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Requirements and General Information (TMBP Manual)
The Texas Master Beekeeper Program (TMBP) is a five-year (minimum) beekeeper training and certification program administered by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service in association with the Texas Beekeepers Association. One must already be a beekeeper to take the apprentice level exam. Entry into the program is attained by either meeting the apprentice requirements and passing the apprentice examinations on exam day or taking the 10 week Apprentice Level Course followed by the Apprentice Level Exam. There is no age limit for entry into the program although the examination may be too difficult for children under 12 years of age. All students must enter the program at the Apprentice Beekeeper level and no students are permitted to skip levels.
The program offers four levels of training and advancement: Apprentice Beekeeper, Advanced Beekeeper, Master Beekeeper, and Master Craftsman Beekeeper. All ranks take a minimum of one full year to complete with the exception of Master Craftsman Level, which takes two years. Opportunities for advancement in the program only occur on exam days, upon meeting all the requirements for the level of advancement which one is trying to obtain.
The TMBP trains and educates beekeepers on new techniques, equipment, potential problems, and tips and tricks to improve their beekeeping skills. Perhaps most importantly, it keeps beekeepers around the state and country connected. TMBP participants serve as bee ambassadors to beginning beekeepers, the public, and our community, by teaching and serving as an extension of the Texas Beekeeper Association (TBA).
Examinations are held twice a year, guaranteed and at other times and locations deemed necessary by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. All dates are announced on the TBA website (texasbeekeepers.org) and on the TMBP website (masterbeekeeper.tamu.edu). The two guaranteed examinations each year, one in the spring and the other in the fall are held in conjunction with the Brenham Bee School and the TBA Fall Convention. Testing will also occur at Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service Bee Specialist locations when necessary (Overton, Fort Worth, Houston, & San Antonio). Other testing locations will be decided by candidate need & demand.
The examination day consists of two parts: written & practical examinations. In the morning (8 am–12 pm) the Apprentice Exam is offered with both written & practical portions. The apprentice practical exam includes and in-hive portion in which proper PPE, smoker, and hive tool is required. The ability to light your smoker and identify various components inside the hive will be tested. At 12:30 the Advanced and Master Exam is offered with both written and practical portions for the Advanced Exam and written only for the Master Exam. Additionally, we hold award ceremonies to recognize all those individuals who have passed the exam at that season’s respective conference.
If at any point you wish to discontinue the program, please contact a board member directly. Please also be sure to keep us informed of your current mailing address, email address, and phone number in case we need to contact you during your enrollment.
Please see the attached document for information regarding the apprentice level and the more advanced levels of the Texas Master Beekeeper Program. Click here for more information.
If you have any questions about the program, or you would like to be added to the Texas Master Beekeeper Program e-mail listserv, please contact the Texas Apiary Inspection Service using the “Give Us a Buzz” icon on the Home page or e-mailing tais@tamu.edu directly.