New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3)
With this programme, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to manage your own beehives. You’ll meet commercial apiarists in your local area and have the chance to complete an American Foulbrood (AFB) disease recognition course. Topics include bee behaviour and life cycle, beekeeping equipment, harvesting and extracting honey, and suitable bee forage plants.
Domestic
How to apply
This programme is offered in partnership with Te Pūkenga Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). To apply, please click here.
You’ll be taken to the SIT Telford Campus programme information page. Please indicate the block course location you would like to attend while enrolling (see the block course locations in the What you study section on this webpage below).
Any questions?
If you have any problems during this process, please email donna.osborne@sit.ac.nz or call 0800 TELFORD (0800 835 3673).
About the programme
Want to learn more about beekeeping?
Apiculture is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing industries and there is international demand for mānuka honey and other beehive products.
During this programme, you will gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage your own beehives and be exposed to commercial apiarists in your local area. You will also have the opportunity to complete an American Foulbrood (AFB) disease recognition course as part of this certificate.
Graduates of this new programme will be able to work as an assistant beekeeper for commercial operators, as an independent beekeeper with a small number of beehives or even develop their own business. Alternatively, you will be able to progress into Level 4 Apiculture training (either as a leading hand or specialising in queen bee rearing).
How is this programme delivered
This programme is taught online with block courses in a range of locations throughout New Zealand (see locations in 'What you study' area below).
It is offered in partnership with Te Pūkenga Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) through their Zero Fees Scheme (so you pay no tuition fee). When you click on the apply link above, you’ll be taken to the SIT Telford Campus programme information page to enrol. Please indicate the block location you would like to attend while enrolling. If you have any problems during this process, please email donna.osborne@sit.ac.nz or call 0800 TELFORD (0800 835 3673).
What You Study
You will study
Each Apiculture tutor will develop their own course timetable and will supply you with the appropriate information. This information will include the dates of each workshop, their content and what will be assessed. There are no electives within this programme and all students undertake the following topics of learning:
- Bee behaviour and life cycle
- Suitable bee forage plants
- Beekeeping equipment
- Building a beehive
- How to feed bees
- Beehive products
- Manipulating beehives including swarm control, and dividing hives
- Re-queening beehives
- Harvesting and extracting honey
- Identifying and managing pests and diseases
- Shifting beehives
- Wintering beehives
At the end of this programme, you will have the knowledge and skills to manage your own beehives throughout a beekeeping season.
Block course locations
- Akaroa (Rue Jolie)
- Christchurch (National Trades Academy)
- Cromwell, Central Otago (Bannockburn Road)
- Dunedin (Momona Hall)
- Hamilton (Fraser High School)
- Hokitika (72 Tudor Street)
- Kaukapakapa (Auckland)
- Lincoln (Biological Husbandry Unit)
- New Plymouth, Taranaki (Coastal Taranaki School, Okato)
- Ōrewa, North Auckland (Hibiscus Coast Community House)
- Ōtaki, Kapiti Coast (Ōtaki College)
- Queenstown (Southern Lakes English College)
- Tauranga (Whataroa Road)
- Timaru (Timaru Boys High School)
- Wellington (Newtown School)
Further study options
Graduates of this programme can further their learning with:
Workload
Your workload
This programme will involve:
- two weekend days per month (from 9.00am-5.00pm each day) for eight months - see locations in What you study tab
- 12 assessments (a mixture of theory and practical)
- a one-day, industry-recognised bee disease workshop (short test to complete at end of workshop)
- reading three text books that we provide you with
- the completion of a logbook documenting field work undertaken
- 5-10 additional hours per week for extra reading (online and books), undertaking assessments and doing practical work on your own beehives/course hives.
Entry
Pathways into this programme
- New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2)
- On job training for those employed in the Apiculture industry
Entry requirements
- Open entry.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Fees
Zero Fees Scheme
The SIT Zero Fees Scheme means you get FREE tuition fees for this programme. Find out more about SIT’s Zero Fees scheme here.
This scheme only applies to your tuition fee and additional costs for materials are not covered.
Additional costs
Please see the SIT programme page for information about material costs.
Studylink
As this programme is part-time, students generally aren't eligible for student loans or allowances to cover additional material or living costs. But, some help may be possible depending on your circumstances. Check the Studylink website for more information. If you have any questions about student loans and allowances, please email our Studylink Advisor: Amanda.McAra@op.ac.nz
Application
How to apply
This programme is offered in partnership with Te Pūkenga Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) and you’ll apply through their website/application process.
To apply, please head to the How to apply statement at the top of this page and click where it tells you to apply.
You’ll be taken to the SIT Telford Campus programme information page to enrol. Please indicate the block location you would like to attend while enrolling (see the block course locations in the What you study section on this webpage).
Any questions?
If you have any problems during this process, please email donna.osborne@sit.ac.nz or call 0800 TELFORD (0800 835 3673).
We are part of Te Pūkenga
When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic, you will be enrolled with Te Pūkenga, the new national network of vocational and applied education in Aotearoa New Zealand. You will learn in the same way, in the same place, and with the same people, and you will graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification.
Disclaimer
While every effort is made to ensure that this sheet is accurate, Otago Polytechnic reserves the right to amend, alter or withdraw any of the contained information. The fees shown in this document are indicative only. Both domestic and international fees are subject to change and are dependent on the development and implementation of Government policies. Please note that additional fees may from time to time be required for external examination, NZQA fees and/or additional material fees.
