Honeybee Management Syllabus: Applicable From January 2014

MODULE 1
HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT
SYLLABUS
Applicable from January 2014
Aims
The Modules are designed to give beekeepers who have passed the Basic Assessment the opportunity to study
the craft of apiculture further with the goals of obtaining an Intermediate Theory Certificate and an Advanced
Theory Certificate.
Conditions of Entry
The Candidate shall have passed the BBKA Basic Assessment or an equivalent Examination approved by the
Board. The date when this certificate was obtained shall be entered on the application form.
The Candidate shall have kept and managed bees for at least 2 seasons. A statement to this effect, on the
application form shall be signed by someone who is familiar with the Candidate's beekeeping.
Modules can be taken in any order with the exception of Module 8, which shall be the last module to be taken.
A completed Application Form and fee shall have been received by the Local Examination Secretary at least six
weeks before the date of the Assessment and this shall be received by the Secretary to the Board at least five
weeks before the date of the Assessment.
A maximum of FOUR modules can be taken at any one session
Award of Certificates
A BBKA Certificate will be awarded for each module passed and the pass mark will be 60% for all modules.
(Credit 70%, Distinction 80%)
In addition:
 The BBKA Intermediate Theory Certificate will be awarded when modules 1, 2, 3 and one other from 5, 6
or 7 have been passed.
 The BBKA Advanced Theory Certificate will be awarded when all modules been passed.
 The BBKA Master Beekeeper Certificate will be awarded to a beekeeper who has obtained a BBKA Advanced
Theory Certificate and the BBKA Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry.
 In order to qualify for either a BBKA Intermediate or BBKA Advanced Theory Certificate the necessary modules
must be passed in a time period not exceeding 12 years.
The Examination
Each module examined consists of a written paper. There will be three sections to the paper; Section A requires
one or two word answers, Section B (4 questions from a choice of 5) requires short answers in note form, Section
C (1 question from a choice of 2) requires longer essay style answers. Candidates will be expected to use
scientific nomenclature where applicable.
The Examiners may include in any Module examination any topic from the Basic Assessment syllabus.
Candidates’ papers will be retained by the Examinations Board. The candidate is able to request a résumé of
their paper on payment of the appropriate fee.
The British Beekeepers Association Reg. Charity No. 212025

The National Beekeeping Centre, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, CV8 2LG
Tel: 02476 696 679 Fax: 02476 690 682 www.bbka.org.uk
MODULE 1
HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT
SYLLABUS
The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:-

1.1 the types of hives and frames used by beekeepers in the United Kingdom, including comparative
knowledge of the following hives, National, WBC, Smith, National Deep, Commercial, Langstroth and
Dadant (details of exact frame sizes will not be required).
1.2 the principles which govern the design of hives and frames, including the concept of bee space, and the
main features of their construction;
1.3 the use of wax foundation;
1.4 methods of fitting frames with wired and unwired wax foundation;
1.5 ways of getting wax foundation fully drawn;
1.6 the methods of spacing frames in hives, the usual measurements used and the advantages and
disadvantages of varying the spacing;
1.7 the need for regular comb replacement in the hive and how this can be effectively carried out;
1.8 how to begin beekeeping, including the acquisition of bees, sources and type of personal and other
equipment, the approximate costs of equipment and bees and any precautions necessary;
1.9 the criteria used in the selection of apiaries;
1.10 the factors to be considered in the siting of colonies in home and in out-apiaries;
1.11 good apiary hygiene;
1.12 the variable temperament of bees in relation to management and public relations;
1.13 the actions which can be taken to avoid bad-tempered bees causing a nuisance to members of the public;
1.14 the year's work in the apiary and how this is dependent upon the annual colony cycle and the timing of local
bee forage;
1.15 the drifting of honeybees, the dangers caused and techniques used to minimise the problem;
1.16 the principles involved in feeding honeybees, including types of feeder, amounts of food, types of food and
timing of feeding;
1.17 the value of honey, pollen, water and propolis to the honeybee colony;
1.18 the prevention, detection and control of swarming;
1.19 the use, and types, of queen excluder used in the United Kingdom;
1.20 methods of swarm control used in small-scale beekeeping enterprises;
1.21 methods of marking and clipping queens
1.22 the methods of making nuclei and the uses to which nuclei can be put;
1.23 how swarms and nuclei can be turned into productive colonies;

MODULE 1
HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT
SYLLABUS
1.24 methods of taking and hiving a swarm of honeybees;

1.25 the methods used to unite colonies of honeybees, the underlying principles of these methods and any
precautions that should be taken;
1.26 robbing by honeybees and wasps and the associated dangers, including prevention and curtailment;
1.27 spring management of honeybee colonies;
1.28 management of honeybee colonies for honey production from oil seed rape and other specialist crops such
as heather;
1.29 summer management of honeybee colonies;
1.30 moving colonies and the difficulties and dangers involved;
1.31 different methods of 'clearing' bees from supers;
1.32 how colonies are prepared for the winter period and the principles underlying this preparation;
1.33 the effect of honeybee stings and recommended first aid treatment.
1.34 laying workers and drone laying queens and the conditions leading to their development;
1.35 the signs of queenlessness and a method of confirming the condition;

MODULE 1
HONEYBEE MANAGEMENT
SYLLABUS
Arrangements
The Assessment venue and the Invigilation are arranged by the Local Examination Secretary. Approval for these
arrangements shall be obtained from the Secretary to the Board at least five weeks before the date of the
Assessment.
Application to Enter
These should be made through the Local Examination Secretary of the County Beekeeping Association or directly
to the Secretary of the Board at the address given below. Applications are required at least six weeks before the
date on which the Assessment is to be taken. Available dates for the Assessments will be announced in the Bee
Press or may be obtained from the Board Secretary.
Application Form
Every application must be accompanied by a completed Application Form together with the Assessment Fee.
Cheques should be made payable to BBKA. The dates when any relevant certificates were obtained must be
entered on the Application Form. Certificates should not be sent.
Ensure that the Certificate of Qualification on the application form is completed. This is not necessary for re-sits.
Assessment Fees
The current fee for any Assessment may be obtained from the Secretary to the Board or the Local Examination
Secretary.
AUTHORITY
The above is issued by the BBKA Examinations Board and all communications in respect of the Assessments
should be addressed to:
The Secretary
BBKA Examinations Board
National Beekeeping Centre
Stoneleigh Park
KENILWORTH
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
published September 1995
revised April 1996
revised March 2001
major revision April 2004
revised April 2007
revised April 2009
major revision April 2010
revised April 2013


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MODULE 1

The British Beekeepers Association Reg. Charity No. 212025

The Candidate shall be able to give a detailed account of:-

The British Beekeepers Association Reg. Charity No. 212025

1.24 methods of taking and hiving a swarm of honeybees;

The British Beekeepers Association Reg. Charity No. 212025

The British Beekeepers Association Reg. Charity No. 212025

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