BC Beekeeping Instructors Preparation: Course 1 in the BCHPA Beekeeping Instructors Programme
This comprehensive course combines two foundational beekeeping courses to prepare aspiring instructors with the essential knowledge and skills needed to lead beekeeping courses effectively. This is a prerequisite to the in-person course and exam offered by the BC Honey Producers’ Association required for becoming a Certified Instructor of Introductory Beekeeping in British Columbia.
Explore the life cycle of honey bees, their anatomy, basic physiology, behavior, and ecological importance. This course delves into the critical role bees play in agroecosystems and the environment, emphasizing their economic significance while also touching on the foundational principles of beekeeping, including management techniques and equipment usage. Additionally, this course addresses the most pressing health challenges faced by honey bees including notorious pests and diseases such as Varroa destructor, American foulbrood, and European foulbrood. The curriculum includes an overview of the life cycles of these pathogens, their impacts on honey bee colonies, and effective management and treatment strategies.
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Identify the anatomical structures and roles of workers, drones, and queens, and describe the life cycles and behaviors of individual honey bees and their colonies.
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Recognize the characteristics of honey bee social organization, the roles of each caste, and their ecological and economic contributions.
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Identify beekeeping equipment, explain their functions, and describe key seasonal activities in the beekeeping calendar, such as spring management, honey production, and overwintering.
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Identify common diseases affecting honey bee brood and adults, recognize signs of infestation, and understand the life cycles of major pests and pathogens.
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List and apply effective management practices to prevent or treat diseases and pests while addressing environmental and management factors contributing to outbreaks.
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Access reliable resources to stay informed on disease and pest issues, and identify reportable diseases to meet regulatory requirements.
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Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of beekeeping fundamentals, including honey bee biology and colony dynamics to establish a strong foundation for effectively transferring knowledge to aspiring beekeepers.
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Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of diseases and pests that affect honey bees to establish a strong foundation for effectively transferring knowledge to aspiring beekeepers.
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Qualify for the in-person exam offered by the British Columbia Honey Producers' Association to become a certified beekeeping instructor. Email info@ttp-bchpa.ca for more information.
What’s inside
Module 1
An introduction to honey bee biology and apiculture.
Module 2
What is a honey bee (Apis mellifera).
Module 3
The structure of a honey bee colony and their members.
Module 4
The life inside a honey bee colony.
Module 5
Swarming.
Module 6
How honey bees communicate.
Module 7
Getting started in beekeeping.
Module 8
The mindful beekeeper: considering wellbeing, native bees, forage, and environment.
Module 9
Basic concepts.
Module 10
The multiple stressors that honey bees are exposed to.
Module 11
Brood diseases.
Module 12
Adult diseases.
Module 13
Pests and predators.
Glossary
Definitions of words used in the science and practice of beekeeping.
Assessment
Knowledge will be assessed through an exam at the end that covers the course content. Participants are required to complete 100% of the course material, and receive a mark of 70% on the final exam to pass the course. Upon completion, a certificate will be issued so you can continue on to the BCHPA’s Certified Instructors Course.
Free Sample Course
Not sure if this course is for you? Try out the content for free! We've created a Free Sampler course so you can see how the content is delivered and have confidence this course will work for you.
Enrolment
Tuition is a one-time fee of $300, granting you access to all course materials, interactive class discussion forums, and support from the TTP Lead, Nuria Morfin, along with technical assistance from our IT department.
Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals interested in exploring the world of beekeeping, with no prerequisites necessary. Our self-paced course offers flexibility, allowing you to tailor your learning experience to your schedule. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within four month. However, students have twelve months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum, a time frame designed to accommodate your pace and commitments.
By investing in this course, you're not just enhancing your skills; you're contributing directly to the advancement of beekeeping in BC. All proceeds generated from our courses are reinvested into the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program, supporting further research initiatives aimed at supporting beekeepers across BC.
How to Register
To register, follow the enrolment link below. It will take you to our online learning platform, Moodle. Here you will create an account. An email asking you to confirm your information will be sent to the address you provided. Look for a message from Ken Monroe (via tech@ttp-bchpa.ca). If the message does not arrive to your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. Click the link to validate your account.
From your account you can select the course you wish to enrol in. You will be directed to a payment link showing ‘Pay via Paypal’ where you can pay using either Paypal or a credit card if you do not have a Paypal account. After payment has been approved your course will show up in 'My Courses’ on your dashboard.
Contact us at info@ttp-bchpa.ca if you have questions
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✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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The tuition is $300. The money goes directly to the BC Honey Producers’ Association and Technology Transfer Program for investment in further courses and programs to support honey producers in BC.
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The course is self-paced. Based on our estimations, dedicating 2-3 hours per week typically leads to completion within four months. However, students have twelve months from the date of enrolment to complete the curriculum
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Enrolment is open year-round to all individuals, so you can enrol anytime! The course is self-paced with a time frame of four months to complete the curriculum once you enrol.
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We have created a Free Sampler course that allows you to see how the content is delivered so you can know if this learning is right for you. Try it now
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No prerequisites or prior education is required. However, if you are planning on continuing to Step 2 in the BCHPA Beekeeping Instructors Programme this course plus further experience is required. Find out more here
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Yes, our TTP Lead, Nuria will be available to answer questions about course content. And if you are having technical problems you can email Ken at learningsupport@ttp-bchpa.ca. There are also open class forums to discuss with other students
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Yes, students are required to complete 100% of the course material and there is an final exam at the end of the course. A grade of 70% on the exam is required to to pass the course. A certificate will be issued as proof, so you can continue to Step 2 with the BCHPA’s Beekeeping Instructors Programme.