The Local Chapters of the NCSBA are the backbone for teaching and mentoring, offering guidance, encouragement and camaraderie through beginning and advanced beekeeping courses.
But putting together a beekeeping class can be cumbersome. What should be included? How in-depth should a beginner class be? What should be covered for the advanced beekeeper?
Each chapter of the NCSBA has been provided with an Official Certified Beekeeper Curriculum to teach a beginner beekeeping course. There are 9 power points, instructor outlines and student outlines for the Certified level.
Additionally, each Regional Director has been provided an Official Advanced Course Curriculum to assist chapters in teaching a regional advanced Journeyman Prep course.
The official course is based on 16 hours of instruction. Each local chapter should adapt these outlines to their own association’s atmosphere and abilities.
The official course is arranged in Topic Sections that can be moved around, expanded or reduced. Additional information with hands-on experiences might be incorporated.
Course instructors are encouraged to review the material prior to working up their presentations.
| Certified Level Official Curriculum | Approximate teaching time |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Beekeeping and History | 45 minutes |
| Equipment | 45 minutes |
| Products of the Hive | 30 minutes |
| Keeping Bees in Populated Areas | 30 minutes |
| Honey Bee Biology | 2 hours |
| Honey Bee Pests and Diseases | 2.5 hours |
| Introducing Package Bees and NUCs | 45 minutes |
| Bee Species and Races | 1 hour |
| Seasonal Management | 1.25 hours |
| Advanced Level Official Curriculum | Approximate teaching time |
|---|---|
| Honey Bee Biology | 1.5 hours |
| Honey Bee Diseases & Viruses | 1 hour |
| Honey Bee Pests | 2.5 hours |
| Honey and Wax | 30 minutes |
| Plants and Pesticides | 1 hour |
| Seasonal Management | 1.5 hours |
Advanced Level suggested reading lists
The Hive and The Honey Bee – Dadant & Sons
Honey Bee Biology & Beekeeping – Dewey Caron
What do You Know? – Clarence Collison
American Honey Plants – Frank C. Pellett
If you need help putting together a presentation, please contact a member of the MBP Committee or email mbp@ncbeekeepers.org.