New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Queen Bee Rearing) (Level 4)
This programme will teach you how to rear queen bees for a commercial operation or to operate your own queen-rearing operation. You’ll be able to work independently or supervise others. Courses include Queen Bee Biology, Rearing and Breeding; Beehive Management for Queen Bee Rearing; and Prepare and Analyse Disease and Management plans.
Domestic
About the programme
Gain the skills and knowledge to rear queen bees.
This programme will enable you to rear queen bees for a commercial operation or to operate your own queen-rearing operation. Graduates will be able to work independently and could supervise others.
Apiculture is one of New Zealand's fastest growing industries and there is such high demand for this skill that it is listed on Immigration NZ's Immediate Skills Shortage List.
Graduates of this programme will be well-received by industry as it will benefit from having a supply of quality queen bees to ensure genetic diversification to establish and restock existing and new hives. In addition, the wider community and New Zealand as a whole will benefit from having a supply of queens bees to enable new or restocked hives to operate effectively, and contribute to the supply of bees for pollination which ensures the on-going supply of food sources.
Otago Polytechnic is the only tertiary provider of this industry-recognised training pathway in New Zealand.
International
About the programme
Gain the skills and knowledge to rear queen bees.
This programme will enable you to rear queen bees for a commercial operation or to operate your own queen-rearing operation. Graduates will be able to work independently and could supervise others.
Apiculture is one of New Zealand's fastest growing industries and there is such high demand for this skill that it is listed on Immigration NZ's Immediate Skills Shortage List.
Graduates of this programme will be well-received by industry as it will benefit from having a supply of quality queen bees to ensure genetic diversification to establish and restock existing and new hives. In addition, the wider community and New Zealand as a whole will benefit from having a supply of queens bees to enable new or restocked hives to operate effectively, and contribute to the supply of bees for pollination which ensures the on-going supply of food sources.
Otago Polytechnic is the only tertiary provider of this industry-recognised training pathway in New Zealand.
What You Study
Block course locations
- Christchurch (National Trades Academy)
- Cromwell, Central Otago (Bannockburn Road)
- Dunedin (Momona Hall)
- Gisborne (Eastwoodhill Arboretum)
- Greytown (Kuranui College)
- Hamilton (Fraser High School)
- New Plymouth, Taranaki (Coastal Taranaki School, Okato)
- Orewa, North Auckland (Hibiscus Coast Community House)
- Tauranga (Whataroa Road)
- Wakefield (Willowbank Heritage Centre)
- Whangarei (Maromaku School)
Courses
Course name | Course Description | Credits |
---|---|---|
Queen Bee Biology, Rearing and Breeding |
This course will enable you to describe the biology, rearing and breeding of queen bees. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
|
15 |
Beehive Management for Queen Bee Rearing |
Learn how to prepare for and to rear queen bees. Indicative content
Learning outcomes At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
|
15 |
Disease, Hive and Business Management |
Learn how to implement a disease management plan for queen rearing, set up nucleus hives for mating queen bees and to develop a business strategy for queen reading operation. 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) 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 textbooks, 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
- Followed by a practical 10 days later on a Tues evening (5.30pm-7.30pm)
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.
Want your existing skills recognised?
Students who have previously completed unit standards in Apiculture at Level 4 may be able to claim recognition of prior learning to exempt themselves from completing the equivalent learning on this programme provided these units appear on their student Record of Learning. Email central@op.ac.nz for more info.
Fees
Domestic fees
International fees
Study for free during 2022!
Domestic students can study this programme for free during 2022 due to the Government's Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF).
- You'll still need a laptop/device to study this programme online which isn't covered by this fund.
- You will still need to pay for any additional course-related costs (see more info in Additional Costs section).
TTAF will only cover your study during 2022. You may be eligible for some additional tuition fees cover under the Government's Fees Free scheme during 2023. See the Paying for your study section below for more info.
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 you 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).
Please note: Because this programme is part-time, students are not eligible for student loans or allowances to cover course-related or living costs.
Paying for your study
TTAF
The Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) is currently running but will end in December 2022. That means only your part-time study undertaken in 2022 will be covered. You may be able to get some financial help for your remaining study through the Fees Free scheme if you’re eligible (see info below).
Whilst this programme is free for you to study during 2022, the TTAF fund only covers tuition fees and compulsory costs such as student levies. It does not cover any additional costs or living costs.
You can pay for additional and living costs yourself if this is possible.
As a part-time learner, you're generally not eligible for student loans and allowances through Studylink but some help may be possible depending on your circumstances (for domestic students). Check the Studylink website for more information.
Fees Free
The Government is also running a funding scheme called Fees Free for domestic learners. This scheme normally pays for your first year of study if you’ve never been enrolled in tertiary study over 60 credits at Level 3 or higher in New Zealand. They have confirmed that TTAF does not impact on a learner’s entitlement to also access the Fees Free scheme.
So, you’ll be covered by TTAF for your first year of part-time study and, if you would have originally been eligible for Fees Free, you’ll be able to access that to cover some of your remaining part-time study.
You can check your Fees Free eligibility here >
Fees Free only covers your tuition fees. You would still need to pay for things like accommodation, living costs and placement transport costs.
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.
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. The great news is that this enables us to share skills and knowledge across a network of passionate education providers, to better help you succeed. Enrolling in programmes that start in 2023, means that 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.