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What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources cluster Animal Systems pathway.

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Before you order your first bee package, you should prepare yourself by reading about bees and beekeeping. "Start subscribing to the bee journals," suggests beekeeper John Iannuzzi.

Get to know other beekeepers and go to association meetings. Visit other bee farming operations, watch them work and listen to their advice. "You can find them by joining a local beekeeping group."

Make sure you're outfitted with new or properly inspected used equipment. Also make sure that you have the proper protection for yourself before you begin.

Start small. Two to four hives are plenty for a beginning beekeeper to handle. "People who want to consider beekeeping should enjoy being independent and should be able to run their own businesses," says beekeeper Ron Miksha.

Most keepers learn the trade on the job or work as assistants to larger commercial beekeepers. Training courses are available at local agricultural colleges and community colleges. People who want to get into bee research or become an inspector have the option of studying agriculture and apiculture at the university level.

In the United States, you must obtain a beekeeping license from your state in order to keep bees.

Contact

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    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

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