Step-by-Step Summary of CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test® Application Process
- Review the dates, deadlines, and fees for the CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test®.
- Review the eligibility criteria for the CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test®. Please note that a High School Diploma or GED is no longer a requirement.
- Prepare a resume (word doc or pdf) with your cheese work experience and cheese education experience. You will need to upload this when you submit the online application form.
- Decide if you are paying for the application fee yourself, or if your employer is paying it for you and you need an invoice (further instructions for each option will be in the application form)
- Apply here from Jan 16th – March 31st 2024: 2024 CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test Application
IMPORTANT! The form doesn’t allow you to save your progress and come back, so please set aside 20-25 min to complete the form. If you would like to view an example of entire application beforehand, please click here for a pdf of screenshots. - Once submitted, your application will be reviewed, and either approved or denied. (Occasionally, we may need to contact you for more details about your work experience.) We will inform you of our decision within 30 days, via email.
- If your application is approved, you will need to pay the exam fee. We will email you with instructions on how to do so.
- Once the exam fee has been paid, we will supply you with further information about exam logistics.
Apply here from Jan 16th – March 31st 2024 for: 2024 ACS CCSE T.A.S.T.E. Test
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who are active ACS Certified Cheese Professionals® are automatically eligible for the ACS T.A.S.T.E. Test®. For individuals who are not ACS CCPs® in good standing, these eligibility criteria need to be met in order to be considered for the T.A.S.T.E. Test®.
Applications are reviewed by ACS Staff and by the Certification Committee within thirty days of receipt of a completed application and application processing fee.
Acceptance
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send you an email notifying you of your acceptance. The confirmation letter will contain registration and payment instructions. If you have been confirmed as eligible, you must complete your registration with 60 days of your eligibility notification.
Denial of Application
If, upon review of your application, the ACS determines that you fail to meet the eligibility requirements at the time of application, we will notify you by email.
Eligibility Denial Appeal Process
If you are denied eligibility to sit for the test, you may appeal the decision to the ACS Certification Appeals Committee (a sub-committee of the Certification Committee). You must submit your appeal in writing to the Appeals Committee within 30 days of receipt of the non-eligibility correspondence from ACS. The Appeals Committee will convene within 30 days of receipt of the appeals request. We will email a notice of the Appeals Committee’s final decision to you within 10 days of the decision.
Wait List
When enough candidates have registered for an test to fill the available capacity, test registration will close to new applicants. If a candidate desires to take the current year test, a wait list is available on a first-come-first-served basis. The wait list relies on those candidates who chose to defer taking the test, and fills the vacancy. ACS staff notifies the next person on the wait list.
If the wait list candidate wants to take the test, they must accept the offer to sit for the test within 3 days of notification and pay for the test fee within 7 days after accepting the offer to sit for the test.
Deferrals
Requests to defer taking the exam in must be received, in writing, by June 1 of the examination year. Confirmation of postponement will be sent via email. People deferring may take the next available exam without having to re-apply; no additional application payment is required. Requests for deferrals after June 1st will incur a $125 fee. People may elect to defer up to one year past the year they were accepted only. After one year, if they do not take the exam they elected to defer, they must reapply for future exams. For example, if a person is accepted to take the 2023 exam they can elect to defer to the 2024 exam. If they choose not to take the 2024 exam, they would need to reapply for any future exams after that.