Courses and education Dates and Fees for 2018 and Application Form As part of our charitable aims we raise the standards of beekeeping practices through a series of courses and exams We have a long and well established exam course which is constantly being developed to keep up with new research in the field of beekeeping. Our exams start with a Basic covering basic skills and knowledge of the craft all the way up to becoming a Master Beekeeper - to get to this level can take 7 years in total. Junior Certificate Under 18 and want to test your beekeeping knowledge? Then this could be the one for you The Junior certificate consists of 4 elements 10 minutes of oral questions A short written paper Making a frame Present your beekeeping diary Further information click Further information click Basic Assessment To take the Basic Assessment you should have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months The Basic Assessment syllabus can appear daunting at first glance but closer inspection will show that it merely lists the basic things which all beekeepers should know. Further information click General Husbandry Certificate Have you been beekeeping for 3 years and passed your Basic Assessment? Then this is the next practical step. This assessment is designed for beekeepers who prefer the practical approach rather than the written examinations. On the day, your assessment is conducted by two BBKA Assessors and consists of: inspection of the candidates apiary, equipment and honey handling equipment. manipulation of one or more colonies of the candidates bees demonstration of a method of selective queen rearing Further information click Further information click Advanced Husbandry Certificate So, you have the General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and want to pass on your knowledge Open only to those who have passed the General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry. This assessment is designed for beekeepers aspiring to lecture and demonstrate the craft of beekeeping to others. The Assessment will be conducted at a suitable location and will consist of the following tasks: Manipulation of one or more colonies as required by the Assessor Short presentation on a practical topic to a small audience Demonstration of dissection for acarine and nosema analysis Discussion and practical on methods of queen rearing Discussion on other aspects of beekeeping as given in the syllabus Further information click Further information click Modules A chance to test your knowledge on all aspects of apiculture The Modules are written examinations held at a centre in your region with each paper taking 1½hrs. You can take up to 4 modules in each session. There are seven modules to be studied: Module 1 Honey bee Management Module 2 Honey bee Products and Forage Module 3 Honey bee Pests, Diseases and Poisoning Module 5 Honey bee Biology Module 6 Honey bee Behaviour Module 7 Selection & Breeding of Honey bees Module 8 Honey bee Management, Health and History Microscopy Certificate Never has bee health and disease diagnosis been more important This assessment provides a qualification and measure of achievement for those beekeepers with an interest in pollen, anatomy, and disease relevant to the honey bee. Knowledge and skills are tested through a number of practical tasks and oral questioning. The candidate will need to prepare 6 pollen slides and 3 anatomy slides during the year prior to the assessment. For the assessment, which lasts between 2 and 2 ½ hours, the candidate will need to provide 2 suitable microscopes and equipment necessary to carry out dissections and make slides. Full details are in the syllabus. Prospective candidates should have passed the Basic Certificate Further information click Show Judge Certificate Take you experience in showing honey and honey products to the next level In order to commence the assessment you must meet a number of entry requirements and hold the Basic Certificate. For full details please download the syllabus. Candidates wishing to take the Show Judges Assessment must apply for a record book from the Examinations Board Secretary to record the following over a five year period Stewarding for a number of BBKA Judges at county or national level or honey shows with more than 100 entries. Judging at a number of Honey shows where 3 of the shows are assessed by 3 different BBKA Show Judges. A final supervised judging and viva voce. Record of awards at honey shows at third prize or higher at County or National level Record of other relevant experience such as Show Secretary Further information click Master Beekeeper Do you hold the Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and Advanced Theory Certificate As a Master Beekeeper you can now study for the National Diploma in Beekeeping Further information click Examination Dates BBKA Examinations and Assessments are taken at specific times of the year. All assessments are taken by suitably qualified Assessors. For an up to date list of application deadlines, assessments and examination take place please refer to the further reading document. Within this section you will also find related fees. Fees & Applications Download the Fees and Application Form here >