BBKA Honey Bee Breeding Certificate

A practical assessment to promote the skills required to improve stocks of local bees.

Another relatively new certificate introduced to promote the use and improvement of local bees. The assessment is equally applicable to honey bee breeders who work alone and to those who work as part of a group.  It 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.  Candidates will be able to demonstrate a range of beekeeping skills related to queen rearing, honey bee breeding and selection.  The Assessment will take place at the candidate’s apiary in one visit in May, June or July or, in the case of a candidate who is a member of a bee breeding group, at a group apiary.

Eligibility

Individual candidates must hold the Basic Assessment Certificate and have kept and managed bees for at least five years and be able to demonstrate with documentation that they have run a bee breeding program for the last three years, producing a number of queens appropriate to the number of colonies they were managing at that time.  In the year of the Assessment, the candidate should have available at least eight productive colonies excluding nuclei. 

Candidates may enter as a member of a bee breeding group.  The candidate must hold the Basic Assessment Certificate, shall have kept and managed bees for at least five years, and be able to demonstrate with records that they have been an active member of the bee breeding group for a minimum of three years, producing a number of queens appropriate to the number of colonies managed within the group.   In the year of the Assessment, the candidate should have available at least eight productive colonies excluding nuclei.  The candidate will be assessed alone but may use the assets of the bee breeding group if required for the purpose of the assessment.  The records submitted may be the common records of the group. 

Application

The application deadline is 28 February in the year of Assessment.  To apply, please contact the WBKA Exam Secretary by email at education@wbka.com  A link to the application form will be emailed to you and you can use this to apply and pay online direct to BBKA.

Once your application is processed, you will be contacted regarding arrangements for the assessment.

You can download the syllabus here:  Honey_Bee_Breeding_Syllabus