Tobacconist University has announced that it is making a change to its Certified Consumer Tobacconists (CCT) program, and will be handing off the program to its Certified Retail Tobacconists (CRTs) in April.

The program is designed for cigar smokers who do not work in the industry to become certified through an education and exam process. It began in 1996 and culminated in 2014, with a program fee of $500. Now, with CRTs handling the program, they will be enabled to certify consumers at will while also charging significantly less for the program. In a press release, these changes are being made with the anticipation that they will “elevate credibility throughout the luxury tobacco industry and strengthen retailer/consumer bonds.”

CRTs now have the exclusive right to administer the exams to those consumers wishing to become certified.

Consumers wishing to become certified can find a current list of existing CRT and Certified Consumer Tobacconists (CCT) on the TU website.

“While facts, truth, and knowledge may not matter to many marketers, they do matter to retailers and consumers,” said Jorge Armenteros in a press release. “Through certification we can establish a strong foundation of knowledge which bonds consumers, media, and retailers, thereby helping to build credibility and culture for the luxury tobacco industry.”

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.