Can You Skip WSET Level 1 or Level 2?
Yes. You can skip WSET Level 1, and it is also possible to skip WSET Level 2 and go straight to Level 3. WSET does not require you to complete every wine qualification in order. But — and this is quite an important but — being allowed to skip a level and being ready to skip a level are two different things. And when it comes to skipping Level 2, your chosen WSET Approved Programme Provider (APP) will also have something to say about it.
So, should you skip a WSET level? Let’s have a look.
Can You Skip WSET Level 1 and Go Straight to Level 2?
Absolutely. In fact, for a lot of people, starting with WSET Level 2 makes perfect sense.
WSET Level 1 is a genuine introductory course. It’s designed for people who are very new to wine and want to understand the absolute fundamentals: what wine is, the main styles, some important grape varieties, basic food and wine pairing and how to taste wine in a structured way. There is nothing wrong with starting there. Quite the opposite. If you know very little about wine and would like a friendly introduction without being overwhelmed, Level 1 can be brilliant.
But if you’re already interested in wine, drink it fairly regularly, know that Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon are grape varieties, have heard of places like Bordeaux, Rioja and Chianti, and are comfortable doing a bit of studying, you may well be better off going straight to Level 2.
I go into this in much more detail in our guide to WSET Level 1 vs Level 2, but the short version is:
You do not need Level 1 before taking Level 2.
Can You Skip WSET Level 2 and Go Straight to Level 3?
Technically, yes. WSET Level 2 is not a formal prerequisite for WSET Level 3. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can simply sign up for Level 3 with any WSET Approved Programme Provider (APP).
Individual APPs can have their own criteria for deciding whether a student is ready to go straight to Level 3 without first completing Level 2. Some may simply ask you about your previous wine education, experience and current level of knowledge. Others might offer a short quiz or assessment — sometimes free of charge — to help determine whether Level 2 or Level 3 is the right starting point for you. And some APPs may require you to have completed Level 2 before they’ll accept you onto their Level 3 course.
So if you’re considering skipping Level 2, the best thing to do is speak to the APP you want to study with and ask how they handle direct entry to Level 3. Ultimately, however confident you are that you’re ready, your chosen APP will determine whether — and under what circumstances — you can enrol.
And this is where I become rather more cautious anyway. WSET Level 3 is a substantial step up from Level 2. There is considerably more material, considerably more detail and, crucially, you need to understand why wines taste the way they do rather than simply knowing the facts. You’ll be expected to connect climate, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and geography to the style and quality of a wine. There’s also the tasting exam and written answers to contend with. The amount of expected self-study is intense and a massive step up. So although Level 2 may not be a formal WSET prerequisite, you really do want to have knowledge at approximately Level 2 standard before you start Level 3.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you need the qualification. If you’ve worked in wine for years, studied wine independently, completed another serious wine course or simply have a very strong foundation already, going directly to Level 3 can be entirely sensible — assuming, of course, your chosen APP is happy for you to do so. But if you’re thinking: “I know quite a lot about wine because I drink a lot of it.” That, I’m afraid, isn’t quite the same thing. And I speak as somebody who has conducted extensive research in that particular field.
How Do I Know If I Can Skip WSET Level 2?
A useful question is not: “Have I done Level 2?” It’s: “Do I know everything taught in Level 2?”
Before going straight into WSET Level 3, you should already be comfortable with things like:
the major international grape varieties and their typical characteristics
important wine regions and appellations
how climate affects grape growing and wine style
the basics of vineyard management and winemaking
sparkling, sweet and fortified wine
reading wine labels
WSET’s structured approach to tasting
You don’t need to know everything. That is rather the point of taking the course, but if most of that list sounds unfamiliar, I would strongly recommend taking Level 2 first. Level 3 moves quickly. It is much easier when you’re building on existing knowledge rather than encountering the foundations for the first time.
And remember, your own assessment of your knowledge is only part of the equation. If you want to skip Level 2, check with your preferred APP before making any plans. They may want to understand your previous experience or assess your knowledge before accepting you onto Level 3.
Is WSET Level 1 Worth Doing Before Level 2?
For some people, definitely. If you’re completely new to wine, Level 1 gives you a very manageable introduction and can give you the confidence to continue.
For others, it may be unnecessary. If you already have some wine knowledge and you’re prepared to study, I generally think Level 2 is the better starting point. It gives you a much broader understanding of the world of wine while still being very accessible to enthusiastic beginners.
If you’re deciding specifically between those two courses, read our full guide to WSET Level 1 vs Level 2.
Is WSET Level 2 Worth Doing Before Level 3?
For most students, yes. Not because WSET forces you to do it, but because Level 2 gives you the foundation that Level 3 assumes you either have or can acquire very quickly. Skipping Level 2 can save you time and money. However, starting Level 3 without the necessary knowledge can cost you considerably more of both.
There is another benefit to doing Level 2 that I think is sometimes overlooked: it gives you experience of how WSET teaches and examines wine. You might know plenty about wine already, but learning wine casually and learning it within the WSET framework are not quite the same thing. Level 2 gives you an opportunity to get comfortable with WSET terminology, its systematic approach and the way knowledge is organised before tackling the considerably greater demands of Level 3.
For many students, that alone makes Level 2 worthwhile.
So, Which WSET Levels Can You Skip?
Here’s my simple rule of thumb.
Level 1 → Level 2: very skippable if you already have a basic interest in and knowledge of wine.
Level 2 → Level 3: possible, but only if you already have solid Level 2-equivalent knowledge and your chosen APP is happy for you to enrol directly onto Level 3.
Starting from scratch → Level 3: I wouldn’t recommend it.
Level 3 → Diploma (Level 4): Nope.
For the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines, Level 3 — or an accepted equivalent — is an entry requirement. This is the point where skipping a level is no longer simply a question of whether you think you know enough.
Ultimately, WSET levels aren’t hoops that need to be jumped through in order. They’re stages of knowledge. If you already have the knowledge from an earlier stage, there may be little point in repeating it simply for the sake of collecting another certificate. But don’t confuse enthusiasm with knowledge.
You can skip some WSET levels. Just make sure you’re genuinely ready for the level you’re skipping to.
Written by Jimmy Smith: WSET Certified Educator · 20+ years in wine education · 6,000+ WSET students taught · Founder of West London Wine School, WSET Approved Programme Provider & WSET Global Educator of the Year