New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3)
Farming
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Gain the skills and confidence to manage your own beehives, meet commercial apiarists, and complete an American Foulbrood recognition course. Learn about beekeeping equipment, honey extraction, bee behaviour, pest management, and forage plants.
NZ$1,481
inc GST
Enquire about international pricing
Core skills this course teaches
Manage own beehives
Gain the knowledge and skills to manage your own beehives throughout a beekeeping season.
Identify and control bee diseases
Learn to identify American Foulbrood and other hive pests and diseases and take appropriate management actions.
About This Course
This programme teaches practical and theoretical aspects of apiculture (beekeeping), including bee behaviour, equipment use, honey extraction, and mangement of pests and diseases. Graduates are prepared to manage their own beehives, work as assistant beekeepers, or develop their own beekeeping business. The course is delivered online with block courses at several New Zealand locations and includes fieldwork, practical workshops, and an industry-recognised bee disease course.
Course Content
- Bee behaviour and life cycle
- Suitable bee forage plants
- Beekeeping equipment
- Building a beehive
- How to feed bees
- Beehive products
- Manipulating beehives including swarm control and dividing hives
- Re-queening beehives
- Harvesting and extracting honey
- Identifying and managing pests and diseases
- Shifting beehives
- Wintering beehives
- American Foulbrood (AFB) disease recognition course
Entry Requirements
New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2)
Build towards these roles
Assistant BeekeeperBeekeeperBeekeeping Business OwnerAgricultural Worker
Build skills in these industries
AgricultureFarmingPrimary IndustryBeekeeping
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.
