COURSE
The Certificate III in Beekeeping is a nationally accredited qualification with a vocational outcome in beekeeping.
This qualification is aimed at commercial beekeepers, or beekeepers with multiple hives. There are 18 units of competency in total, which are delivered through a combination of face-to-face training, online training, and workplace assessment. Units include managing swarms, transporting hives, requeening a colony, and WHS processes.
The qualification consists of 18 units of competency in total, delivered through a combination of face-to-face training, online training and workplace assessment (for trainees only). You can expect to attend 14-16 days of face-to-face training held in 4-day blocks here at Tocal College in Paterson, NSW.
| Unit of Competency | Elective Units |
| Work, health, & safety | Beekeeping |
| AHCWHS301 – Contribute to work health and safety processes | AHCBEK408 – Provide bee pollination services |
| Beekeeping | AHCBEK309 – Trap and store pollen |
| AHCBEK205 – Prepare and use a bee smoker | AHCBEK409 – Rear queen bees |
| AHCBEK203 – Open and reassemble a beehive | AHCPCM204 – Recognise plants |
| AHCBEK206 – Assemble and maintain beekeeping components | Work |
| AHCBEK313 – Manage pests and disease within a honey bee colony | FBPOPR2066 – Apply sampling procedures |
| AHCBEK405 – Select and establish an apiary site | AHCBIO305 – Apply biosecurity measures |
| AHCBEK302 – Manipulate honey bee brood | Machinery operation and maintenance |
| AHCBEK303 – Re-queen a honey bee colony | TLILIC0003 – Licence to operate a forklift truck |
| AHCBEK304 – Remove a honey crop from a hive | AHCMOM213 – Operate and maintain chainsaws |
| AHCBEK312 – Extract honey | Five (5) elective units of competency must be completed to obtain the full qualification. These Units of competency are offered through a mix of face-to-face and online delivery. Both delivery methods include practical components with hands on exercises involving bee hives and a range of beekeeping equipment. Alternatively, several units can be completed through workplace assessment, where NSW DPI trainers travel to the beekeepers’ workplace to assess skills corresponding to specific units. Two elective units can be imported from other relevant qualifications providing they are appropriate to beekeeping industry operations and are at a level II, III or IV. For example, some candidates have received credit transfer from their current First Aid qualifications and Chemical Certificates. This needs to be discussed with the course coordinator prior to Tocal College generating a quote for your Certificate III in Beekeeping. |
| AHCBEK311 – Transport bee hives by road to new apiary site | |
| AHCBEK301 – Manage honey bee swarms | |
| Work | |
| AHCWRK306 – Comply with industry quality assurance requirements | |
| Total core units – 13 | Total Units Required for Qualification = 18 |
In-person
Training sessions held at a physical location, providing direct interaction between trainers and participants.
NSW Department of Primary Industries
18 modules over 14-16 days
NSW
60 mins
National