Wine & Spirit Education Trust

Your WSET Certificate May Be Hazardous to your Wine Career!

In many states, if you are using your WSET certificate or diploma to gain employment, you may open yourself up to criminal charges and civil penalties. This can happen because the WSET is not an accredited or approved school by any state in the US.

You may not care if the state or government does not endorse your certificate, but you should be very careful. If you use your WSET certificate to gain employment or advance your career, you may open yourself up to prosecution! Read on to make sure you aren’t in the hot seat.

Illinois

It may be illegal to use your WSET certificate or diploma in this state to obtain employment or get a raise. The law is writen to prevent Diploma Mills from setting up shop, but the definition of “Degree granting institution” is so vague that it can mean “entity of whatever kind which furnishes or offers to furnish instructionl.” Since WSET is not authorized to issue any type of certification –professional or not– in Illinois, I would steer clear of using your WSET credentials to get a job. REF: Illinois Compiled Statutes, section 110 ILCS 1010

Maine

The law is very clear: it is illegal an non-accredited “certificate or diploma” such as a WSET diplma to obtain employment, get a raise, get a promotion, or in use relation to any business. The WSET is not authorized to issue certificates or diplomas in Maine, which means you have committed a Class D felony for just listing the WSET on your resume. REF: Maine Code, Chapter 410

Michigan

The law is very similar to the Maine statute, in that it bars potentially barrs you from using your WSET certification to obtain employment, get a raise, or use relation to any business. It is also quite clear in that it defines a” fraudulent academic credential” as being issued by an institution not authorized to do business in Michigan. The Wine & Spirits Trust is NOT authorized to do business in this state. REF: Michigan Code, 390.1601 - 390.1605

New Jersey

Any unauthorized degree or credential may not be used in relation to businesses, trades, professions, and occupations. Expect a civil fine of $1,000 if you violate this law. Guess what? WSET is not an authorized credential in New Jersey. You may want to think twice about keeping your WSET certificate on your resume if you plan on working in New Jersey. REF: New Jersey Statutes & Regulations, sections 18A:3-15.1, 18A:3-15.2, 18A:3-15 and 18A:3-15.5

Nevada

Unless issued by a authorized school, a professional diploma or certificate is illegal. Guess what? WSET is not authorized to issue certification in Nevada. REF: Nevada Revised Statues, sections 394.620, 394.630

North Dakota

“According to Chapter 15-20.4 of the North Dakota Century Code, it is illegal to use a false credential for employment, higher education admission or in connection with a business or profession. Doing so carries a Class A misdemeanor penalty; a one-year imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,000 may be imposed.” Quoted from the North Dakota government website (pdf file). Keep in mind that WSET is considered a “false credential” because is has not been approved by the The State Board for Career and Technical Education. Personally, I wouldn’t put WSET on my resume if I was looking for a job in North Dakota.

Oregon

It is a Clas B middemeanor to use a nonaccredited degree to gain employment. While this was intended to stop the rampant use of Diploma Mills in Oregon, it may also be applied to WSET diplomas and certificates, since the same body of laws regulates “nondegree programs leading to a certificate or diploma.” Along with criminal prosecution, a plaintiff can also be fined up to $1,000 per violation. The WSET is not authorized to issue certificates or diplomas in Oregon. REF: Oregon Revised Statutes, sections 348.992, 348.609 and 348.603

Texas

“It is illegal to use fraudulent or substandard degrees to advertise or promote business, obtain employment, obtain licensing or certification to practice business, get a promotion or other benefit, get a raise, gain admission to an educational program, or gain a government position with authority over others.” However, they do strictly define degree as coming from an accredited university. Since the WSET is not a university, it is probably safe to use your WSET certifications to get a job in Texas. REF: Texas Penal Code, Section 35.52

Virginia

“Anyone who issues, manufactures, or knowingly uses fraudulent academic credentials can be found guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a sentence of up to 12 months in jail and fines of up to $2,500. Violations of the law should be reported to the Commonwealths Attorney offices in the location where they occur.” according to Virginia’s State Council of Higher Education. The law also allows civil penalties to a victim of a fraudulent academic credential, which means your boss can sue you if use a diploma or certificate that is not from a “a duly authorized institution of higher learning.” REF: Virginia Code, section 18.2-172.2

That means you may be criminally charged by having a WSET certificate or diploma on your resume. If you got with that WSET certification on your resume, you might just be liable to get sued!

Washington

The law refers to both non-degree issuing and degree-issuing instituitons, so that probably means your WSET education is in jepordy in Washington State. Since the WSET is not an authorized school, it is probably illegal to use it in an attempt to gain employment or a raise. REF: Revised Code of Washington, section 28B.85.020.