WSET courses and CPF funding: everything you need to know for 2026-2027

WSET and CPF funding: what is changing for the 2026-2027 training year?

For several years, answering the question “Can I fund a WSET course through my CPF?” was far from straightforward. Between regulatory changes, evolving certification requirements and differences between WSET levels, it was easy to get lost.

For the 2026-2027 training year, the situation is changing again. The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines in French, available in Paris, Marseille and 100% online, can now be offered within a framework that allows CPF funding, while other WSET levels and drinks categories do not necessarily follow the same rules.

There are also alternative solutions for other WSET levels and disciplines, including programmes that combine professional English with wine and drinks expertise, provided they are linked to an eligible language certification.

The key is therefore to distinguish between three things: the WSET course itself, the certification that makes the programme eligible for funding, and the actual training pathway listed on Mon Compte Formation.

In this guide, we explain — without unnecessary administrative jargon — how to fund WSET training in 2026-2027, depending on your level, professional goals and chosen drinks category.

1. A quick reminder: what is the CPF and what can it fund?

The Compte Personnel de Formation (CPF), or Personal Training Account, allows people in France to build up training rights throughout their professional life. These rights can then be used directly through the Mon Compte Formation platform to finance all or part of an eligible training programme.

The CPF was created under the law of 5 March 2014 and introduced in 2015, replacing the former DIF system. Its purpose was to allow individuals to accumulate training rights throughout their careers and use them independently of their employment status, whether they were employees, self-employed or jobseekers.

A major reform introduced by the Avenir Professionnel law of 5 September 2018 was fully implemented with the launch of the Mon Compte Formation platform in late 2019. The system moved from hours to euros, but more importantly, its use was increasingly restricted to qualifying or certifying courses registered with the RNCP or Répertoire Spécifique.

This change automatically excluded many short or non-certifying courses that had previously been eligible.

More recently, the 2023 Finance Act introduced a mandatory contribution for CPF users from May 2024, initially around €100 and indexed annually, with exemptions for certain groups, including jobseekers or cases where an employer or another funding body contributes to the cost.

Further changes have also been discussed for 2027, including possible checks on the professional relevance of training projects before CPF funding can be approved.

But one principle remains essential: the CPF cannot be used to finance just any training course.

To be listed on the platform, a programme must meet specific requirements and generally prepare candidates for a recognised certification that is eligible for CPF funding.

This is where a common misunderstanding arises:

Just because a training provider is Qualiopi-certified does not mean that all of its courses are automatically CPF-eligible.

Qualiopi certifies the quality of a training provider’s processes. CPF eligibility, however, depends on the certification and programme concerned.

For any professional wine course funded through the CPF, you should therefore check three things: the training provider, the certification being prepared and the actual eligibility of the programme on Mon Compte Formation.

2. The big change in 2026: WSET Level 3 Award in Wines in French can now be funded through the CPF

This is the major development for the new training year: the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines can now be funded through the CPF as part of the certification: “Assess wines in order to design and promote an offer — WSET Level 3.”
This certification is registered until 18 December 2027.

This creates a valuable opportunity for professionals who want to deepen their expertise while using CPF funding to cover all or part of their training.

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is particularly relevant for people already working in the industry, or for those building a coherent professional project within it.

This includes:

sommeliers;
wine merchants;
retail drinks managers;
restaurant professionals;
sales teams;
marketing professionals;
export specialists;
wine tourism professionals;
specialist journalists;
people retraining for a career in wine.

What makes Level 3 particularly valuable is that it goes far beyond memorising grape varieties or wine regions.

Candidates are expected to understand why a wine has a particular style and level of quality.

The course connects:

climate, terroir and viticulture;
winemaking and maturation choices;
the sensory profile of the wine;
quality level and ageing potential;
commercial positioning and sales arguments.

Tasting also plays a central role.

Candidates learn how to assess wine in a structured, analytical and evidence-based way, rather than relying solely on personal preference.

For professionals, these skills can then be applied directly to their work: advising customers, building a wine selection, presenting a portfolio or promoting an offer more effectively.

To learn more, read our dedicated article on funding the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines through the CPF, or explore our:

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines courses in Paris
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines courses in Marseille
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines online

New: WSET Level 3 Award in Wines online — but live

For anyone who wants the flexibility of online learning without studying alone, Weeno is launching a new format: the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines live online.

Over nine weeks, participants meet every Sunday morning with a certified WSET educator and a small group of students for a two-hour live online class in French.

