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Both hobbyist and commercial beekeepers have taken our courses. To gain the most benefit from the program, students should have entry-level experience with handling bees, an appreciation of the contribution bees provide to our food crops, an awareness of current honey bee health issues that impact bee populations, and be committed to honey bee vitality.
Join the UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program (MBP) and complete an in-depth online course within each of the four levels of this program. The MBP is for the serious beekeeper who wants to understand their bees, improve their beekeeping skills, and share their love of bees and beekeeping with others along the way.
To join the program, you simply register for the Apprentice Beekeeper course. Beekeepers with two or more years of practical beekeeping experience may also attempt to test out of the Apprentice Beekeeper level of the program. All levels of beekeeping experience are welcome in the UF/IFAS MBP.
The purpose of the Master Beekeeper certification program is to identify and certify people who have an in-depth knowledge of honey bee biology, expertise in the proper practices of beekeeping, and who can present this information to the beekeeping and non-beekeeping public in a detailed, accurate, clear and authoritative manner.
To receive the final certificate, students must contribute meaningfully to a set number of discussions, moderated by Cornell University Master Beekeeping facilitators, and pass the written, oral, and field exams. The exams include a written exam, the delivery of a presentation, and a field exam where individuals will demonstrate key beekeeping skills. A Cornell University Master Beekeeping Certificate from Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, will be awarded to individuals who successfully complete the required coursework and receive a passing grade on all three exams.
Please note there is a prerequisite of three years’ minimum experience in order to enroll in the program.
Anyone with an interest in honeybees is invited to participate in this program. All participants must be a member of Virginia State Beekeepers Association to enroll and continue membership to be identified as a VSBA Master Beekeeper. All of the educational offerings to support the program as well as all of the testing are conducted within Virginia. Apprentice, Journeyman and Master Beekeeper written exams as well as the Master lab testing and face to face interviews are only held during the membership conferences. Exam and Testing times will be announced prior to each membership conference. All Master Beekeeper Program candidates must preregister and prepay for the Apprentice, Journeyman and Master Beekeeper written exams.
The objectives of the UGA bee program are to increase humanity's knowledge of bee biology, bee management, and crop pollination and to deliver that knowledge in the most effective manner to interested users. The program strives to develop research and extension initiatives that are locally responsive while globally relevant. We are also training the next generation — both undergraduate and graduate students — in practical beekeeping, bee biology, and the scientific methods of critical thinking and analysis.
Our 2025 Bee sales have concluded. For those of you who purchased Nuc's and Bee packages we will see you on the 17th at the Apiary!