Apprentice

The certified Apprentice level requires beekeepers to have a minimum of knowledge and experience of beekeeping. Ten lessons are provided each applicant to the program and the student is tested from the lesson material. The student has the opportunity to take an open book exam following the instruction or they may elect to take the exam without the instruction. Click here for application form.

The exam is free if done at a local association, or $5 if by mail. WSBA provides a self addressed and stamped envelope for the test to be returned. To apply for the exam or to purchase the Apprentice booklet, contact Van Sherod at apprentice@wasba.org or 206-284-1520.

Testing by correspondence is as follows:

1. Apprentice tests are mailed after receiving the testing fee and application form.
2. The assigned Committee member receives the completed tests and grades the results.
3. If the result is a passing score, then the test result (and a brochure describing the journeyman program) are sent to the participant. An Apprentice Certificate will be awarded and the beekeeper is included in the Master Beekeeper Certification Program database as a Certified Apprentice Beekeeper. You can view the brochure here in PDF format.
4. The certificate is sent as indicated on the application form.
5. If test sections did not receive a passing score, the test section is returned to the participant for re-test and the process is repeated (within reason).

The Journeyman level requires the student to have more knowledge and skills in beekeeping.

It also requires

• the applicant to be a member of a local and/or state beekeepers association
• and a minimum of two years experience
• A field test at the applicant's apiary
• Knowledge of colony management, public relations, state and federal laws, honey judging, sanitation, economics
• obtaining 30 public service points
• Students are expected to acquire information from beekeeping books and journals and other sources.
• A series of ten exams are required covering each section of the course.

Journeyman testing will be in person, proctored by a Committee member.

To apply for testing for Journeyman or for more information about the Journeyman syllabus, contact Louis Matej at journeyman@wasba.org or 253-921-5612.

Louis will make sure the Committee member closest to the participant is put in contact with the person interested in the Journeyman test. It is then up to the Committee person to proctor the test.

The Master level requires:

• six years of accumulated experience,
• Four research papers and one presentation.
• Public service points (see Master Syllabus for details).
• Membership in Washington State Beekeepers Association.  
•  See the Master Syllabus for further information.

You may contact you local Beekeeping Association for a Master Syllabus or contact Louis Matej at master@wasba.org or 253-921-5612.