Institute of Technology or Polytechnic

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
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New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Queen Bee Rearing) (Level 4)

This course is available

On-Campus

Level of Study

Certificate

Duration

33 weeks

Next start date

Expected Sep 2026

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Summary

Bee a part of supporting the Apiculture industry by gaining the skills and knowledge to rear queen bees.

You will learn to rear queen bees for a commercial operation or to operate a queen-rearing operation of your own. Graduates will be able to work independently, could supervise others and will be well-received by industry.

Designed to enable you to rear queen bees for a commercial operation, or so you may operate your own queen-rearing business, this programme will teach you to work independently and how to supervise others.

Apiculture is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing industries, and graduates of this programme will be well-received by industry as it will benefit from having a supply of quality queen bees to ensure genetic diversification to establish and restock existing and new hives.

In addition, the wider community and Aotearoa will benefit from having a supply of queen bees to enable new or restocked hives to operate effectively and contribute to the supply of bees for pollination, which ensures the ongoing collection of food sources.

NMIT is the only tertiary provider of this industry-recognised training pathway in Te Tauihu, the Top of the South Island.

Programme delivery

  • Online learning - one evening class per fortnight (7 - 9 pm)
  • Practical weekend workshops once per month (9 am - 5 pm, Sat and Sun)
  • Followed by a practical 10 days later on a Tues evening (5.30 pm - 7.30 pm)

Your workload

As a part-time student, you should aim to undertake around 15-hours of study per week throughout the programme. This will include workshops, online learning and discussions, reading textbooks, doing assessments, doing practical work in your own time and completing an apiary diary.

Entry criteria

New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3) or equivalent industry skills and knowledge.

You will be expected to complete an industry-approved American Foulbrood recognition and destruction course before you graduate from this programme.

If English is not your first language, you must provide:

  • New Zealand University Entrance OR
  • Overall Academic IELTS 5.5 with no individual band score lower than 5.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS ([see here for NZQA proficiency table](https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/rules-fees-policies/nzqa-rules/approval-recognition-and-accreditation/#::text=2022%20are%20revoked.-,Appendix%201%3A%20Internationally%20Recognised%20English%20Proficiency%20Outcomes%20for%20International%20Students,-Rule%2022.2(d#::text=2022%20are%20revoked.-,Appendix%201%3A%20Internationally%20Recognised%20English%20Proficiency%20Outcomes%20for%20International%20Students,-Rule%2022.2(d "Goes to NZQA") and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

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