For a Master Beekeeper, that realization and certification is both the end of a journey and the beginning of an adventure! Although there are now several ways to become a Master Beekeeper, the most recognized way is to test through the Eastern Apiculture Society (henceforth referred to as EAS) at their annual conference.

The Last Dragon Master: As Sho’nuff kept dunking Leroy’s head in the water and demanding Leroy confess to him that he’d been bested, the answer to the question “Who is the one and only master?” finally came to him...”I am!”.

Overlooking the fact that Master Beekeeper has to be one of the coolest titles a person can have, there is also a great deal of varied skill that goes into earning that esteemed honor. To earn your Master Beekeeper certification the applicant is tested in 4 sections: a “field test”, a written test, a laboratory test, and a verbal test.

But I haven’t been in a lab since Junior year Chem?!? Well, we’re going to have to learn, because a beekeeper needs to be familiar with bee biology and lifecycle as well as being able to identify viral, bacterial, and fungal illness. Eyes back on your microscopes students!

Acarapis woodi in bee trachea under light microscope. USDA ~ https://www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/baton-rouge-la/honeybeelab/docs/tracheal-mites-resistant-bees/

I was most surprised to learn that there were written and oral exams. Isn’t it enough that I just know how to play with bees and keep them alive??? Turns out it’s not. A Master Beekeeper has to be able to communicate effectively in person and in writing with the public about bee issues. Master Beekeepers can be called in to City Council Meetings, give presentations to classes, make statements to the news, and teach at local beekeeping clubs. It is extremely important that they communicate effectively to the public to create better understanding of honey bees.

And last but not least, the field exam. Think of this as the practical exam, the real hands on stuff (literally hands on. Gloves are discouraged). All aspects of a beekeepers work in at least one hive will be observed and graded, from the approach, to the tools they use, their understanding of hive residents (workers v drones? Healthy queen?), right down to how they wrap the hive back up. Candidates are asked about what they’ve observed and how they would proceed.

Man, this is a taller order than I had originally realized, but don’t get down on us...I have every confidence that with your help and my abundance of interest and enthusiasm that there’s no way we can fail! So let’s start now...what do YOU want to learn about? Leave a comment on the page and let’s start studying 🐝🐝🐝

~ Chris, The Boxing Beekeeper