How to Become an EAS Certified Beekeeper

Certified beekeepers teach others how to handle hives.

The Eastern Apicultural Society offers a master beekeeper certification to qualified candidates. Qualified candidates include those who are highly knowledgeable about beekeeping and who are willing to share their knowledge with the public and fellow beekeepers. If you have at least five years of beekeeping experience, have read extensively on the subject and have taken a related college-level course, you may be eligible to take the test to become an EAS certified beekeeper.

Things You'll Need

• Application
• Letter of nomination
• Fee

Instructions

1. Fill out an EAS application to become a certified beekeeper, which is available for download on the EAS website (see References). Provide your contact information and a brief description of why you wish to become a certified beekeeper. Describe your beekeeping experience, any college-level courses you have successfully completed on the subject and list the most recent bee-related educational presentations you have given.

2. Ask an EAS-certified beekeeper that you personally know to submit a letter of nomination on your behalf. Another beekeeping specialist or a current president of a beekeeping organization may also submit a letter of nomination. Attach this to your application.

3. Mail your application and the letter of nomination to Brenda Kiessling, 10610 Hunters Valley Rd., Vienna, VA 22181. You must submit the application by the deadline of the annual EAS conference. While this deadline may change every year, the information is available on the EAS website.

4. Register for the annual conference if the EAS sends you a notice informing you that you may take the certification test. You may preregister for the conference on its website or register when you arrive at the conference. The locations and schedule changes every year.

5. Study the outline of the examination that the EAS will mail to you. There is also a list of sample questions and answers available on its website. Review the expectations of the examiners and the sample questions for the written, oral and laboratory portions of the exam.

6. Attend the annual conference, pay the $50 certification fee (as of the date of publication) and take the EAS written exam. Expect to write short essays and answer true or false and multiple choice questions. You must receive a passing score of at least 80 out of 100 total points. The EAS prefers concise, full sentences.

7. Take the laboratory exam at the conference. The examiner will show you various bee species and items used in beekeeping. Answer his questions regarding each item he shows you. For example, the examiner may ask you to judge several specimens of honey and comb honey, explain how to use beekeeping equipment, and identify common bee diseases.

8. Take the oral exam. The three examiners will judge you on the accuracy of your answers and your ability to present the information coherently. The members of the EAS expect that certified master beekeepers become de facto representatives of the trade of apiculture. They expect that you can competently answer questions from concerned neighbors, fellow beekeepers, the media and town officials. They may ask you to explain bee diseases or discuss how you would handle Africanized honey bees. Score at least an 80 percent out of 100 to pass this portion of the exam.

References

• EAS Application for Master Beekeepers Certification Program
• EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program
• EAS 2011
• EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program Study Guide for Written Exam
• EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program, Laboratory Examination
• EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program, Oral Exam Protocol

Resources

• EAS Master Beekeepers Certification Program, Reference List