Well folks...I broke down today and said okay here goes....I called to see if I could sign up for Wilton 3 course without doing the first two courses since all I really wanted to know was a little more on fondant and tier stacking as I haven't done it in a long time. I didn't really want to or do any of the basics from the first two courses. But I was told that since I didn't have a certificate from the first two courses I would have to go through all three of them, despite my bakery intern experience. So my question to all of you is......What happens in each course?? Can you give some details to them so I know what I am getting myself into?? Also....did you need frosting or a cake to decorate the first day of class??? They told me nothing when I signed up......they didn't even tell me to buy the student kit (which I didn't because I have all the stuff all ready).....but what do I need to bring with me??? Thanks for answering my questions!!!! 
The first class of course 1 is a lecture. Your instructor will tell you that evening what you'll need for each of the next three classes in course one. You will bring a cake to each of the remaining classes in course 1 which you will decorate during class. In course II, you'll focus on royal icing and color flow. We only did 1 cake in course II and it was the basketweave at session four, and added all of our color flow pieces and royal icing flowers to it for the final basket cake. Good luck with the classes...even if you can already do all of the stuff, it is fun to sit and decorate with others who share your passion!
I learned a lot even though I didn't really expect I would from course 1 because I have made cakes on my own for 6 years. It was a great experience and recommend to those who have never taken it for whatever reason to go ahead and try it. I had a lot of fun and meeting the other cake decorators was really cool. Enjoy it and get what you can out of it!! 
I have finally decided to go to the Wilton classes after being self-taught and baking for about 10 yrs.
I start next week with class 1 and even if I don't learn anything new it will be fun to decorate with other people with the same interests and give my husband a break from cake-talk. Also a break for me from the kids! lol
I had a blast with all 3 courses, my instructor let people in course 3 if they had the experience without taking the other courses.. If you really don't want to take all 3 which was a great experience then see if you could get the instructors number and talk to her.
You shouldn't have to take all the classes if you have some experience. Someone there should know that! But, I agree, go and have fun with the classes anyway. I retook the classes with some friends just to get out and have a good time.
Where I took my courses I'm pretty sure that you could register for any of the 3, regardless of whether or not you took the other courses already. You pay to take the course, so they shouldn't care what you already know.
Where are you taking your classes? At Michaels you can sign up for only the class you want to take. When I took my course 3 class there was a lady that signed up for that class only. She had only wanted to learn fondant. The instuctor had no problems with that. The lady did have a basic understanding about cake decorating. I did have a lot of fun taking all 3 classes.
It's really up to the store/instructor as to if they "require" a student take the Courses in order (1 first, then 2, then 3).
Personally, when I've had students inquire if they HAVE to take Course 1 before they can take 2 (or 3), I strongly suggest they DO take Course 1 before Course 2 (or Course 1 and 2 before Course 3). While some students may know some of the "basics", they may not be familiar with everything taught in Course 1. I've found if that's the case, they become confused and frustrated in Course 2 or 3. They ask repeated questions about things that were covered in Course 1. It takes my time away from what I need to be teaching in the current Course. It gets us behind in time (remember it's only 2 hours per lesson) and isn't fair to the students that DID take Course 1 first.
If a students is adamant that they don't want to take Course 1 I simply let them know that I will only be able to cover the information included in the current Course. I won't be able to spend time teaching information that was covered in Course 1.
I have yet to have a student NOT go ahead and take Course 1 first. AND I have yet to have a student regret taking Course 1 first.
HTH.
Like I said before, I did learn some stuff in course 1 even though I didn't expect I would. 
Perhaps the biggest part of learning was the "Wilton Way" which is the way the instructors teach. I had never known how many things I did different from their way. 
Not that my way didn't work, it was just nice to learn other ways of doing things. Some of their ways I like better than my own (now old) way of doing a certain technique. 
I also learned how to interpret what the book means in their directions for different techniques. Before, I didn't quite get the information they were giving and some things were more difficult. So if it is recommended this may be why.
I took Wilton I at our local bake shop, and we were told that we did not have to take Course II before taking Course III. I may end up having to do that though, since everytime I call Michael's to see when they're offering Course II, it's not on the schedule! 
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