Beekeeping courses approved by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association
The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in association with the Ulster Beekeepers Association (UBKA) coordinates accredited Preliminary and Intermediate Beekeeping Courses, which are approved by the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association.
DAERA, through CAFRE, Greenmount Campus, is tasked with organising courses at various centres throughout Northern Ireland to meet this need for information and advice on the main aspects of Beekeeping.
The Preliminary Beekeepers' Course is a practical and informative course delivered over 10 evenings providing the necessary knowledge and skills to get established in beekeeping. It is applicable to anyone new to or interested in keeping bees who wants to learn more about the craft. The course is both theoretical and practical in nature.
The Intermediate Beekeeping Course builds significantly on the knowledge acquired on the Preliminary course and aims to improve the understanding a beekeeper has of both the practical and scientific aspects of beekeeping. This course is for applicants who have achieved the Federation of Irish Beekeepers Association (FIBKA) Preliminary Beekeeping Certificate. The course is delivered over 30 sessions (15 practical and 15 scientific sessions).
Approved Beekeeping Courses
Level 1 Introduction to Beekeeping and Level 3 Proficiency in Beekeeping are Open College Network Northern Ireland endorsed courses developed by Ulster Beekeepers’ Association in conjunction with CAFRE and OCN NI.
The Level 1 Introduction to Beekeeping course aims to give those interested in taking up beekeeping the basic knowledge and skills to get established and to care for their honeybees. The course is delivered in 7 x 2-hour sessions followed by 3 practical sessions in the local Association apiary. Further information can be found at Introduction to Beekeeping - Beekeepers | CAFRE.
The Level 3 Proficiency in Beekeeping course provides a pathway to more advanced learning, building upon the knowledge and experience gained in Level 1. The course is delivered in the classroom over 2 years, in 15 x 2-hour sessions each year, and covers the practical and theorical aspects of beekeeping. Further information can be found at Proficiency in Beekeeping - Beekeepers | CAFRE.