Apprentice Level
The Apprentice Beekeeper Level is the starting point for every beekeeper in the Texas Master Beekeeping Program, and it’s designed to provide a solid foundation in beekeeping. The goal at this stage is to help beekeepers gain a strong understanding of the basics, regardless of prior experience. The Apprentice level isn’t just about learning—it’s about preparing you for long-term success as a beekeeper.
By completing the Apprentice-level, you will develop essential knowledge in honey bee biology, colony management, and varroa management. The hands-on experience gained during your first year keeping bees will reinforce these skills, helping you become more confident and experienced in managing your own colonies.
The starting point of the Apprentice Level Program is the 10-week Apprentice Level Course. This course will properly prepare you for the Texas Master Beekeeper Program’s Apprentice Level Test, includes the cost of the in-person exam, and is a requirement of the program.
Apprentice Requirements
While no prior experience is required to enter the Apprentice level coursework, beekeepers must complete at least on beekeeping year (Minimum May-August) of hands-on experience keeping bees before they can take the exam. To achieve the rank of Apprentice Beekeeper in the TMBP, you will need to pass an in-person practical exam, which includes an in-hive portion, as well as an in-person written exam with a score of 70% or higher in both. Check upcoming events page to find upcoming testing dates or reach out to us at tmbp@ag.tamu.edu for more information or to request a testing event for a group.
Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive a certificate, name tag, TMBP patch, TMBP pin, and Apprentice level rocker patch.
1. Register to take the 10-Week Apprentice Level Course ($75)
Candidates must take the Apprentice Level 10-Week Course in order to test for the Apprentice Level in-person exam in the Texas Master Beekeeping Program. This course properly prepares candidates to take the exam and the cost of the exam is included in the cost of the course. Click here to register for the 10-Week Apprentice Level Course
2. Texas Apiary Inspection Service – Beekeeper Registration (Optional/Recommended)
We highly recommend candidates have a current Beekeeper Registration on-file with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service OR be a registered beekeeper in their home state. Click here to register as a Texas beekeeper.
3. One Year of Beekeeping
Candidates must be managing and maintaining at least one colony of honey bees for at least one full bee year. A bee year is defined as a full annual cycle of beekeeping, encompassing all seasonal management activities, including spring buildup, summer foraging, and fall preparation (May-August). As a first year beekeeper, you may take the Apprentice Exam during our fall testing events in September through November. Our last testing event of the year each year, is at the Texas Beekeepers Association Convention, which normally occurs in November.
4. Recommended Reading List
We highly recommend The Beekeeper’s Handbook, Edition 4 or 5 – Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile (2011). In addition, the Honey Bee Biology and Beekeeping, 2nd Edition – Dewey Caron (2013) is another great resource. The Texas Master Beekeeper Handbook chapters are currently available in digital format as part of the 10-week courses, sometime in 2026 we will have hardcopies of the entire handbook available for purchase. This is the primary resource for the program; other books on the recommended reading list are not required to be successful in the program, but just expand on the knowledge that you will learn as part of this program.
We also recommend subscribing to these periodicals: Texas Beekeepers Association Journal, American Bee Journal, and Bee Culture.
5. In Person Written and Practical Exam (Free with Apprentice 10-Week Course)
Written Exam – Candidates must score a 70% or higher on a written examination. The written test questions are from the 10-week apprentice level course materials: to include virtual class slides and lectures, Texas Master Beekeeper Handbook reading materials, and study guides.
Practical Exam – Candidates must score 70% or higher on a practical examination. The practical examination can include but is not limited to describing the physical parts of a beehive (common terms, not regional nomenclature); lighting and properly using a smoker; recognizing the various stages of brood, different castes of bees, and finding or at least describing the queen; differentiating between brood, pollen, and capped honey; recognizing propolis and describing its functions; describing the layout of a brood nest (placement of honey, pollen, and brood), etc.
