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Competency Guides

Detailed guides to the 15 competency areas in the BeeEducated Practical Beekeeper Standard.

Beekeeper holding a densely covered honey bee frame during a practical colony inspection.
C1

Colony inspection, records and management decisions

Inspect proportionately, record accurately, interpret colony condition and make reasoned management decisions.

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Beekeepers using protective clothing and gloves while inspecting an open hive.
C2

Biosecurity

Apply effective, proportionate biosecurity in routine beekeeping and higher-risk situations.

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Strong honey bee colony viewed from above with bees covering most frame top bars.
C3

Seasonal colony management and overwintering

Manage colonies through spring build-up, the active season, dearth, autumn preparation and winter.

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Open honey bee colony fitted with a feeder above the brood box.
C4

Nutrition, feeding and stores

Assess stores and nutritional status and make appropriate feeding decisions while managing associated risks.

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Honey bee swarm clustered on leafy branches.
C5

Swarm prevention, control and colony reproduction

Recognise swarm preparation, manage swarm risk and use appropriate control or increase methods.

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Honey bee brood frame showing a broad area of capped brood with open cells.
C6

Queen status and colony recovery

Assess queen status from colony evidence and choose proportionate recovery actions when queen performance or mating fails.

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White-marked honey bee queen surrounded by worker bees on comb.
C7

Selective breeding, queen rearing and introduction

Select suitable breeding material, rear queens at an appropriate scale and introduce queens successfully.

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Varroa monitoring board with mite drop and hive debris visible across the grid.
C8

Varroa and parasitic mite management

Monitor mite pressure, interpret results, choose proportionate controls and review outcomes.

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Close-up of honey bee comb showing open brood cells and capped brood.
C9

Adult and brood bee health

Recognise normal and abnormal signs, investigate possible causes and know when specialist, laboratory or statutory support is required.

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Large clusters of honey bees gathered on the outside of a wooden hive.
C10

Establishing, increasing, uniting and moving colonies

Create viable increases, establish colonies, unite safely and move bees with appropriate planning and biosecurity.

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Display of locally produced honey jars and beeswax products.
C11

Honey production, harvesting and selling

Assess crop readiness, harvest hygienically, process and store honey, and understand current requirements for selling.

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Honey bee brood frame showing a broad area of capped brood with open cells.
C12

Hive, comb and equipment management

Select, maintain, clean, store and replace equipment and comb according to colony health, disease risk and management objectives.

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Beekeepers using protective clothing and gloves while inspecting an open hive.
C13

Apiary management and safe working

Site and manage apiaries responsibly and work safely around bees, equipment, people, livestock and the public.

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Several Asian hornet specimens laid out for identification.
C14

Exotic pests, invasive species and statutory responsibilities

Maintain surveillance for important threats, recognise suspicious signs and respond appropriately to statutory or inspector-led requirements.

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Beekeeper holding a frame covered with honey bees during an apiary inspection.
C15

Reflective, responsible and evidence-led practice

Review outcomes, recognise limits, use reliable information and adapt decisions rather than following a rigid calendar.

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