Texas Master Beekeeper Program

ABILENE, TEXAS
06/21/25 (DURING SUMMER CLINIC)
NEXT TEST DATE
10/03/25 (TENTATIVE)

LUBBOCK TEXAS
NEXT TEST DATE
10/04/25 8AM - 11AM (TENTATIVE)

SEMINOLE TEXAS
NEXT TEST DATE
10/04/25 2PM - 5PM (TENTATIVE)

EL PASO, TEXAS
NEXT TEST DATE
10/05/25 8AM - 11AM (TENTATIVE)

APPRENTICE REQUIREMENTS:

Be a registered beekeeper: Have a current Beekeeper Registration with the Texas Apiary Inspection Service OR be registered in your home state.
Own bees: Have at least one colony of honey bees for at least one full year.
Pass written exam: Score 70% or higher. Study materials include past Texas Beekeepers Association Conference lectures, Texas Apiary Inspection Service website, African Bee Extension and Education Program website, and books/other literature on the Apprentice Beekeeper reading list.
Pass practical exam: Score 70% or higher. Be able to identify beehive parts, use a smoker, recognize brood stages and bee castes, describe the queen, differentiate between brood, pollen, and capped honey, recognize propolis and its functions, and describe the layout of a brood nest.

ADVANCED REQUIREMENTS:

Be a practicing beekeeper: Held Apprentice Beekeeper rank for at least one year and been practicing for at least two years. Must have current registration in Texas or home state.
Complete training: Pass six computerized honey bee training modules with a score of 80% or higher. Modules include honey bee pests/parasites/pathogens, social wasps & bees, pollination biology, pesticides and honey bees, Africanized honey bees, and honey judging.
Pass written exam: Score 70% or higher. Study materials include Texas Beekeepers Association Conference lectures, Texas Apiary Inspection Service, Texas A&M Honey Bee Lab, UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, AFBEE website, and Advanced Beekeeper reading list.
Pass practical exam: Score 70% or higher. Be able to score a jar of show honey, read pesticide labels, identify beekeeping items, examine honey labels for errors, distinguish between bees, wasps, hornets, etc., and identify bee and flower anatomical structures.
Public service credits: Perform and document completion of five public service credits. Extra credits can be submitted but cannot be used toward higher program levels.

MASTER REQUIREMENTS:

Experience: Held Apprentice and Advanced Beekeeper ranks for one year each and practiced for at least three years. Must have current registration in Texas or home state.
Public service credits: Show proof of 10 additional public service credits beyond those required for Advanced Beekeeper level. Extra credits from Advanced Beekeeper level cannot be reused for Master Beekeeper.
Declare a major: Pick a major and complete three credits within that major. No double majors allowed.
Core credits: Complete five core credits outside your major. Extra credits during training can carry over to the next level.
Pass written exam: Score 70% or higher. Study materials include Texas Beekeepers Association Conference lectures, Texas Apiary Inspection Service, Texas A&M Honey Bee Lab, UF Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, AFBEE website, and Master Beekeeper reading list.