Certified Pommelier™ Award of Distinction

Introducing the Certified Pommelier™ Award of Distinction

There is a difference between passing an exam and continuing to push yourself to develop your knowledge and skills further.

The American Cider Association is excited to introduce the Certified Pommelier™ Award of Distinction, a new recognition for Certified Pommeliers who demonstrate exceptional cider knowledge, sensory skills, and professional competency through outstanding exam performance.

The Award of Distinction recognizes Certified Pommeliers who have taken their learning even further and want to formally demonstrate that level of expertise.

What Does It Take to Earn the Award of Distinction?

The Award of Distinction is based on performance in the two components of the Certified Pommelier™ exam:

Theory: 85% or above

Sensory: 75% or above

Candidates can earn the Award of Distinction in Theory, Sensory, or both.

This means the distinction recognizes excellence across different areas of the exam, while celebrating the depth of knowledge and sensory skill required to achieve it.

Already Passed the Certified Pommelier™ Exam?

Good news. You do not need to take the exam again.

If you have previously passed the Certified Pommelier™ exam and achieved the distinction benchmarks, you will be awarded the Award of Distinction based on your existing exam results.

If you have passed the exam but did not reach the distinction benchmark, you will have the opportunity to retake the applicable exam component at an additional discount on the exam retake price. Standard member or non-member pricing applies.

In other words, if you were already performing at the distinction level, we want to recognize it.

What Comes With the Distinction?

The Award of Distinction is not simply a shiny badge. It also identifies Certified Pommeliers ready to contribute to the continued development of cider education.

Certified Pommeliers who achieve the Award of Distinction will be first eligible to participate in advanced Certified Cider Professional™ educational programming, including:

• Certified Pommelier™ Mentorship Program:
  Help support the next generation of Certified Pommeliers through mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Licensed Educator Program:
  Explore opportunities to bring Certified Cider Professional™ education to cider professionals in your community and region.
• Certified Cider Professional™ Program Development:
  Contribute expertise and perspective as the ACA continues to develop and expand the international cider education program.
• CiderCon® Educational Tracks
  Participate in opportunities to help shape and contribute to advanced educational programming at CiderCon.

A Recognition of Where Cider Education Is Going

Cider education is growing, and so is the depth of knowledge within our community.

The Certified Pommelier™ Award of Distinction gives us a way to recognize those who are continuing to challenge themselves, deepen their expertise, and contribute to the profession.

Whether your strength is theory, sensory evaluation, or both, this distinction celebrates the work that goes beyond simply earning the certification.

Congratulations to the Certified Pommeliers who have already earned this distinction. We can't wait to see what you do with it.



Learn more about the Certified Pommelier™ program and the Award of Distinction