Master Beekeepers Certification Program

The purpose of the Master Beekeeper certification program is to identify and certify individuals who have an in-depth knowledge of honey bee biology, expertise in the proper practices of beekeeping, possess broad knowledge of the beekeeping industry in general, and who can present this information to the beekeeping and non-beekeeping public in a detailed, accurate, clear and authoritative manner.

Unlike many other programs, the EAS Master Beekeeper certification process does not include a structured training program for aspiring beekeepers. Instead, it is designed to recognize beekeepers who already possess substantial apicultural knowledge and experience.

The goal of this program is to certify not only apicultural experts, but teachers.  Those who are awarded the title of Master Beekeeper are knowledgeable at a college level in both scientific knowledge of honey bees and practical beekeeping skills, and are able to pass that knowledge on to others.

Certification requires the completion of four (4) exams, which are conducted at the annual EAS Conference.  These include written, laboratory, oral, and field examinations.  Exams are coordinated and administered by EAS Master Beekeeper volunteers who are designated by the EAS Master Beekeeper Certification Committee and the organization’s Academic Advisor. Questions regarding the program should be directed to the EAS Certification Committee Chairperson at mbcertification@easternapiculture.org.

Exam overview

The Master Beekeeper exams cover a broad scope of knowledge in all aspects of beekeeping, and to a reasonable depth.  Any portion of the exam may include questions on the biology of honey bees and/or hive pests and other species of concern; modern or historic beekeeping practices and techniques; modern and historic beekeeping tools, equipment and hive styles; important figures in the history and development of beekeeping craft; pests and diseases of the hive and their management; the production of honey and other hive products; pollination biology and the commercial pollination industry.  These exams are not designed to recognize merely competent hobbyists, but seek to distinguish candidates that have achieved a mastery of both fundamental knowledge and practical beekeeping skills. 

Certification exams are conducted once per year at the annual EAS Conference.
Testing consists of:

The Written Examination is intended to gauge both the breadth and depth of a candidate’s beekeeping knowledge and familiarity with apicultural literature.

The Laboratory Examination may include a candidate’s ability to recognize and explain the significance of disease symptoms, hive medications, equipment, proper practices, and non-honeybee arthropods that may be important to the craft of beekeeping. 

The Oral Examination tests a candidate’s ability to communicate accurately, confidently and effectively to other beekeepers and to the general public.

The Field Examination evaluates a candidate’s practical abilities by properly inspecting an unfamiliar colony, skillfully handling live honey bees, and evaluating the conditions of the colony, and accurately synthesizing observations into a recommendation for action.

Eligibility 

Persons interested in applying must have a minimum of 5 years as a serious beekeeper in some aspect of apiary management such as a very dedicated hobbyist, a commercial beekeeper, working for a commercial beekeeper or as an apiary inspector. Also, it is suggested applicants complete the equivalent of a college-level course in beekeeping. An applicant should be well-read in apicultural literature. The range of knowledge and experience needed to complete the exam process typically goes well beyond that of most backyard hobbyists, even after 5 years.  These exams are intended to evaluate a candidate for their mastery of the subject matter, not merely competency with a few hobby hives. Any experienced beekeeper meeting these requirements is eligible to apply for certification as a EAS Master Beekeeper.  The applicant must be a member of EAS at the time the exam is taken.
 

Application

Persons wishing to take the EAS Master Beekeeper Certification Exam must submit an application and a letter of recommendation by email to mbcertification@easternapiculture.org. The application and recommendation forms can be downloaded here: Application Form and Recommendation Form. 

(If you are unable to download these forms, please send an email to mbcertification@easternapiculture.org and request application and recommendation forms.)

• The application period is March 1st to June 1st. Application and letter of recommendation must be received by the deadline of June 1st.
• The number of applicants accepted may be governed by the resources available for testing.  

A recommendation in support of the individual seeking EAS Master Beekeeper Certification, must be submitted by the application deadline. The recommendation can be submitted with the application or can be sent separately.

Retaking A Section of the Exam 

A section of the exam can be retaken. It is not necessary to repeat sections of the exam which have already been passed, however, candidates must successfully complete all four sections of the exam within five consecutive years of first test attempt. 

You must notify the Certification Committee of your intention to retake any section of the exam by June 1st of the year in which you intend to take the exam. Notification should be made by email to mbcertification@easternapiculture.org.  If you do not state your intentions by June 1st you will not be permitted to retake that part of the exam.

Resources

Master Beekeeper applicants can find an outline of examination subjects and a list of references to study in preparation for the examination on theMaster Beekeepers Resources page of this website.

Fees

Applicants who are accepted as candidates for certification are charged a fee that covers the cost of supplies and expenses for testing.

The initial examination fee for all four exams is $200. The fee for retaking exam(s) is $50 per exam.  Once an exam is completed successfully it does not need to be retaken. Candidates who were accepted into the program prior to the recent fee increase will be invoiced at the previous rate.

In order to be tested, Candidates must register and pay for a minimum of three days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) of the EAS Conference. We acknowledge that candidates may miss out on a significant portion of the short course and conference offerings, as do the many volunteers that assist with the testing process.

Payment for Exams 

Candidates who are accepted will be invoiced for the cost of the exam and can pay via Wild Apricot, the EAS online registration and conference software application. Payment must be received prior to being tested.