diff --git a/python/dev/RELEASE.md b/python/dev/RELEASE.md
index d54fa0132d6d..03ec7678084c 100644
--- a/python/dev/RELEASE.md
+++ b/python/dev/RELEASE.md
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ First we're going to release a release candidate (RC) and publish it to the publ
 Make sure that you're on the version that you want to release.
 
 ```bash
-export RC=rc1
-export VERSION=0.0.1${RC}
+export RC=rc0
+export VERSION=0.0.1.${RC}
 export VERSION_WITHOUT_RC=${VERSION/rc?/}
 export VERSION_BRANCH=${VERSION_WITHOUT_RC//./-}
 
diff --git a/python/pyiceberg/__init__.py b/python/pyiceberg/__init__.py
index 13a83393a912..0c4a31db7a42 100644
--- a/python/pyiceberg/__init__.py
+++ b/python/pyiceberg/__init__.py
@@ -14,3 +14,6 @@
 # KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
 # specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
+from importlib import metadata
+
+__version__ = metadata.version(__package__)
diff --git a/python/pyproject.toml b/python/pyproject.toml
index a3e35bfc94a8..3d080332ca2b 100644
--- a/python/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/pyproject.toml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "pyiceberg"
-version = "0.0.1rc1"
+version = "0.1.0.dev0"
 readme = "README.md"
 homepage = "https://iceberg.apache.org/"
 repository = "https://github.com/apache/iceberg/"
diff --git a/python/tests/test_version.py b/python/tests/test_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..12a058e3f367
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/tests/test_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+# or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+# distributed with this work for additional information
+# regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+# to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+# "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+import re
+
+from pyiceberg import __version__
+
+VERSION_REGEX = re.compile(r"^\d+.\d+.\d+(.(dev|rc)\d+)?$")
+
+
+def test_version_format():
+    # should be in the format of 0.14.0 or 0.14.0.dev0
+    assert VERSION_REGEX.search(__version__)
+
+    # RCs should work as well
+    assert VERSION_REGEX.search("0.1.0.rc0")