New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4)
Farming
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Gain the skills to operate as a Leading Hand in a commercial bee product producer or to run your own commercial apiculture operation. Suitable for single source, comb, or medical-grade mānuka honey producers, pollination service providers or self-marketing producers.
Blended study
This is a mix of online learning & face-to-face sessions
Available in 3 locations
It will take a total of 33 weeks
This course requires 15 hours per week
Core skills this course teaches
Understand bee-plant relationships and beehive nutrition
Explain the relationship between flowering plants and bees influenced by weather, describe arable and crop pollination roles, and develop beehive nutritional management plans.
Recognize and manage bee diseases and pests
Identify exotic bee diseases and pests, understand management practices and biosecurity implications, and develop and monitor disease management plans.
Implement seasonal beehive and food safety management
Develop and apply seasonal beehive management plans and monitor food safety procedures at critical control points in apiculture operations.
What You're Signing Up For
This programme enables learners to operate independently as beekeepers, managing viable apiculture businesses including single source and medical-grade mānuka honey production, pollination services, and self-marketing. Delivered primarily online with block courses at multiple New Zealand locations, the qualification includes comprehensive practical and theoretical training covering bee diseases, nutritional management, seasonal operations, product production, and business strategy. Successful completion alongside Level 3 forms an endorsed apprenticeship scheme by Apiculture NZ.
Course Content
- Plants, Pollination and Nutrition: Relationships between bees and flowering plants, weather influence on flowering and honey flows, nutritional requirements and feed types, beehive nutritional management plans.
- Bee Diseases and Management Plan: Identification and management of bee diseases, pests, exotic incursions, and development of disease management plans.
- Seasonal Management and Food Safety: Creating and implementing seasonal beehive management plans including food safety procedures.
- Beehive Product Production and Business Strategy: Honey and beehive product properties, production processes, contamination control, business analysis and strategy development.
What you need to know first
40 credits at NCEA Level 1 including 10 Literacy credits and 10 Numeracy credits
New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) or equivalent industry skills
Physically capable to meet programme demands
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Apiculture
Agriculture
Beekeeping
Future employment opportunities might be
Leading Hand in commercial bee product production
Apiculture business owner
Pollination service provider
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.