Become a Judge

If you are already a qualified BJCP judge or similar, and would like to judge on the day, please contact Peter Speedy on pspeedy@gmail.com 

There is a vetting process, so put your best foot forward.

Beer Judge Certification Logo

Step 1

Study for the cider exam and understand the beer judge examination process. The BJCP Education Directorate has created and published several judge training and study programs to assist prospective judges with their studies.

Step 2

Pass the BJCP online beer entrance exam. The starting point to become a beer, mead, or cider judge is the same: take and pass the appropriate online entrance exam via Coursewebs. The entrance exams screen prospective candidates via multiple-choice, true/false, and multiple answer question types.

The online beer entrance exam contains 180 questions over 60 minutes. Online exams can be taken once per day, but we suggest taking time to study before retaking after a failed attempt. Passing an online exam allows an examinee to register for a judging exam (see step 3 below), but does not grant membership in the BJCP.

NOTE: Once you pass the online beer entrance exam, you only have one year to sit for a beer judging exam (see step 3 below). We recommend that you secure a spot to take an exam before passing the online exam. Otherwise, if you cannot find an open exam seat within a year, you will have to retake the online exam.

Step 3

Pass the BJCP beer judging exam. This is a practical tasting exam of judging six beer in a competition-like setting. Passing this exam grants membership in the BJCP and awards standard beer judge certification levels of either Recognized beer judge, Certified beer judge, depending on exam score and experience points earned.

Tips to register for an exam: Search the BJCP Exam Calendar for a beer exam that you can attend. Contact the exam administrator to inquire if there are open exam seats. If there are, ask to secure a seat and pay any exam fees to the exam administrator.

Once you have secured an exam seat, take and pass the online beer entrance exam sometime during the 12 months preceding your exam date. Note that some exam administrators may require the online exam certificate before securing an exam seat or may set a deadline to pass the online exam to keep your exam seat.