Study apiculture and develop your beekeeping skills and knowledge to be able to work safely and effectively as an assistant beekeeper or to work in the apiculture industry.
*This programme is for returning students only. New students can enrol in our new programme NZ Cert Apiculture (Level 3) here.
Part-time over 36 weeks or up to two years
For 2024 intakes, this programme will be eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme.
International Fees can be found here.
Get into apiculture with a certification to show your skills, knowledge and ability to work safely and productively in a beekeeping environment.
You will learn to maintain, manipulate and operate beehives to produce quality products and pollination services; assist transportation of beehives and products; establish hives in new sites and carry out beehive disease management plans.
Topics that will be covered:
This course is delivered online.
Students will need to have access to at least a dozen working hives (that have been wintered) and be able to take and upload video evidence for assessment purposes.
AP200.1 Describe bee anatomy, bee behaviour and bee habitat
AP301.2 Construct a beehive
AP3.01.1 Describe apicultural equipment and their purpose
HS310.3 Demonstrate knowledge of safe work practices and work safely with bees
AP302.2 Work a hive over a beekeeping season
AP303.3 Swarm control
AP304.1 Demonstrate understanding of seasonal management of an apiary
AP305.1 Shift hives
AP306.2 Requeen a hive
AP309.1 Demonstrate knowledge of honey processing
AP309.2 Carry out manual honey extraction EXAM : Complete the 'American Foulbrood (AFB) recognition and destruction' course
AP307.1 Demonstrate knowledge of the main health issues associated with bees in New Zealand
AP307.2 Maintain a health beehive
AP310.1 Describe bee feeding, feeders and types of feed
AP210.2 Feed bees
Could include:
*All applicants to note that this is the last time this programme will be offered in its current form, so the programme will need to be completed within this intake.
Direct Material Costs include the following resources and equipment:
Gear and equipment students must provide or have access to:
English Language Requirements
Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:
Certificate at Level 3
IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current:
a) Level 3 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 3 (General)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert – B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band
We strongly recommend that you also connect with a local beekeeping club/group or buddy up with a local beekeeper.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are taking the necessary steps and precautions to keep yourself safe while studying this programme.
Students must achieve a pass in each course and a total of 65 credits as noted in the programme of study to be awarded the New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3).
Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study