Georgia Master Beekeeper Program — University of Georgia

Category: Learning Also called: UGA Master Beekeeper Program; Georgia Master Beekeeping certification; UGA Bee Program certification (Athens, Georgia)

What it is

The Georgia Master Beekeeper Program is the University of Georgia Bee Program’s ongoing certification path, which the official page calls “an intensive four-step program.” The four levels are Certified (basic beginning hobby beekeeper), Journeyman (competent hobbyist ready for sideline beekeeping), Master (able to work as a sideline or commercial beekeeper) and Master Craftsman (specialist level, compared to a graduate program in apiculture). Certified-level exams are hosted by local clubs around Georgia, and the UGA Bee Lab offers all levels at the Georgia Beekeepers Association fall meeting. It is a repeating, multi-level program, not a single class date.

Official URL

Official program page: https://bees.caes.uga.edu/georgia-master-beekeeper-program.html

Certifications: https://bees.caes.uga.edu/beekeeping-resources/certifications.html

Certification Levels and Requirements: https://bees.caes.uga.edu/georgia-master-beekeeper-program/certification-levels-related-requirements.html

Last checked

2026-10-21. All URLs above returned HTTP 200 with a desktop Chrome user agent on that date.

Who it’s for

Georgia beekeepers, from beginning hobbyists to sideline and commercial keepers, who want a tested, multi-level certification from the University of Georgia Bee Program.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party university certification program page with printed levels, testing routes and free study materials.

• Levels (official page, checked 2026-10-21): Certified (basic beginning hobby beekeeper), Journeyman (competent hobbyist ready for sideline beekeeping), Master (sideline or commercial beekeeper) and Master Craftsman (specialist level, compared to a graduate program in apiculture).
• Testing (checked 2026-10-21): Certified-level exams are hosted by local clubs around Georgia; the UGA Bee Lab tests Certified, Journeyman and Master at the Georgia Beekeepers Association fall meeting. The 2026 fall meeting (September 11–12, Lanier Technical College, Gainesville) has passed; 2027 dates were not yet posted. Journeyman and Master candidates are asked to contact Dr. Jamie Ellis in advance.
• Study materials (checked 2026-10-21): First Lessons in Beekeeping for Certified candidates, plus a free online study guide and Certified lecture notes (PDF).
• Scale (official page): as of 2024, over 1,000 Certified, 45 Journeyman, 45 Master and five Master Craftsmen.

Dates and requirements above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change.

Location

UGA Bee Program, Athens, Georgia; Certified testing is club-hosted statewide, and all-level testing happens at the Georgia Beekeepers Association fall meeting.

Notes

• Category is Learning. This is the site’s first Georgia Learning listing.
• The UGA Bee Lab closed the Young Harris Beekeeping Institute; the Master Beekeeper Program continues through club testing and the fall meeting.
• The page warns that beekeepexam.com, which sells certification study material, is not associated with the program.
• No first-party image was included with this listing; the site’s default placeholder is used.
• Not affiliated with Beekeeping Plaza. No one was contacted.

FAQ

Q: What are the levels?
A: Certified, Journeyman, Master and Master Craftsman, per the official page checked 2026-10-21.

Q: How do I take an exam?
A: Find a Georgia club hosting Certified-level testing, or attend the Georgia Beekeepers Association fall meeting, where the UGA Bee Lab tests Certified, Journeyman and Master. The 2026 fall meeting (September 11–12 at Lanier Technical College, Gainesville) has passed; the page had not yet posted 2027 dates on the check date. Journeyman and Master candidates are asked to contact Dr. Jamie Ellis in advance.

Q: What should I study?
A: The page points Certified candidates to First Lessons in Beekeeping, links a free online study guide and Certified lecture notes (PDF), and says everything needed is on the site.

Q: Is the Young Harris Beekeeping Institute still running?
A: No. The page says the UGA Bee Lab closed the Young Harris Beekeeping Institute, but the Master Beekeeper Program continues through club testing and the fall meeting.

Q: How many people have certified?
A: As of 2024, per the page: over 1,000 Certified, 45 Journeyman, 45 Master and five Master Craftsmen.

Q: Any warnings?
A: The page warns that beekeepexam.com, which sells certification study material, is not associated with the program. Beekeeping Plaza is not affiliated with UGA, and no one was contacted. This is the site’s first Georgia Learning listing.