Overview
A concise introduction to the BeeEducated Practical Beekeeper Standard, who it is for and how the programme works.
Document being updatedBeeEducated Beekeeping Standards
Practical Beekeeper Standard
The Standard is organised around competencies. Each competency is supported by Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, range requirements and evidence expectations.
See all BeeEducated Beekeeping Standards, including those in development →
Competencies
All 16 competency areas
Select a competency to see its current Knowledge and Skills requirements and evidence expectations.
C1
Colony inspection, records and management decisions
Perform proportionate colony inspections, maintain accurate records, assess colony condition and health, analyse findings and colony history, and determine appropriate follow-up management, manipulation, monitoring or non-intervention.
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C2
Biosecurity
Apply effective and proportionate biosecurity practices at hive and apiary level throughout routine and higher-risk beekeeping activities to minimise avoidable transmission of pests and disease.
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C3
Seasonal colony management and overwintering
Manage colonies throughout their seasonal cycle, adapting space, resources, interventions and management objectives to colony condition and environmental circumstances.
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C4
Nutrition, feeding and stores management
Assess colony nutritional status and stores and make appropriate decisions concerning feeding and forage-related management while avoiding unnecessary or harmful intervention.
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C5
Swarm prevention, control and colony reproduction
Recognise swarm preparation and apply appropriate swarm prevention and control techniques according to colony condition and management objectives, including honey production and controlled increase.
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C6
Queen status, queen failure and colony recovery
Assess queen status and reproductive performance and respond appropriately to queenlessness, poor performance, unsuccessful mating, drone laying, laying workers and other queen-related colony problems.
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C7
Selective breeding, queen rearing and queen introduction
Assess colonies for useful and undesirable characteristics, identify suitable breeding candidates, perform appropriate queen-rearing techniques, produce spare mated queens and introduce queens successfully.
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C8
Varroa and parasitic mite management
Monitor, interpret and manage parasitic mite infestation using appropriate monitoring methods, interventions, authorised treatments where applicable and integrated pest management principles.
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C9
Adult bee and brood health
Assess adult bees and brood for signs of disease, disorder or abnormal development; interpret potential causes; investigate appropriately; take measures to control and prevent spread; and obtain specialist, laboratory or statutory assistance where required.
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C10
Establishing, increasing, uniting and moving colonies
Establish viable colonies and nucs, make controlled increase, unite colonies appropriately and move colonies or bees while managing biological, practical and biosecurity risks.
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C11
Honey production, harvesting and selling
Manage colonies for responsible honey production, assess when honey is suitable for harvest and carry out hygienic harvesting, extraction, settling or processing, storage, jarring and compliant labelling and selling.
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C12
Hive, comb and equipment management
Select, use, inspect, maintain, clean, store and replace hive equipment and comb appropriately, including planned comb replacement and manipulation in response to colony health, disease risk, brood-nest condition and management objectives.
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C13
Apiary management and safe working
Establish and operate within an apiary in a manner that supports effective colony management while protecting the beekeeper, other people, animals and the surrounding environment.
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C14
Exotic pests, invasive species and statutory responsibilities
Monitor for invasive species, exotic pests, parasites and statutory bee-health threats, recognise suspicious findings and comply with relevant reporting, inspection, monitoring and control arrangements.
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C15
Reflective, responsible and evidence-led beekeeping practice
Evaluate management outcomes, learn from experience, identify limits of competence and continually adapt practice in response to evidence, colony circumstances and developing knowledge.
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C16
Regulatory, traceability and best-practice record keeping
Maintain accurate, current and traceable records relating to government bee-health registration, apiaries, colony numbers, feeding, treatments, acquisition, movement and sale of bees, and statutory bee-health activity, in accordance with current legal requirements and recognised best practice.
View C16 →Documents
Three documents. One clear Standard.
Overview, The Standard and How this is assessed are the only public Standard documents in this section and can be replaced from WordPress admin whenever a newer version is ready.
The Standard
The competencies and Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, including the required range and evidence expectations.
Document being updatedHow this is assessed
How authentic evidence, VARCS, assessor judgement, quality assurance, the gateway and End Point Assessment work.
Document being updated