The sommelier profession represents a high standard of expertise in beverage service, knowledge, and hospitality. The Advanced Sommelier title, or Level 3 certification, signifies a mastery of the craft and is highly respected within the hospitality industry. The number of individuals holding this credential reflects its exclusivity and demanding nature.
The Structure of Sommelier Certification
The sommelier certification process is primarily governed by The Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), which has established a four-tiered hierarchy. This structure begins with the Introductory Sommelier Course and Examination, followed by the Certified Sommelier Examination. The curriculum is progressive, building upon the foundational knowledge and practical skills acquired at each preceding level.
The third step is the Advanced Sommelier Examination (Level 3). This tier represents a substantial increase in the depth and breadth of required expertise compared to the first two levels. The final and highest level is the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination, representing the highest achievement in the service industry. This standardized, sequential process ensures that candidates demonstrate proficiency at each stage before progressing.
What Defines the Advanced Sommelier
The Advanced Sommelier certification is secured by passing an examination that typically takes place over two to three days. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency across three distinct components: theory, tasting, and practical service. The written theory section tests encyclopedic knowledge of global wines, spirits, beer, and sake, along with the laws and business aspects of the beverage industry.
The tasting portion requires the candidate to perform a deductive blind tasting of six wines, accurately identifying the grape varieties, vintage, and origin. This is followed by a practical examination that assesses tableside service skills, salesmanship, and hospitality acumen in a simulated fine-dining setting. While the passing score for each section is a minimum of 60%, the intense preparation and required experience contribute to a generally low pass rate for the examination.
Why Definitive Counts Are Difficult to Pinpoint
Determining a precise global count of Advanced Sommeliers is challenging due to the organizational structure and data reporting policies of the CMS. The organization operates through distinct geographic chapters, notably the Americas and Europe, which may report their certification numbers separately and on different timelines. Finding one consolidated, real-time figure from a central source is not always possible.
Official counts typically represent the cumulative number of individuals who have passed the examination since the program’s inception. This figure does not account for certifications that may have lapsed, professionals who have retired from the industry, or those who have since passed the Master Sommelier examination. The existence of other certifying bodies, such as the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), also adds complexity to any unified tally of all sommelier-certified professionals globally.
The Current Estimate of Advanced Sommeliers
While a precise global tally is not publicly maintained, recent data from the largest chapter provides a strong estimate. The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas (CMS-A) announced its total number of certified Advanced Sommeliers to be nearly 900 as of July 2025. This figure reflects the cumulative success of candidates from the United States, Canada, and Mexico who have passed the Level 3 examination.
This number provides a concrete anchor for understanding the scale of the certification within the largest market served by the CMS. The European chapter (CMS-E) also tracks its own successful candidates, reporting a total of 524 Advanced Sommelier passes since 2010. By synthesizing these regional figures, a reasonable estimate for the global total of current CMS Advanced Sommeliers is likely between 1,500 and 2,000 individuals.
Contextualizing the Rarity of Advanced Certification
The total number of Advanced Sommeliers must be viewed in the context of the entire certification pyramid. The most exclusive tier is the Master Sommelier (Level 4) title, which has been awarded to only 291 people worldwide as of mid-2025. This comparison highlights the significant difference in scale between the Advanced and Master levels, demonstrating the difficulty of the final examination.
The Advanced Sommelier title, despite being one step below the Master level, is a highly exclusive professional achievement within the global hospitality industry. For every individual who has attained the Level 3 certification, thousands more have attempted the introductory and certified levels. The small number of Advanced Sommeliers confirms that this tier is occupied by professionals dedicated to achieving a high standard of beverage knowledge and service proficiency.