The eligibility requirements for AST applicants vary for each of the certificate programs. In the Coffee Skills Program, our most popular offering, an eligible licensee has:

• career experience in the relevant topic.

• broad coffee knowledge.

• experience in training adults.

• recommendations from within the industry.

• Intermediate and Professional course certificates in the module in which they would like to teach.

CSP Professional certificates must be from courses held after January 1, 2017. Those holding an SCAA Heritage Pathway Taster Level 2 Certificate gained after January 1, 2016 are eligible for the Sensory Skills module license. Those holding an SCAA Heritage Pathway Roaster Level 2 Certificate gained after January 1, 2016 are eligible for the Roasting module license. If you are interested in becoming an AST based on a professional certificate earned by way of an SCAA Pathway certificate equivalency, please contact us to discuss next steps.

Becoming an AST and delivering SCA certificate programs is not possible in all countries due to certain government restrictions.

If you have previously held an AST license, and it expired on or before December 31, 2017, your application will be considered new and the stated eligibility requirements listed above will apply. You will be asked to participate in the revised, online AST Course as part of the onboarding process.

If you have previously held an AST license that expired between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 and did not conduct any courses between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, the stated eligibility requirements listed above will apply, and you might be asked to participate in the revised, online AST Course as part of the onboarding process.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility as a new or returning AST, please contact us via the contact form so that we may advise you regarding your situation and the next best steps.

The current AST license fees for the CSP are €1750/$1900 plus €230/$255 per module license. New AST Applicants pay a one-time setup fee of €/$299.

ASTs can continue to add more modules within their current certificate program by completing the Professional course in that module, entering into an additional module license and paying the associated fees for license. Adding an additional certificate program to a license requires the AST to meet all of the eligibility requirements for that program.

AST licenses and module licenses have three-year terms. Payment plans are not available. AST licenses are non-transferrable, even if an employer or third party pays the license fees for the applicant.

New Authorized SCA Trainers

Eligible coffee trainers begin the AST process by completing an application. This online form collects application prerequisites, relevant career experience, training and volunteer experience, and professional references. Applications are processed and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis around the 10th and 25th of each month.

Eligible applicants with a complete application will be invited to take an online, general knowledge assessment which promotes broad coffee knowledge among our trainer network. This 50-question assessment covers select topics pulled from the lower-level courses within our certificate programs.

You can find the topics for the CSP General Coffee Knowledge Assessment Topics here.

Successful applicants will be invoiced for the relevant license fees and placed in a queue for one of the upcoming AST courses. Those who do not pass the assessment are invited to reapply after a 60-day period.

The AST Course is rigorous and highly accessible. This five-part orientation is delivered via distance learning with weekly, live sessions and assignments. Completion of the course and related assignments are required to become an AST. With few exceptions, these courses are held at least once a month. Payment of the AST License Fee is collected two weeks prior to the beginning of an AST Course. Spaces in these courses fill quickly and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis according to the application date with fees paid. Following the successful completion of the course, the applicant enters into the AST Agreement and can start offering courses right away.

Current Authorized SCA Trainers

Those holding a current and valid AST License in one of the three SCA certificate programs may apply to be authorized additional programs. The eligibility requirements for AST applicants vary for each of the certificate programs.

• Current ASTs must do the following in order to be authorized in an additional program:

• Meet all of the eligibility requirements, including the required course certificates

• Submit a complete and accurate AST Application

• Successfully complete the CSP General Coffee Knowledge Assessment for the certificate program

• Pay the relevant Module License fees

• Sign an amended AST License agreement

Current, active ASTs would not be required to attend an AST Course when adding additional programs to their license.

The eligibility requirements for AST applicants vary for each of the certificate programs. In the Coffee Sustainability Program, an eligible licensee has:

• career experience in the relevant topic.

• broad coffee knowledge.

• experience in training adults.

• recommendations from within the industry.

• alignment with the SCA’s broad goals for a sustainable coffee industry.

• the required course certificates:

  • CSusP Coffee Sustainability Foundation

  • CSusP Climate & Coffee

  • CSusP Coffee Economics

  • CSusP Governance, Compliance & Reporting

Becoming an AST and delivering SCA certificate programs is not possible in all countries due to certain government restrictions.

If you have previously held an AST license, and it expired on or before December 31, 2017, your application will be considered new and the stated eligibility requirements listed above will apply. You will be asked to participate in the revised, online AST Course as part of the onboarding process.

If you have previously held an AST license that expired between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 and did not conduct any courses between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019, the stated eligibility requirements listed above will apply, and you might be asked to participate in the revised, online AST Course as part of the onboarding process.

If you have any questions regarding your eligibility as a new or returning AST, please contact us via the contact form so that we may advise you regarding your situation and the next best steps.

The current AST license fees for the Limited Authorization in the CSusP are €1980 EUR / $2155 USD. A holder of the Limited CSusP Module License can upgrade to the Full CSusP Module License at no additional cost. Access to the CSP Introduction To Coffee course is included in the base AST license. New AST Applicants pay a one-time setup fee of €/$299.

AST licenses and module licenses have three-year terms. Payment plans are not available. AST licenses are non-transferrable, even if an employer or third party pays the license fees for the applicant.

New Authorized SCA Trainers

Eligible coffee trainers begin the AST process by completing an application. This online form collects application prerequisites, relevant career experience, training and volunteer experience, and professional references. Applications are processed and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis around the 10th and 25th of each month.

