The BBKA offer’s a suit of Husbandry assessments.
To apply for any of these assessments, please contact SS&DBKA Exam Secretary, currently Trevor Smith. You will be emailed a link to the application form. You can use this to apply and pay online. You will get a receipt by email to confirm we have your application.
Junior certificate – Under 18 and want to test your beekeeping knowledge? Then this could be for you.
The Junior certificate consists of 4 elements:
- 10 minutes of oral questions
- Examine a frame of bees
- Present a piece of coursework
- Present your beekeeping diary
This examination is intended to meet the requirements of schools as well as Scout and Guide groups together with those not qualified to enter for the Basic Assessment. Additionally, it is intended that the examination will reflect the candidate’s interest of apiculture and encourage them to go forward to the next examination, the Basic Assessment.
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.
Honeybee Health Assessment – A practical assessment suitable for members who wish to advance beyond their Basic Assessment.
This is an assessment to help beekeepers who have already passed their Basic Assessment acquire some of the skills needed at the General Husbandry level..
Aims:
To encourage beekeepers who have been awarded the BBKA Basic Certificate and have at least three years of beekeeping experience to improve their understanding and practice of beekeeping. The Candidate will be able to demonstrate a range of beekeeping skills.
General Husbandry
Have you been beekeeping for 5 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 candidate’s apiary, equipment and honey handling equipment.
- manipulation of one or more colonies of the candidate’s bees.
- demonstration of a method of selective queen rearing.
Advanced Husbandry
So, is it 2 or more years since you gained the General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and you now want to pass on your knowledge?
Open only to those who have passed the General Husbandry Certificate. 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
Microscopy Assessment
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 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.
A pass in the Microscopy Certificate gives exemption from the Adult Bee Diseases section of the Advanced Husbandry Assessment.
Honey Bee Breeding Certificate
A practical assessment to promote the skills required to improve stocks of local bees.
A certificate introduced as part of the BBKA’s work to promote the use and improvement of local bees amongst its members. The assessment is equally applicable to honey bee breeders who work alone and to those who work as part of a group.
Aims:
To encourage an improvement in the skills and methodology applied to the selective breeding of honey bees that are adapted to local conditions and have desirable characteristics. The Candidates will be able to demonstrate a range of beekeeping skills related to queen rearing, honey bee breeding and selection.
Show Judge Certificate
Take your experience in showing honey and honey products to the next level.
Candidates wishing to take the Show Judge Certificate assessment must hold the Basic Assessment and must meet a number of other entry requirements. For full details please download the syllabus and contact the Exam Board Secretary for an application checklist: sec.exams@bbka.org.uk
If your previous experience is sufficient you will be sent a Show Judge Portfolio to record the following over a five year period:
Stewarding for a number of BBKA Judges at major honey shows with more than 100 entries.
Passing either the General Husbandry Certificate or Modules 1 & 2.
Judging at a number of Honey shows where 3 of the shows are assessed by 3 different BBKA Show Judges.
Record of 70 awards at third prize or higher at major honey shows with more than 100 entries.
Record of other relevant experience such as Show Secretary.
The final supervised judging assessment and interview is held at the National Honey Show at Sandown Park in October each year.
For latest information please go to the Learning Platform (BBKA Members only).
