Master Beekeeper Program

The Florida Master Beekeeper Program (MBKP) is an ongoing program that offers four levels of advancement. In order to advance from one level to the next, a beekeeper must complete specific requirements and exams. The four levels of advancement are:

  1. Apprentice Beekeeper
  2. Advanced Beekeeper
  3. Master Beekeeper
  4. Master Craftsman Beekeeper

Florida Master Beekeeper Program Board

  • Mr. Tom Donovan, Agricultural Extension Agent UF/IFAS Extension, St. Johns County
  • Dr. Amanda Ellis
  • Dr. Jamie Ellis, UF Asst. Professor of Entomology
  • Mr. Jerry Hayes, Assistant Chief, Apiary Inspection Section
  • Dr. Bill Kern, Associate Professor of Entomology
  • Mr. Ray Zerba, Horticulture Extension Agent, UF/IFAS Extension, Clay County

Public Service Credits

Candidates for Advanced Beekeeper should keep all Public Service Credit documentation forms together and bring them on the day of the Advanced Beekeeper exam. All Public Service Credit forms MUST be turned in to the Master Beekeeper Program Board on the day of exam.  Please do not send them to the lab in Gainesville.

Master Beekeeper Program Levels

Apprentice Beekeeper
A: must be a Florida registered beekeeper or a registered beekeeper in home state (name must be on registration list or the name must “umbrella” an individual – ie. “Ellis Family” on the registration list would cover husband, wife, and children). Special exceptions to this rule will be considered.

B: must own at least 1 colony of honey bees for at least 1 year. Special exceptions to this rule will be considered.

C: no age limit (although the examination may be too difficult for children under 12 years of age)

D: must score a 70% or higher on a written examination. The written test can include but is not limited to materials covered during previous UF Bee College lectures and labs, on the FDACS-DPI Apiary website , on the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory website, and books/other literature on the Apprentice Beekeeper reading list (see Appendix E).

E: must score 70% or higher on a practical examination. The practical examination can include but is not limited to being able to describe the physical parts of a beehive (common terms, not regional nomenclature); light and properly use a smoker; recognize the various stages of brood, different castes of bees, and find or at least describe the queen; differentiate between brood, pollen, capped honey; recognize propolis and describe its functions; describe the layout of a brood nest (placement of honey, pollen, and brood), etc.

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Advanced Beekeeper
A: must have held the Apprentice Beekeeper rank at least 1 year and have been a practicing beekeeper for at least 2 years. Also, must be a Florida registered beekeeper or a registered beekeeper in home state. Special exceptions to this rule will be considered.

B: must show proof of passing 6 computerized honey bee training modules (must score 80% or higher on each module). These will be available at participating county extension offices throughout Florida, online (at ufhoneybee.com), or by request to the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory. They will include modules on (1) honey bee pests/parasites/pathogens, (2) honey bee anatomy and behavior, (3) pollination biology, (4) pesticides and honey bees, (5) African honey bees, and (6) honey judging.

C: must score a 70% or higher on a written examination. The written test can include but is not limited to materials covered during previous UF Bee College lectures and labs, on the FDACS-DPI Apiary website (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/apiary/apiary.html), on the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory website (ufhoneybee.com), and books/other literature on the Advanced Beekeeper reading list (see Appendix E). This examination will cover more information than that required at the Apprentice Beekeeper level. The testable material will closely adhere to information taught in the computerized honey bee training modules (“B” above).

D: must score 70% or higher on a practical examination. The practical examination can include but is not limited to: scoring a jar of show honey; reading pesticide labels and determining which is the safest to use around bees; identifying several beekeeping items; examining honey labels for errors; distinguishing between bees, wasps, hornets, etc.; and identifying anatomical structures of a bee, flower, etc.

E: must perform and be able to document participation in 5 public service credits (see Appendix A)

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Master Beekeeper
A: must have held the Apprentice and Advanced Beekeeper ranks 1 year each and have been a practicing beekeeper for at least 3 years. Also, must be a Florida registered beekeeper or a registered beekeeper in home state. Special exceptions to this rule will be considered.

B: must demonstrate/document 10 additional public service credits beyond that required for the Advanced Beekeeper level (see Appendix A).

C: must demonstrate/document expertise in 5 of 17 subspecialties (see Appendix B).

D: choose major (see Appendix C) and demonstrate/document expertise in 3 of 10 subcategories within the major.

E: must score 70% or higher on a written examination. The written examination can include but is not limited to materials covered during previous UF Bee College lectures and labs, on the FDACS-DPI Apiary website, on the UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory website, and books/other literature on the Master Beekeeper reading list.

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Master Craftsman Beekeeper
A: must have held the Master Beekeeper rank at least 2 years and have been a beekeeper at least 5 years. Also, must be a Florida registered beekeeper or a registered beekeeper in home state. Special exceptions to this rule will be considered.

B: must have 15 units of public service work beyond that required for a Master Beekeeper (see Appendix A)

C: must demonstrate expertise in 8 of 18 subspecialties beyond that required for a Master Beekeeper (see Appendix B)

D: must satisfy 5 additional credits toward major (for a total of 8 credits toward major – 3 credits were completed in the Master Beekeeper level). If student changes major, he/she must satisfy 8 total credits toward new major unless previously acquired credits overlap with new major.

E: must demonstrate communication skills (see Appendix D)

F: must pass an oral examination. Nominee is tested by at least three individuals on the review board. The candidate is tested on one specific area of his or her choice (major) as well as on general knowledge of those areas related to honey bees and beekeeping.

G: must participate substantially in a UF (or other university), FDACS-DPI, or USDA sponsored research or extension project

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Reading Lists

Apprentice Beekeeper Reading List
Tthe following materials are suggesting reading for preparation for the Apprentice Beekeeper examinations:

Books
1) Honey Bees and Beekeeping: A Year in the Life of an Apiary, 3rd Edition – Keith Delaplane (2007)
2) The Beekeeper’s Handbook, 3rd Edition – Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile (2006)
3) First Lessons in Beekeeping – Keith Delaplane (2007)
4) Backyard Beekeeping, Weeks Ringle – Kim Flottum (2005)
5) Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping – Dewey Caron (2000)

Periodicals
1) American Bee Journal
2) Bee Culture

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Advanced Beekeeper Reading List (in addition to those listed for the Apprentice Level Examination)
Tthe following materials are suggesting reading for preparation for the Advanced Beekeeper examinations:

Books
1) The Hive and the Honey Bee – Dadant and Sons, Inc. (1992)
2) ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture – A.I. Root, (2007)
3) Honey Bee Pests, Predators, and Diseases, 3rd Edition – A.I. Root (Morse and Flottum, eds.) (1998)
4) The Biology of the Honey Bee – Mark Winston (1991)
5) Crop Pollination by Bees – Keith Delaplane and Daniel Mayer (2000)

Websites
1) All “honey bee” entries (search for “honey bee”) at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
2) Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory website: UFhoneybee.com
3) Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – Division of Plan Industry, Apiary Section Website: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/plantinsp/apiary/apiary.html

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