Examinations and Assessments
The Examination Board is responsible for the examinations framework of the BBKA and for setting written and practical examinations in support of the BBKA's desire to educate and set standards for beekeepers. The Examination Board is also responsible for the management of the correspondence courses to help beekeepers to train for BBKA examinations and qualifications.

We are very pleased to announce that Adam Russell and Tom Walton, both from Old Wives Lees, near Canterbury have been awarded their BBKA Junior Certificates for proficiency in Apiculture. The picture above shows them being presented with their certificates at the Kent Show at Detling in July. The presentation was made by David Wood, Chairman of the KBKA Honey Show committee.
How to go About Taken Examinations
Find out what examinations (written) and assessments (practical) are available by looking at the Framework Diagram or reading the Abridged Prospectus(see downloads below).
Taking the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping

The starting point and entry requirement for all other examinations and assessments is the Basic Assessment in Beekeeping; this practical assessment tests the basic skills and knowledge of the craft. To take the Basic Assessment you should have managed at least one colony of bees for a minimum of 12 months. The Basic Assessment Syllabus looks daunting at first glance but closer inspection will show that it merely lists the basic things which all beekeepers should know. The assessment is completely practical/oral and takes place at the hive. To apply for the assessment, complete the Application Form and send it with the Fee to your Area Examination Secretary or if an individual member, direct to the National Beekeeping Centre at Stoneleigh. The Area Examination Secretary will organise the assessment and contact you with details.
Under 16’s can take the Junior Certificate before the Basic if they prefer.After the Basic Assessment
Following the Basic Assessment you can choose to take practical bee husbandry further by taking the General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry followed by the Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry.
Other Practical Assessments available are Microscopy Certificate and Show Judge(see downloads below).
Written examinations are in the form of 8 separate Modules(see
downloads below).
The closing dates for applications and examination
dates are given on the Fees List. To apply for
a Module Examination or Assessment, complete the Application
Form and send it with the fee to your Area Examination
Secretary(restricted file - BBKA members area download) or if an individual
member, direct to the National Beekeeping Centre at Stoneleigh.
Our Correspondence Courses are available to help prepare
for the Basic or for the Modules.
Framework for gaining BBKA Certificates
in Beekeeping
Download Syllabuses
All PDF files will open in a new window
Basic
Assessment
[35KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised October-09
Modules
1 Honeybee Management
[25KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
2 Honeybee Products and Forage
[22KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
3 Honeybee Diseases, Pests and Poisoning
[23KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
4 Intermediate Honeybee Biology
[19KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
5 Honeybee Biology
[21KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Download again revised
22nd-Sept-09
Modules
6 Honeybee Behaviour
[20KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
7 Selection and Breeding of Honeybees
[20KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Modules
8 Honeybee Management and History
[26KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
General
Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry
[56KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x]
Advanced
Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry
[68KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x]
Abridged
prospectus for bbka assessments currently on offer
[19KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised May-09
Junior
Examination
[19KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x]
Microscopy
Examination
[56KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x]
BBKA
Show Judge Assessment
[34KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised May-09
Download Application Form and Current Fees
Application
form for Assessments
[25KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Jan-10
Current
fees for the Assessments
[20KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised May-09
Area Exam Secretaries
See Members Area / Misc Downloads
Download Assessors Lists
See Members Area / Misc Downloads
Past Examination Papers
The BBKA have the 2004/5/6/7/8/9 past exam papers
available for purchase and download in PDF format from the Store
Downloads @ £1.00 per paper. More past exam papers will be
added to the system when available.
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 1 - Honeybee Management
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 2 - Honeybee Products and Forage
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 3 - Honeybee Pests, Diseases and Poisoning
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 4 - Intermediate Honeybee Biology
2005/6/7/8/9 Module 5 - Honeybee Biology
2005/6/7/8/9 Module 6 - Honeybee Behaviour
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 7 - Selection and Breeding of Honeybees
2004/5/6/7/8/9 Module 8 - Honeybee Management and History
Sample Mark Scheme
How the modules are set and marked.
Honey
Bee Products and Forage ![]()
[34KB PDF] A sample mark scheme for Module 2 -
Honey Bee Products and Forage.
Download BBKA Book List
The BBKA book list is a useful aid
to those studying for any of the BBKA exams.
Book
List Only
[35KB PDF Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
Examination Dates 2010
Examination Dates 2010 Module Examinations – 20th March 2010 (Applications
in by 10th February 2010)
Advanced Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry - 19th June 2010 (Applications
in by 28th February 2010)
General Certificate in Beekeeping Husbandry and Microscopy Date by arrangement
with the Examinations Board Secretary (Applications in by 28th February 2010)
Basic and Junior Certificate Date by arrangement with the Area Association
Examinations Secretary (Applications one month before assessment)
Correspondence Courses
Further study for the BBKA examinations can be very satisfying but for some people attending day or evening classes is not convenient. Correspondence courses are a form of distance learning enabling you to study beekeeping while working at your own pace. An arrangement will be made with a qualified tutor for you to send your written answers to set questions that are designed to take you through the syllabus.
These courses cover the Basic Certificate (12 question papers) as well as the eight modules (5 question papers each) that form the route to the Intermediate Theory Certificate and then on to the Senior Theory Certificate.
The fee for each module is £45.00. You may also need to buy or borrow a few books which may be available in your beekeeping branch or county library.
Download Correspondence Course Application Forms
Basic
Certificate
[21KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised Oct-08
Modular
[24KB PDF V1.3 Acrobat 4.x] Revised Sept-09
For further details contact the Correspondence Course Secretary Chris Utting
at ‘Codden', Golf Links Road, Westward Ho!, Bideford, North Devon,
EX39 1HH. Telephone: 01237 474 500 or E-mail: ![]()
The Examination Board for the National Diploma in Beekeeping (NDB) http://www.national-diploma-bees.org.uk
Articles for Download
There are a number of articles on the subject of taking the BBKA Basic Assessment Ivor Davis and Strategies for Exam Success Margaret Thomas previously published in BBKA News from our Education Information page.

Secretary: Val Francis
39, Beever Lane, Gawber, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
S75 2RP.
Tel: 01226 286341 or E-Mail: ![]()
Page updated:
07-Mar-2010