CERTIFIED CHEESE PROFESSIONAL® EXAM (ACS CCP® EXAM)
The ACS Certified Cheese Professional® Exam encourages improved standards of comprehensive cheese knowledge and service, offering professionals in the cheese industry the opportunity to earn the distinguished title of ACS Certified Cheese Professional®, or ACS CCP®. The letters ACS CCP® designate that an individual has acquired thorough knowledge and the level of expertise that is demanded within the cheese industry.
Candidates will have a maximum of 3 hours to answer 150 multiple choice questions. The exam measures candidates’ mastery of cheese knowledge and best practices. It evaluates candidates’ understanding of core competencies common to most of these cheese industry jobs: retailers, cheese mongers, cheesemakers, distributors, importers/exporters, restaurateurs, educators, and food writers.
The ACS CCP® Exam questions were written and reviewed by subject matter experts to reflect the current practices in the cheese industry. Each year the questions are analyzed statistically to identify any improvement opportunities. The Certification Committee reviews questions with statistically questionable outcomes to determine whether they should be modified or deleted from the pool. Once these issues are resolved, the final scores are calculated.
Questions on ACS Certification? Email certification@cheesesociety.org or call 615-880-4124 and we are happy to help!
How To Apply to the ACS CCP® Exam
Step by Step Summary of CCP® Application Process
- Review the dates, deadlines, and fees for the CCP® Exam.
- Review the eligibility criteria for the CCP® Exam.
- Decide how you will take the exam. We will offer three options:
- In person, prior to the ACS Conference in Louisville, KY
- Virtually on your own device, using live remote proctoring
- At a Prometric testing center, part of Prometric’s global network of secure test sites
- 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 to take the exam
- Have questions? Refer to this pdf: Step by Step Instructions
- 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 approved, we will provide you with information next steps.
Apply Today
Submit Your ACS CCP® Application
The 2026 ACS Certified Cheese Professional® application is now open. Please carefully review all of the exam information, including eligibility requirements, deadlines, and fees before completing your application. APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2025.
Please note: Once you start the application, you are not able to save your progress and return at a later date.
You will be asked to upload a resume with your application so we can confirm you've met the minimum 4,000 hours to qualify for the exam. You will be asked to include the following on your resume:
Work Experience
Employer:
Address of Employer/Work Location:
Position:
Start Date of employment:
End Date of employment:
Name of Supervisor who can confirm your employment dates:
Total number of hours worked at this job:
Describe your job duties and responsibilities:
Cheese Education
Title of Class/Course:
Instructor/Institution:
Date of class/course:
Number of hours of instruction:
ACS CCP® EXAM FAQs
The American Cheese Society is responsible for administering the exam, and a committee consisting of ACS staff and cheese industry leaders reviews all applications for certification.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send you an email notifying you of your acceptance within 30 days of your application submission date.
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. If you are denied eligibility to sit for the exam you may appeal the decision to the ACS Certification Appeals Committee (a sub-committee of the Certification Committee). In order to appeal, please complete this form. The Appeals Committee will convene within 30 days of receipt of the appeals request and will email a notice of the Appeals Committee’s final decision to you within 10 days of the decision.
Those who pass the exam will be mailed a notification letter, ACS CCP® certificate, pin and patch, but not the actual exam score. A Diagnostic Report that highlights topic areas from the exam in which the scores were low may be sent upon request to those who do not pass the exam. Those who fail the exam are encouraged to review the report and develop a study plan to improve knowledge in the areas of weakness identified. Candidates who fail the exam should understand that further study and preparation, and possibly experience, is necessary before retaking and ultimately passing the exam.
Unsuccessful exam candidates may retake the exam at the next scheduled exam date. Candidates will need to reapply for the exam by submitting updated information to ACS to include in your original application. ACS must receive your new application by the application closing date of the year you wish to take the exam. If a candidate does not pass a second time, they are welcome to apply again the following year. After a third failure, candidates may only register for the exam by presenting documentation of additional coursework (credit or certificate college course) in the content area of deficiency as shown by the Diagnostic Report.
The Certified Cheese Professional® Exam is based on the skills and knowledge used by Cheese Professionals across the spectrum of the industry on a regular basis. The exam has 150 multiple choice questions and candidates have 3 hours to complete it.
In-person exams are delivered via paper using Scantron technology and an independent testing company oversees the electronic grading of the exam.
Virtual exams are taken via computer at the candidate’s location of choice, using a remote proctoring software program.
Exam questions are drawn from the Job Task Areas, which are identified by an industry wide Jobs Analysis Survey. The exam blueprint below illustrates how the task areas relate to the Body of Knowledge. Notice the percentage of questions per content/knowledge area. Those areas with a high percentage of questions are a significant portion of the exam, and therefore, require more time of study. Download a PDF of the Exam Blueprint here.
ACS has developed several informational and study resources that might help cheesemakers and non-cheesemakers alike with CCP® Exam study.
ACS CCP® EXAM FAQs
The American Cheese Society is responsible for administering the exam, and a committee consisting of ACS staff and cheese industry leaders reviews all applications for certification.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send you an email notifying you of your acceptance within 30 days of your application submission date.
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. If you are denied eligibility to sit for the exam you may appeal the decision to the ACS Certification Appeals Committee (a sub-committee of the Certification Committee). In order to appeal, please complete this form. The Appeals Committee will convene within 30 days of receipt of the appeals request and will email a notice of the Appeals Committee’s final decision to you within 10 days of the decision.
Those who pass the exam will be mailed a notification letter, ACS CCP® certificate, pin and patch, but not the actual exam score. A Diagnostic Report that highlights topic areas from the exam in which the scores were low may be sent upon request to those who do not pass the exam. Those who fail the exam are encouraged to review the report and develop a study plan to improve knowledge in the areas of weakness identified. Candidates who fail the exam should understand that further study and preparation, and possibly experience, is necessary before retaking and ultimately passing the exam.
Unsuccessful exam candidates may retake the exam at the next scheduled exam date. Candidates will need to reapply for the exam by submitting updated information to ACS to include in your original application. ACS must receive your new application by the application closing date of the year you wish to take the exam. If a candidate does not pass a second time, they are welcome to apply again the following year. After a third failure, candidates may only register for the exam by presenting documentation of additional coursework (credit or certificate college course) in the content area of deficiency as shown by the Diagnostic Report.
The Certified Cheese Professional® Exam is based on the skills and knowledge used by Cheese Professionals across the spectrum of the industry on a regular basis. The exam has 150 multiple choice questions and candidates have 3 hours to complete it.
In-person exams are delivered via paper using Scantron technology and an independent testing company oversees the electronic grading of the exam.
Virtual exams are taken via computer at the candidate’s location of choice, using a remote proctoring software program.
Exam questions are drawn from the Job Task Areas, which are identified by an industry wide Jobs Analysis Survey. The exam blueprint below illustrates how the task areas relate to the Body of Knowledge. Notice the percentage of questions per content/knowledge area. Those areas with a high percentage of questions are a significant portion of the exam, and therefore, require more time of study. Download a PDF of the Exam Blueprint here.
ACS has developed several informational and study resources that might help cheesemakers and non-cheesemakers alike with CCP® Exam study.
