New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Queen Bee Rearing) (Level 4)

This programme will teach you how to rear queen bees for a commercial bee product producer or to operate your own queen-rearing operation. You’ll be able to work independently or supervise others.

Domestic

Duration
33 Weeks Part-time
Level
4
Credits
60
Fees
$3,119*
*Approximate full qualification tuition fee
Delivery
Online with block course(s)
Location
Multi-location
Intakes
August
September

International

Duration
33 Weeks Part-time
Level
4
Credits
60
Fees
$10,910*
*Approximate full qualification tuition fee
Delivery
Online with block course(s)
Location
Multi-location
Intakes
August
September

What You Study

Block course locations

  • Christchurch (National Trades Academy)
  • Cromwell, Central Otago (Bannockburn Road)
  • Dunedin (Momona Hall)
  • Hamilton (Fraser High School)
  • New Plymouth, Taranaki (Coastal Taranaki School, Okato)
  • Ōrewa, North Auckland (Hibiscus Coast Community House)
  • Tauranga (Whataroa Road)

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 

  • Life cycle and reproductive anatomy of the queen and drone
  • Role of a drone congregation area, and the role of pheromones in mating
  • Describe the three queen rearing impulses in terms of the way in which they are created in a beehive
  • Describe how genetic characteristics can be measured from characteristics of bees and within the hive
  • Describe how a bee breeding programme operates to improve breeding stock
  • Describe the role of instrumental insemination in bee breeding
  • Assess beehives from an apiary for breeder queens with desirable characteristics.

Learning outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe the life cycle, anatomy and reproduction processes of queen and drone bees.
  2. Describe bee genetics in relation to bee breeding.
  3. Explain the importance of bee breeding programmes for stock improvement.
  4. Identify and assess characteristics for breeder queen bees for selection.
 15 

Beehive Management for Queen Bee Rearing

Learn how to prepare for and to rear queen bees. 

Indicative content 

  • Plan the timing and timeframes for completion of queen bee rearing activities to meet objectives, client needs, and size of operation
  • Manipulate cell builder beehive to receive grafted larvae
  • Graft larvae and assess the success rate of the grafting exercise, and monitor feed as required
  • Introduce queen bee cells into queen-less beehives or nucleus beehives
  • Describe the nutritional requirements of the queen bee and the hive
  • Carry out the marking and caging process for a queen bee.

Learning outcomes 

At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Prepare a queen bee rearing management plan to meet seasonal requirements
  2. Prepare queen bee rearing equipment to enable the grafting of queen bees
  3. Graft queen bees
  4. Describe beehive manipulations and the nutritional requirements of queen bees
  5. Carry out bee hive manipulations for queen bee rearing. 
 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 

  • Transfer frames of capped brood, honey, pollen and bees into an empty nucleus box with a feeder
  • Introduce queen cell and monitor beehive until queen is mated
  • Conduct treatment of hives for varroa mite, including applying integrated pest management techniques
  • Assess beehives for ongoing disease presence and feed hives to maintain and improve hive health
  • Maintain disease compliance requirements
  • Research the current operation of the business
  • Develop an action plan for implementing a business strategy.

Learning outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Select and prepare equipment to produce a nucleus beehive.
  2. Produce a nucleus beehive and introduce a queen bee for mating.
  3. Implement a pest and disease management plan for queen bee rearing.
  4. Develop a business strategy for a queen bee rearing business.
  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

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

Full tuition
Standard
$3,119

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 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).  

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.

Get in touch

0800 762 786
International +64 3 477 3014
Email: info@op.ac.nz
https://www.op.ac.nz/programmes/nzqa/new-zealand-certificate-in-apiculture-queen-bee-rearing-level-4/