Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 3)
1
Version
Qualification type
3
Level
Credits
050104
NZSCED
65
Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies > Agriculture >
Beekeeping
Primary ITO
Qualification developer
January 2018
Next review
21 November 2013
Approval date
Strategic purpose
statement
Certificate
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the apiculture industry with
individuals who have the skills and knowledge to work safely and productively
in a beekeeping environment and meet the necessary compliance
requirements.
This qualification is for people who are either intending to work or are working
in the apiculture industry on a small scale (as a lifestyle option or part-time
business opportunity) or people who are assisting in a commercial
beekeeping operation.
The learner will benefit by having a qualification which recognises skills and
knowledge valued by the apiculture industry, as well as having increased
skills and knowledge to enable improved job performance.
The community will benefit by having safe bee products, and a long term
sustainable honey bee population.
The learner will work under limited supervision in a commercial beekeeping
operation, or independently in a small scale operation.
Outcome Statement
Graduate
profile
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:

maintain, manipulate and operate beehives to produce quality products
and pollination services

assist to transport beehives and bee products, and establish hives in new
sites

carry out a beehive disease management plan.
Education
pathway
This qualification is an entry point for apiculture training and may lead onto
the New Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4) [Ref: 2224], or the New
Zealand Certificate in Apiculture (Level 4) (Queen Bee Rearing) [Ref: 2225].
Employment
pathway
A graduate of this certificate can work as an assistant beekeeper for a
commercial operator or as an independent beekeeper with a small number of
beehives.
Qualification Reference 2223
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Page 1 of 5
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by the Primary Industry Training
Organisation (Primary ITO) as the qualification developer and the industry
training organisation arranging training leading to the qualification under
section 5 of the Industry Training Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education organisation
accredited under section 250 of the Education Act 1989 to deliver an
approved programme leading to this qualification.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will display the
NZQF logo and may also include the name and/or logo of the awarding
education organisation.
Evidence
requirements for
managing
consistency
All education organisations offering programmes leading to the qualification
must engage with arrangements for managing consistency, including
covering actual and reasonable related costs.
Each education organisation is responsible for deciding what specific
evidence it will provide to demonstrate how well its graduates meet the
graduate profile outcomes of the qualification.
Evidence of the following must be provided:
• Student feedback on course delivery and qualification achievement, their
perception of the value of the training, and suggestions for improvements
• Feedback from employers on the level of skills, knowledge and behaviour
demonstrated by graduates of the qualification
• Evidence of effective internal quality assurance systems
• Portfolios of work and/or assessment samplesdemonstrating the range of
student performance within a programme
TEOs can also provide any other relevant evidence that supports the
consistency review.
Credit transfer and
recognition of prior
learning
arrangements
Education organisations must have policies and procedures in place for
managing credit transfer, and assessing recognition of prior learning and
recognition of current competency. These policies and procedures, and
information about associated fees, must be available to the candidate prior
to enrolment.
To facilitate credit transfer, education organisations must clearly
demonstrate the equivalency or comparability between each of the
outcomes in the graduate profile, and the assessment components of their
programmes.
Minimum standard of
achievement and
standards for grade
endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of the
qualification will be the achievement of all graduate outcomes in the
graduate profile through successful completion of an NZQA approved
programme.
Qualification Reference 2223
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Page 2 of 5
Entry requirements
(including
prerequisites to meet
regulatory body or
legislative
requirements)
There are no mandatory prerequisites to meet regulatory body, or legislative
requirements for this qualification.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for
programme structure
None.
Conditions for
programme context
It is expected that learners will obtain work experience in a practical
beekeeping environment and be assessed throughout a beekeeping season
to achieve this qualification.
Other conditions
Graduates are encouraged to have attended an industry approved American
Foulbrood Recognition and Destruction course.
All programmes must be consistent with relevant compliance requirements
as follows:

local body by-laws – for example: distance to dwelling; density of hives

food safety legislation – for example: honey extractions; keeping food
free of contaminants

declarations – for example: harvesting details; registered beekeeper
sign off

Biosecurity National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan Order
1998

records – including hive locations, treatment records, hive identification.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
1
Programmes should include the following topics:
Maintain, manipulate
and operate beehives to
produce quality
products and pollination
services
Level
3
Credits 35

apiculture equipment

procedures for checking hives

construction and repair of hives

bee lifecycle and behaviour

bee nutrition and feeding

bee fodder crops, including toxic plant risk

requeening hives
Qualification Reference 2223
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Mandatory or
Optional
Page 3 of 5
2
Assist to transport
beehives and bee
products, and establish
hives in new sites
Level
3

swarm control

wintering bees

honey harvesting and extraction.
Programmes should include the following topics:

preparation requirements

safe practices for transportation, including
handling and securing

hive site selection and onsite positioning

basic fencing.
Credits 5
3
Carry out a beehive
disease management
plan
Level
3
Programmes should include the following topics:

control methods for bee pests and diseases

effects of control methods on bee products

chemical handling and use.
Credits 25
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualification replaced the National Certificate in Apiculture (Level 2)
[Ref: 1036].
Trainees currently enrolled in programmes leading to the replaced qualification must complete the
requirements by 31 December 2018.
The last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2018 at which time it will be
designated as discontinued.
All new candidates will be enrolled in the new qualification.
It is the intention of the Primary ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition
arrangements.
Republication information
Qualification Reference 2223
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Page 4 of 5
Version 1 of this qualification was republished In February 2015 to update the Evidence requirements for
managing consistency
Qualification Reference 2223
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2013
Page 5 of 5