New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4)
Gain the skills to operate as a Leading Hand in a commercial bee product producer or to run your own commercial operation. This programme is for people who are single source, comb, or medical-grade mānuka honey producers, pollination service providers or self-marketing producers.
Domestic
About the programme
Gain the skills and knowledge to manage a viable apiculture business.
This programme will enable you to operate as a Leading Hand in a commercial operation or to run your own commercial operation.
Offered through a unique blended delivery model, this qualification is for people who are single source, comb, or medical grade manuka honey producers, pollination service providers or self-marketing producers. You will gain the range of skills and knowledge needed to operate independently as beekeepers and will enjoy improved job performance.
By successfully achieving both the New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) and New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4), you will have completed the apprenticeship scheme endorsed by Apiculture NZ (the governing body for apiculture in New Zealand). Otago Polytechnic is the only polytechnic provider of this industry-recognised training pathway in New Zealand.
This programme is taught online with block courses in a range of locations throughout New Zealand (see locations in What you study area below).
What You Study
Block course locations
- Christchurch (National Trades Academy)
- Cromwell, Central Otago (Bannockburn Road)
- Dunedin (Momona Hall)
- Hamilton (Fraser High School)
- Ōrewa, North Auckland (Hibiscus Coast Community House)
Courses
Course name | Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Plants, Pollination and Nutrition |
Be introduced to the relationships between bees and flowering plants and the importance that plants play in providing food for bees. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
|
15 |
Bee Diseases and Management Plan |
Learn how to recognise bee diseases, pests and disorders and manage these throughout the beekeeping season. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
|
15 |
Seasonal Management and Food Safety |
Develop a seasonal management plan for the operation of apiaries of beehives and to implement this plan over a beekeeping season. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
|
15 |
Beehive Product Production and Business Strategy |
Understand the production and processing of a range of beehive products, and analyse an apiculture business to develop a business strategy for a new market. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
|
15 |
Further study options
Graduates of this programme can further their learning with the New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4) (Queen Bee Rearing) or other qualifications in small business management.
Workload
Your workload
As a part-time student you should aim to undertake around 15 hours of study per week throughout the programme. This will include workshops, online learning and discussions, reading text books, doing assessments, practical work in your own time and the completion of an apiary diary.
- Online learning - one evening class per fortnight (7.00pm-9.00pm)
- Practical weekend workshops once per month (9.00am-5.00pm, Sat and Sun) - see locations in What you study section
- Further practical work to be carried out in students' own time
Entry
Entry requirements
- New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) or equivalent industry skills and knowledge.
- You will be expected to complete an industry-approved American Foulbrood recognition and destruction course before you graduate from this programme.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 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
Domestic fees
Funding help
As this programme is part-time, students generally aren't eligible for student loans or allowances to cover additional 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
You may be able to access Fees Free funding for additional tuition fee support (conditions apply).
Additional costs
- You will need to purchase your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which includes a beekeeping suit (overalls and veil), gloves, smoker and hive tool (approximately $250).
- It is preferable that the students wear steel-capped boots or gumboots.
- You will need to have access to a computer and the internet. Course material will be made available online (through Moodle, our education online platform). Meetings, theory classes and assignments may be carried out online (via Microsoft Teams).
Tuition fees
The tuition fees shown above are approximate only. There may be a slight fee increase per year once Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) rules and guidelines are applied. These fees also don’t include additional costs or living costs.
Student Services Fee
For most students, your tuition fee shown above includes a Student Services Fee – also known as the Student Levy. This compulsory fee covers your access to the student services we offer. This cost is tailored depending on how you're studying.
Application
A change for 2023 enrolments
When you apply to study with Otago Polytechnic in 2023, 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.