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Vocational

AVS AVS Sommellerie – 5314

ITHQ Signature program

Sommelier Training

Important notice: this program is offered in French only.

Are you a wine and spirits enthusiast? Would you like to pursue a career in this industry? Immerse yourself in this fascinating world today!

Admission

January 14 to March 1
September 15 to November 1

Course start date

August
January

Duration

5 months full-time (451 h)

Format

In-person

Schedule

Full-time

Language of instruction

French

Compulsory internships

No

Diploma

Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS)

Overview

This intensive program is intended for graduates or professionals in the food and beverage services industry who want to acquire a solid foundation in sommellerie.

Key elements of the program

  • Exclusive training at the ITHQ leading to an AVS in sommellerie in 5 months
  • Visits to microbreweries, distilleries and vineyards
  • Hands-on learning at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ
  • Access to the ITHQ sensory analysis laboratory
  • Master classes with wine experts
  • Participation in competitions and major industry events
  • Experienced and passionate instructors

Quench your thirst for knowledge!

What you will learn
Tasting, analyzing, advising

  • Tasting and organoleptic analysis techniques
  • Development of your gustatory and olfactory faculties
  • Wine and spirits production processes and their influence on the product
  • Wine and food pairing
  • Wine and beverage service
  • Wine list design
  • Wine cellar management
  • Customer advising

Partners

Program structure and courses

Duration and schedule

  • Program starting in the fall and winter of each year 
  • Spread over 5 months on a full-time basis (ministerial program totalling 450 h)
  • Daytime courses and practical applications in the evening

  • Schedule, dates and course order are subject to change.
  • The ITHQ reserves the right to cancel a course or program if there are insufficient registrations to justify its offering. In such cases, program and registration fees will be refunded in full.

Hands-on experience

Practical applications:

  • Practical courses at the Restaurant de l’ITHQ
  • Participation in sommelier competitions and a gastronomic banquet

Diploma

  • Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) in Sommellerie from the Ministère de l’Éducation
  • ITHQ Signature certificate in Sommellerie
  • Recognition by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers

All students are required to follow certain basic rules regarding professional image.

Admission

Admission application periods

Québec and Canadian applicants

January 14 to March 1 (course start date in August)

September 15 to November 1 (course start date in January)

International students

November 2 to February 1 (course start date in August)

March 2 to June 1 (course start date in January)

Admission requirements

To be eligible for this program, you must: 

  • Hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) in Food and Beverage Services or have received equivalent training, OR
  • Have a combination of sufficient training and at least 1,200 hours of relevant and recent work experience in restaurant service.     

You must also:

Selection interview

If your application file is eligible, you will be invited to a selection interview, which will take place either in person or remotely, depending on your place of residence.

In-person interview dates for Canadian applicants:

  • Programs starting in Fall 2025: Wednesday, April 9; Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11, 2025

Required documents

Application based on studies 

  • Transcript (achievement record) of the DVS in Food and Beverage Services 
  • Diploma obtained in Québec
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, , if applicable 

Application based on relevant work experience

  • Secondary or post-secondary education transcript (achievement record) 
  • Diploma obtained in Québec
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program

General documents

Application based on studies 

  • Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 10, 11 and 12)
  • Diploma obtained
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable

Application based on relevant work experience

  • Complete transcripts from grade 10, 11 and 12.
  • Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
  • Diploma(s) obtained
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program

General documents

  • Birth certificate 
  • Proof of language proficiency in French (language test result or proof of exemption)
  • Canadian citizenship certificate OR permanent resident card
  • Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ), if applicable 

Application based on studies 

  • Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
  • Diploma obtained
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable

Application based on relevant work experience

  • Complete transcripts of or the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
  • Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
  • Diploma(s) obtained 
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program

General documents

Application based on studies 

  • Complete transcripts of studies equivalent to the DVS in Food and Beverage Services for the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
  • Diploma obtained
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program, if applicable

Application based on relevant work experience

  • Complete transcripts of the last 3 years of high school (equivalent to grade 9, 10 and 11)
  • Complete transcripts for any subsequent years of study, if applicable
  • Diploma(s) obtained
  • Work certificates attesting to work experience relevant to the program

Admission application procedure

  • Applicants must ensure that they meet the program’s admission requirements before submitting their application.      
  • Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.       
  • For your admission file to be considered complete, it must contain a copy of all the official documents required by the ITHQ in accordance with your status, as listed above.
  • These documents must be legible and saved in PDF format. Documents in a language other than French or English must also be accompanied by a certified translation into French or English.            
  • Some documents required by the ITHQ may not be requested automatically on the admission platform. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure that all the documents on the list in accordance with your status have been uploaded to your file before submitting your application.  

Important

The ITHQ will accept only one application per applicant for its vocational training programs. Although the SRAM admission platform allows you to submit up to 3 applications, only your 1st choice of program will be considered. Your 2nd or 3rd choice will automatically be rejected.

Costs and financial aid

Program fees

Use the program fee calculator to find out about the costs of this program.

Financial aid and scholarships

Looking for financial support for your study project? Find out about the different options available to you.  

Future prospects

A short program with big rewards!

Training in sommellerie is a definite asset for anyone working in the food and beverage services industry. With this diploma, you’ll not only be able to give better advice to your customers, but you’ll also have access to better positions in a wide range of establishments, as well as being able to explore new job prospects in the advising or sales fields. 

Info

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