Each week focuses in depth on a region or topic from the syllabus.

The programme also includes:

a 64-wine tasting kit;
corrected quizzes;
written-answer exercises;
a mock tasting with personalised feedback.

The objective is simple: combine the flexibility of online training with a clear study rhythm, regular educational support and live interaction with an educator.

The first session runs from 25 October to 27 December 2026.

The final examination is then taken in person in Paris or Marseille.

👉 Discover the live online WSET Level 3 Award in Wines

3. Can you fund WSET Level 1 or Level 2 through the CPF?

The return of WSET Level 3 Wines to the CPF does not mean that every WSET qualification is automatically eligible.

For the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines and WSET Level 2 Award in Wines, CPF funding does not currently work in the same way as it does for Level 3.

These courses remain fully available at Weeno, but they are not directly CPF-eligible simply because they carry the WSET qualification.

The same principle applies to other drinks categories.

A WSET course in Spirits, Sake or Beer is not automatically eligible for CPF funding either. Eligibility depends on the certification to which the training programme is linked.

This is one of the most important points to remember:

The CPF funds an eligible certification pathway — not the WSET brand as a whole.

Two WSET courses can therefore have completely different funding arrangements.

However, that does not mean there are no funding solutions for WSET Level 1 or Level 2.

At Weeno, we offer programmes that combine wine and drinks education with professional English, linked to eligible language certifications such as CLOE and LTE.

This can be particularly relevant in an industry where English has become an essential professional skill.

4. What about WSET courses in Spirits, Sake and Beer?

CPF eligibility does not simply depend on whether a course is labelled WSET.

It depends on the professional certification to which the programme is linked and whether that certification is currently eligible for CPF funding.

For the 2026-2027 training year, the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines benefits from a specific registration with France Compétences.

However, WSET qualifications in Spirits, Japanese Sake and Beer do not currently have the same direct CPF eligibility.

Here is the situation at a glance:

Course	Direct CPF funding in 2026-2027	Alternative at Weeno
WSET Level 3 Wines	Yes, in French and subject to conditions	Professional English pathway with CLOE or LTE
WSET Levels 1 and 2 Wines	Not directly through the WSET qualification	Professional English pathway with CLOE or LTE
WSET Spirits	Not directly through the WSET qualification	Professional English pathway with CLOE or LTE
WSET Sake	Not directly through the WSET qualification	Professional English pathway with CLOE or LTE
WSET Beer	Not directly through the WSET qualification	Professional English pathway with CLOE or LTE

There is, however, an important distinction to understand.

A WSET course may sometimes be included within a broader training pathway linked to another eligible certification.

That does not mean the WSET qualification itself has become CPF-eligible.

At Weeno, one of the solutions is to combine drinks education with professional English, an especially relevant skill in an international industry.

In practical terms, this means that WSET programmes in wine, spirits, sake and beer taught in English or in a bilingual French-English format, together with an English certification such as CLOE specialising in wine and spirits or LTE – PeopleCert, may be eligible for CPF funding.

The official WSET examination is then paid separately at the end of the course, outside the CPF-funded programme, at a preferential rate:

€30 for WSET Level 1
€40 for WSET Level 2
€100 for WSET Level 3

5. WSET + professional English: another way to use your CPF

In the wine and spirits industry, English is no longer an optional extra.

It is used across a wide range of professional contexts:

export;
wine tourism;
international trade shows;
foreign customers;
international producers;
technical documentation;
multinational drinks companies.

This is why Weeno offers training pathways combining drinks expertise with professional English, supported by an eligible language certification.

The objective is twofold: develop your knowledge of wine, spirits, sake or beer while learning how to use that knowledge confidently in an English-speaking professional environment.

These programmes can help you develop:

technical industry vocabulary;
product presentation skills;
the ability to describe wine, spirits, sake or beer;
communication with customers, distributors and partners;
understanding of professional documents and materials in English;
greater confidence in commercial or international situations.

These programmes can therefore provide an alternative when the WSET qualification you want to study is not directly eligible for CPF funding.

The CLOE English – Communicating in a Professional Context certification is currently registered with the Répertoire Spécifique and assesses a candidate’s ability to use English in a professional environment.

At Weeno, these pathways are available with several specialist focuses:

In such an international industry, developing product expertise and professional English at the same time can become a genuine career-development tool.

6. CPF funding ≠ WSET exam: understanding exactly what is funded

This is an important distinction:

Using your CPF to follow a training programme does not automatically mean that the WSET examination is funded in every case.

