Georgia Master Beekeeper Program

The Georgia Master Beekeeper Program started in 2002 and has become well respected in the beekeeping community. The program is held annually at the Georgia Beekeeping Institute at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia.

There are 4 steps in the program, which takes 5 or more years to complete.

Certified Beekeeper:

Individual should be familiar with the basic skills and knowledge necessary for the beginning hobby beekeeper.

Journeyman Beekeeper:

Individual should be functioning as a competent hobby beekeeper with the skills and knowledge for moving into sideline beekeeping if desired.

Master Beekeeper:

Individual should be able to function as a sideline or commercial beekeeper. Can also demonstrate knowledge in such areas as bee botany, business aspects of beekeeping, honey and bee-related judging, bee behavior and other specialty areas.

Master Craftsman Beekeeper:

Individual should have general knowledge of all relevant areas of beekeeping as well as be a specialist in one or more selected topics. Level is comparable to a graduate program in apiculture at a major U.S. university.

You can learn more about the Georgia Master Beekeeper Program by visiting the UGA Honey Bee Lab's Web Site. There is a list of requirements and public service credits that must be met prior to receiving any certification. In addition lecture notes are available on the site as well. All applicants are highly encouraged to study these notes prior to attending the Beekeeping Institute.