Eligible applicants with a complete application will be invited to take an online, general knowledge assessment which promotes broad coffee knowledge among our trainer network. This 50-question assessment covers select topics pulled from the lower-level courses within our certificate programs.

You can find the topics for the CSusP General Knowledge Assessment here.

Successful applicants will be invoiced for the relevant license fees and placed in a queue for one of the upcoming AST courses. Those who do not pass the assessment are invited to reapply after a 60-day period.

The AST Course is rigorous and highly accessible. This five-part orientation is delivered via distance learning with weekly, live sessions and assignments. Completion of the course and related assignments are required to become an AST. With few exceptions, these courses are held at least once a month. Payment of the AST License Fee is collected two weeks prior to the beginning of an AST Course. Spaces in these courses fill quickly and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis according to the application date with fees paid. Following the successful completion of the course, the applicant enters into the AST Agreement and can start offering courses right away.

Current Authorized SCA Trainers

Those holding a current and valid AST License in one of the three SCA certificate programs may apply to be authorized additional programs. The eligibility requirements for AST applicants vary for each of the certificate programs.

Current ASTs must do the following in order to be authorized in an additional program:

• Meet all of the eligibility requirements, including the required course certificates

• Submit a complete and accurate AST Application

• Successfully complete the CSusP General Knowledge Assessment for the certificate program

• Pay the relevant Module License fees

• Sign an amended AST License agreement

Current, active ASTs would not be required to attend an AST Course when adding additional programs to their license.

There are two levels of authorization in the Coffee Technicians Program (CTechP) – the CTechP AST License and the CTechP Water & Preventive Maintenance Foundation Limited License.

The CTechP AST License authorizes the trainer to deliver all six CTechP courses, including Hydraulics Foundation, Electrical Foundation, Water & Preventive Maintenance Foundation, Intermediate Diagnostics & Repair, Intermediate Water Treatment (coming soon), and Advanced Equipment Support.

Due to the importance of safety and the broad application of course content, the eligibility requirements for CTechP trainers are different from other certificate programs and include more documented career experience. An eligible applicant for the CTechP AST License will have the following:*

• CTechP Hydraulics Foundation course certificate

• CTechP Electrical Foundation course certificate

• CTechP Water & Preventive Maintenance course certificate

• At least three years of confirmed experience servicing or repairing coffee equipment for external clients, or three years’ confirmed experience working in technical support as employee of an equipment manufacturer.

• Experience as an active member of the coffee community, including attendance at trade shows, coffee events, coffee competitions, etc.

• Two letters of recommendation

• One letter speaking to subject matter expertise, submitted by:

  • An equipment manufacturer, or

  • A service or repair client, or

  • A colleague who serves in an equipment support or repair role

• One letter speaking to the applicant’s ability as an instructor, submitted by:

  • An employee or colleague that has received training or instruction from the applicant, or

  • A client who has received training or instruction from the applicant, or

  • A person who has received instruction or training from the applicant outside of the coffee industry

Becoming a CTechP AST and delivering SCA CTechP certificate programs is not possible in all countries due to certain regulations. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that CTechP certificate program courses can be taught in their country or local jurisdiction.

*Eligibility requirements are subject to change without notice.

The CTechP Water & Preventive Maintenance Foundation Limited License is only available to current ASTs who are licensed in both CSP Barista Skills and CSP Brewing. Current ASTs who are interested in this special license should write to education@sca.coffee for information on pricing and the authorization process.

The current AST base license fees are €1750EUR / $1900 USD. The CTechP Module License is €575EUR / $635 USD. New AST Applicants pay a one-time setup fee of €/$299. Eligible applicants who are current ASTs would only pay the CTechP Module License fee.

AST licenses and module licenses have three-year terms. Payment plans are not available. AST licenses are non-transferrable, even if an employer or third party pays the license fees for the applicant.

New Authorized SCA Trainers

Eligible coffee trainers begin the AST process by completing an application. This online form collects application prerequisites, relevant career experience, training and volunteer experience, and professional references. Applications are processed and reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis around the 10th and 25th of each month.

Eligible applicants with a complete application will be invited to take an online, general knowledge assessment which promotes broad coffee knowledge among our trainer network. This 50-question assessment covers select topics pulled from the lower-level courses within our certificate programs.

You can find the topics for the CTechP General Knowledge Assessment here.

Successful applicants will be invoiced for the relevant license fees and placed in a queue for one of the upcoming AST courses. Those who do not pass the assessment are invited to reapply after a 60-day period.

The AST Course is rigorous and highly accessible. This five-part orientation is delivered via distance learning with weekly, live sessions and assignments. Completion of the course and related assignments are required to become an AST. With few exceptions, these courses are held at least once a month. Payment of the AST License Fee is collected two weeks prior to the beginning of an AST Course. Spaces in these courses fill quickly and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis according to the application date with fees paid. Following the successful completion of the course, the applicant enters into the AST Agreement and can start offering courses right away.

Current Authorized SCA Trainers

Those holding a current and valid AST License in one of the other two SCA certificate programs may apply to be authorized additional programs. The eligibility requirements for AST applicants vary for each of the certificate programs. Current ASTs must do the following in order to be authorized in an additional program:

• Meet all of the eligibility requirements

• Submit a complete and accurate module application

• Successfully complete the general knowledge assessment for the certificate program

• Pay the relevant license fees

• Sign an amended AST License agreement

Current, active ASTs are not required to attend an AST Course when adding additional programs to their license.