New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Queen Bee Rearing) (Level 4)

Farming

A course by

NMIT

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


This course starts anytime

NZQA Level 4 Certification (60 Credits)

Study Level

Entry

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Blended study

This is a mix of online learning & face-to-face sessions

Available in 2 locations

It will take a total of 33 weeks

This course requires 15 hours per week

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Master queen and drone bee biology

Describe the life cycle, anatomy, and reproduction processes of queen and drone bees.

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Apply bee genetics and breeding concepts

Understand bee genetics in relation to bee breeding and explain the importance of breeding programmes for stock improvement.

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Identify and select breeder queen bees

Identify and assess characteristics of breeder queen bees for selection.

What You're Signing Up For

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)

What you need to know first

New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) or equivalent industry skills and knowledge

Completion of an industry-approved American Foulbrood recognition and destruction course before graduation

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What sort of industry will this job lead to

  • Apiculture

  • Agriculture

  • Animal Science

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Future employment opportunities might be

  • Queen bee rearer for commercial operations

  • Owner/operator of a queen-rearing business

  • Apiculture industry supervisor