Beekeeping Courses & Certifications
Beekeeping Essentials Certificate Program
This certificate program includes a single course designed for beginner beekeepers who have 0-2 years of beekeeping experience. The course covers the fundamental skills needed to become a successful beekeeper. This instructor-led program allows students to participate in a virtual classroom with fellow beekeepers and the instructor, along with self-paced, asynchronous materials to complete throughout the course duration.
This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education per New Jersey Administrative Code Title 2, Chapter 24 §2:24-3.1(c).
Price: $699
Course Outcomes:
- Recognize the colony members, stages of brood, and food in the hive
- Explore honey bee biology and behavior
- Identify your equipment needs and understand how to install your bees
- Use your hive tool and smoker, and work bees gently
- Inspect a colony
- Understand colony biology and management throughout the year
Interpret brood patterns - Determine how to compare your colony observations to seasonal expectations
- Identify when a colony looks healthy and when it needs additional management
- Recognize and address queen situations, Varroa mites, diseases, and surprises
- Explore how to manage colonies for honey production, harvest honey, and render beeswax
- Understand how to winter colonies to maximize survival
Learn more and enroll in Beekeeping Essentials
Cornell University Master Beekeeping Program
Our advanced 15-month training program consists of four online classes and three in-person final exams at Cornell's Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies.
This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education per New Jersey Administrative Code Title 2, Chapter 24 §2:24-3.1(c).
Price: $899. Specific groups are eligible for a discounted price of $599.
The Cornell University Master Beekeeper Program is an advanced training program for beekeepers who have at least 3 years of beekeeping experience.
Program Outcomes
- Keep colonies healthy and productive year after year.
- Expand the amount, quality, and type of bee products and services you produce.
- Take advantage of the business opportunities that beekeeping can provide.
- Gain a deep understanding of honey bees as living organisms.
- Navigate controversial topics so you can communicate with credibility in the beekeeping community.
- Act as a resource to educate new beekeepers and participate in bee research and outreach.