Frequently Asked Questions

Cheese State University provides a ton of information and support for cheese professionals. Find your favorite Wisconsin cheese in the Wisconsin Cheese Atlas and pick-up advanced level customer communication tips in the Turo-Files: Counter Coaching for Monger video series. We host quarterly Study Hall classes, connecting you directly with cheesemakers and industry experts to deep dive into a range of topics. And perhaps most importantly, you will get access to the Quad, a digital, interactive network of cheese professionals (think Facebook for cheesemongers, without the drama), where you can meet others working in the industry, show off your cheesy talents, ask questions and get vetted answers, and enjoy ongoing content deep dives, contests, and swag giveaways from the CSU faculty.

Cheese State University is 100% free. Funding for our programming comes from the hardworking Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin to provide training and education opportunities for cheese professionals and strengthen the  cheese industry.

Absolutely! Established cheese pros can work their way through our courses as a refresher (and maybe learn a new thing or two). The Turo Files video series provides valuable insight into topics customers care about, from cheese and pregnancy to rennet. The Quad offers the opportunity to connect with cheese folk all over the world, from exciting new talent to industry experts.

Our curriculum includes Cheese Fundamentals: From Case to Customer, a 101-level course created for new(er) cheese pros, that covers the information needed to successfully operate in a cheese department/deli. The course is organized around three key areas of a retail cheese department, designed to build knowledge and confidence in each environment; the cheese case, behind the counter, and the sales floor.

The Cheese State Field Guide is an in-depth, 3-volume course designed to help emerging cheese professionals level up their knowledge and excel in their careers. This course dives deep into the ancient origins of cheesemaking, milk chemistry, cheesemaking science, affinage, sensory evaluation, pairings, and retail best practices.

We designed the Cheese State curriculum for retail cheesemongers and counter staff who are motivated to deepen their knowledge of the industry and level up their careers in cheese. However, if you work with cheese in another professional capacity, such as a chef or server, you’re welcome to enroll.

The course should take approximately one hour.

You will be able to save your progress as you complete each lesson, so you do not have to finish it in one sitting.

Enrollees who complete Cheese Fundamentals earn the title Cheese State Graduate. If you pass, you’ll receive a diploma and a pin you can wear to show off your knowledge at work.

While Cheese Fundamentals is geared toward folks new(er) to the cheese counter, we’re confident that Cheese State Scholars and other seasoned pros can gain new insights and knowledge by taking this course. Plus, the information we cover can be helpful to those who train or manage new hires in the cheese department. We invite you to complete Cheese Fundamentals yourself before incorporating it into your onboarding procedures.

The course is self-guided, so you can take as much time as you need to complete it. We estimate the average user will take 6 hours to read through the material and take the exam. Your progress will be saved, so you don’t have to complete it all in one sitting. If you’re taking the course at the request of your employer, you may need to successfully complete the test by a certain date.

Will the Cheese State Field Guide prepare me to take the American Cheese Society’s Certified Cheese Professional exam?
The Cheese State Field Guide wasn’t created as a prep course for the CCP exam, though many of the topics covered in the Field Guide and the CCP exam overlap. The Field Guide curriculum provides in-depth training and education for new and mid-career cheese professionals who are ready to level up—whether that means entering the industry with a solid foundation, getting a promotion at work, or pursuing CCP certification in the future.

The Field Guide contains all the information you need to pass the test and become a Scholar, including helpful illustrations and animations, videos, a glossary, and guest essays to bring each lesson to life. We designed the test to be a credible assessment of your comprehension of the key concepts in the curriculum, not to trip you up on minutia or trivia.

You have 30 minutes to complete the test, and a minimum of 24 right answers is a passing score. If you don’t pass the first time, don’t worry. You can try again once per 24-hour period until you get it right. It’s a good idea to revisit the Field Guide and review the questions you missed before you retake the test. We’re rooting for you!

Enrollees who complete the Field Guide have the option to test their knowledge with the Cheese State Scholar test. If you pass, you’ll receive a diploma certifying that you are a Cheese State Scholar, along with a pin and a digital Scholar kit you can use to promote your success.
 
In addition to all this (plus bragging rights), Cheese State Scholars get access to exclusive events  and merch.

No! You can obtain either of our credentials on their own in whatever order you prefer. Cheese Fundamentals is our foundation-level course for new cheesemongers and deli staff, while the Field Guide covers a deeper and broader range of information and skills. For most people, it makes sense to complete the courses in this order, but it’s not required.

Enrollees who complete the Field Guide have the option to test their knowledge with the Cheese State Scholar test. If you pass, you’ll receive a diploma certifying that you are a Cheese State Scholar, along with a pin and a digital Scholar kit you can use to promote your success.

The Cheese State Field Guide wasn’t created as a prep course for the CCP exam, though many of the topics covered in the Field Guide and the CCP exam overlap. The Field Guide curriculum provides in-depth training and education for new and mid-career cheese professionals who are ready to level up—whether that means entering the industry with a solid foundation, getting a promotion at work, or pursuing CCP certification in the future.

Drop us a line at hello@cheesestateuniversity.com and we’ll help you out. 

Yes! We know most cheese folks are on their feet all day, not sitting behind a desk. We’ve designed everything to work on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets equally as well as a desktop. Download the Cheese State University mobile app to access our courses and programming in your pocket.

While we love and appreciate cheese-loving “civilians,” Cheese State University was designed specifically for cheese professionals. We promise you’d be bored by lessons on stocking a cheese case and preventing cross-contamination in the walk-in. Fear not, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin has lots of fun stuff for cheese fanatics like you to explore. Connect with Wisconsin cheesemakers and your fellow cheese fanatics in our Cheeselandia community. Dig into cheese trends, history, and more with our blog, The Cheese Life, and find delicious cheese-centric recipes here.

If you aren’t currently working with cheese professionally, as verified by your email address and job title, we’re unable to enroll you in Cheese State University and you will not receive a login.

If you are a cheese professional (culinary, retail, or distribution) and believe you have received this message by mistake, please give us a heads up at hello@cheesestateuniversity.com.

Thanks for supporting Wisconsin cheese! Cheese State University is an educational program exclusively for cheese professionals. If that’s not you, head to WisconsinCheese.com for information on all the state’s cheesemakers and their amazing cheeses, plus recipes, pairing tips, and more.

While our websites and the Cheese Fundamentals course are only available in English, the Field Guide is available in both English and Spanish (coming Fall 2025).