CMS-A and CMS-EU: how the two Courts of Master Sommeliers work together

The short answer: CMS-A is the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas. CMS-EU is the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, which also covers Africa, Oceania and Asia. CMS Americas calls them the two chapters of the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide. CMS Europe says they share common standards but are separately constituted and separately governed, and that decisions made by one do not bind the other.

This page first went up in June 2023 as guesswork: what might change if the two Courts sat down together on exam standards. Guesswork ages badly, so it is gone. Here instead is what the Courts publish about themselves. Where I stand: I work with CMS Europe, whose Learning Portal SOMM DIGI builds, so I link every source for you to check.

The two Courts in one minute

• CMS-A: the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, mastersommeliers.org. Courses in North and South America and in Asia.
• CMS-EU: the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, courtofmastersommeliers.org. Courses in Europe, Africa, Oceania and Asia.
• The shared root: the first Master Sommelier exam, held in London in 1969.
• The shared summit: both award the title Master Sommelier.

What the two Courts share

• The four levels: Introductory, Certified, Advanced and the Master Sommelier Diploma.
• The pass marks: 60% in each part up to the Advanced; 75% in each part of the Master Sommelier Diploma.
• The three skills: from Certified up, every exam tests theory, blind tasting and service.
• Common standards: CMS Europe's own words for the relationship.

What each Court runs on its own

Separately governed is not a technicality. Each Court sets its own course formats, fees, dates, age limits and rules. A few examples from each Court's own pages:

• Introductory: Europe teaches it in person and ends with a short service test. The Americas also teach it online, with no service test.
• Certified: Europe sets 40 theory questions and two wines blind. The Americas set 45 questions and four wines.
• Advanced: Europe holds the exams at the end of a five-day course. The Americas start with a theory exam at a Pearson VUE test centre.
• Age: Europe enrols from 18. The Americas' Introductory requires 21.

The full side-by-side, level by level: CMS Americas vs CMS Europe.

How CMS Europe guards its exams

CMS Europe sets out how it protects its exams on its Governance & Standards page, last updated in August 2026. The points that matter to a candidate:

• The blind wines: only two people know them before a tasting exam. The other examiners learn them an hour before it starts.
• The papers: committees write the theory and practical papers, under a confidentiality protocol.
• Leaks: any credible report of a breach triggers an independent review before results are confirmed.
• Examiners: anyone examining a candidate they have taught, mentored or have a financial relationship with must declare it.
• Results: pass results are published for every sitting, at every level.
• Concerns: a reporting channel independent of instructors and examiners, open to candidates and the public, and confidential if you wish.

What this means for you

• Choose the Court where you live and work. Both lead to the same title, and once you are accepted for the Advanced or the Master Sommelier Diploma, moving to the other Court needs a written request that either Court may refuse.
• Read your own Court's pages. When a forum post describes “the exam”, check which Court it means. The formats differ.
• Trust what is published. Exam rumours spread fast. The Courts' own pages are the only source that counts.
• Prepare the same way for either. Theory every day, tasting against the clock, service out loud.

New to the path? Start with the sommelier levels, then how to become a Certified Sommelier. For daily theory practice, SOMM DIGI AI has 3,000+ exam-prep questions.

Questions people ask