Several elements need to be separated.

First, there is the training programme itself: the educational content, classes, learning materials and, where applicable, tastings.

Then there is the certification that makes the programme eligible for CPF funding.

Depending on the pathway, this may be a professional certification directly linked to WSET, or an additional certification such as a language qualification.

The WSET exam, meanwhile, is the official assessment that leads to the relevant WSET qualification.

Depending on the programme, the examination fee may be included or may need to be paid separately.

There may also be additional costs that are not covered by the funding arrangement.

The key principle is therefore simple:

The CPF funds a specific eligible certification pathway. It does not automatically fund every qualification or component associated with that pathway.

Before enrolling, always check exactly what is included:

tuition;
examination fees;
certification;
course materials;
possible additional costs.

Transparency on this point is essential.

7. CPF, OPCO and employer funding: what other options are available for WSET courses?

The CPF is not the only way to finance WSET training.

For professionals, several funding routes may be available depending on employment status, employer and training objectives.

An employer may first choose to cover training costs as part of an employee development plan.

This is already the case for many of the companies we work with at Weeno, where teams are trained in wine, spirits, sake or beer.

OPCO funding may also be available depending on the professional sector, company size and current funding criteria.

A training agreement can then be set up between the company and the training provider.

Another option is an employer contribution to the CPF.

If an employee does not have enough CPF credit available, the employer may, in some cases, contribute additional funding.

Depending on the circumstances, this employer contribution may also remove the mandatory CPF contribution normally paid by the account holder.

For jobseekers, France Travail may also contribute to the cost of training when the programme forms part of an approved professional project.

Finally, candidates can always finance all or part of their course personally.

In practice, the most suitable solution depends on the candidate’s status and objectives.

CPF, employer funding, OPCO support and personal funding can sometimes be combined, provided the rules of the relevant training pathway are respected.

8. How to use your CPF for a Weeno course

Using your CPF to train with Weeno is relatively straightforward, provided you first identify the programme that best matches your professional goals.

Check your CPF balance directly on Mon Compte Formation to see how much funding you currently have available.
Define your objective: do you want to prepare for a directly eligible WSET qualification, such as WSET Level 3 Wines, or follow a programme combining drinks expertise with professional English?
Check the eligibility of the programme you have chosen. Not all WSET courses are funded in the same way, so always check which certification supports the funding.
Choose the format that suits you best: Paris, Marseille or online when available.
Register only through the official offer available on Mon Compte Formation.
If you are unsure, contact Weeno before completing your enrolment. You can reach us at [email protected] or on 07 68 94 12 49, Monday to Friday from 9am to 12pm. We can help you identify the pathway that best matches your professional objective and personal situation.

9. Which funding solution is right for your profile?

There is no single best way to finance WSET training.

The right solution depends mainly on your current level, career objective and professional status.

If you already work in wine and are aiming for an advanced qualification, the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines may be particularly attractive through CPF funding, provided you meet the requirements of the eligible pathway.

If your objective is to prepare for WSET Level 1 or Level 2, several other options remain available:

personal funding;
employer funding;
OPCO support;
a training pathway combining drinks expertise with professional English.

If you work in export, hospitality, wine tourism or with an international clientele, developing professional English alongside wine or spirits knowledge can be especially strategic.

It allows you to improve both your technical accuracy and your confidence in professional situations.

You can also read our dedicated article on this topic here.

If you are changing careers, the logic is slightly different.

The priority should be to define the role or profession you are aiming for first, and then select the training and funding solution that best supports that objective.

For companies, the most effective option is often to build a programme around the needs of the team: qualification level, drinks category, sales objectives, customer service or professional development.

At Weeno, we can help you identify the most suitable option before you enrol.

Funding your training starts with choosing the right pathway

The right question is therefore no longer simply: “Is WSET eligible for CPF funding?”
It is “Which certification and funding route actually match my professional goals?”

For the 2026-2027 training year, the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines offers a new CPF funding opportunity for eligible candidates.

For other levels and drinks categories, several solutions remain available, including personal funding, employer or OPCO support, and programmes combining drinks expertise with professional English.

In an industry as international as wine and spirits, that final option can also become a powerful tool for career progression.

Are you planning to train in 2026-2027?

Explore all our WSET courses and our professional English programmes for wine, spirits, sake and beer.

Or contact the Weeno team to identify the pathway that best matches your goals, current level and professional situation.