The Board's Mission Statement

The Examination Board for the National Diploma in Beekeeping was set up in 1954, to meet a perceived need for a beekeeping qualification, above the level of the Certificates awarded by the Beekeeping Associations.

It was originally intended as an appropriate qualification for County Beekeeping Instructors and Lecturers, of which there were some forty full- and part-time appointments across the United Kingdom at that time. The prime movers in this development were Fred Richards, the C.B.I. for Norfolk and H.M.I. Franklin, whose brief included rural education. Although the County Lecturers have almost vanished, from the beekeeping scene, there are still beekeepers wishing to pursue their studies to an advanced level.

The Diploma is the highest beekeeping qualification recognised in the United Kingdom and its holders are generally well known figures within beekeeping education.

The Board consists of representatives from a wide range of organisations and together form an impressive amalgam of expert knowledge in beekeeping and education. Although all the National Beekeeping Associations are represented on the Board and make a valuable contribution, the NDB is entirely independent of those organisations.

Normally, the highest certificate of one of the National Associations is a necessary criterion for eligibility to take the examination for the Diploma, which is held in alternate years. The Examination consists of two written papers of three hours each, with a practical Examination, which includes a viva-voce held in June.

Recognising the fact that access to appropriate beekeeping tuition presents difficulties for many aspiring Diploma candidates, the Board holds Advanced Courses of a five day duration, currently held at the National bee Unit, near York. This covers husbandry, laboratory techniques, disease recognition and legislation as appropriate to the production and sale of honey. The visiting speakers are all leaders in their particular field.

Application to join the course should be made to the Advanced Course Director.

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Updated 17 May 2006