New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Queen Bee Rearing) (Level 4)
Gain the skills and knowledge needed to rear queen bees for your own business or as part of a commercial operation in New Zealand's growing apiculture industry.
NZ$3,240
inc GST
Enquire about international pricing
Core skills this course teaches
Master queen and drone bee biology
Describe the life cycle, anatomy, and reproduction processes of queen and drone bees.
Apply bee genetics and breeding concepts
Understand bee genetics in relation to bee breeding and explain the importance of breeding programmes for stock improvement.
About This Course
Designed at Level 4, this certificate prepares students to independently rear queen bees for commercial sale or to operate their own queen-rearing businesses. Students gain skills in bee biology, queen rearing and breeding, beehive management, disease control, and the business aspects of a queen bee rearing operation. The part-time programme features both online evening classes and monthly in-person workshops, combining theory with extensive practical experience.
Course Content
- Queen Bee Biology, Rearing and Breeding
- Life cycle and anatomy of queen and drone bees
- Genetics and breeding programmes
- Assessment of breeder queens
- Beehive management for queen bee rearing
- Queen bee rearing management plans
- Grafting and hive manipulations
- Nutritional requirements
- Marking and caging queen bees
- Bee breeding programme operation
- Disease and pest management in beehives
- Setting up nucleus hives
- Developing business strategy for queen bee rearing
- Industry compliance (disease recognition and destruction, American Foulbrood course required)
Entry Requirements
New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) or equivalent industry skills and knowledge
Build towards these roles
Queen bee rearer for commercial operationsOwner/operator of a queen-rearing businessApiculture industry supervisor
Build skills in these industries
ApicultureAgricultureAnimal Science
