Introduction to Beekeeping Class (2027) — Orange County Beekeepers Association — Hillsborough, NC / Zoom learning

Category: Learning Also called: OCBA Bee School; OCBA Introduction to Beekeeping; Orange County Beekeepers Association beginner class (Hillsborough, NC) Last checked: 2026-10-13

What it is

The Introduction to Beekeeping Class is a 9-week beginner course run by the Orange County Beekeepers Association (OCBA), a chapter of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The official class page says the course “focuses on beekeeping using generally accepted beekeeping practices for traditional Langstroth-style beehives,” covering “the biology of beekeeping, essential beekeeping skills, monitoring and treatment of pests and diseases, seasonal hive management and other relevant topics.” The 2027 course is hybrid: sessions are held in person at the Orange County Agricultural Center and streamed live on Zoom, and students can attend either way. It is a dated, multi-week course with tuition and registration, not a monthly club meeting and not a hive-equipment shop.

Who it’s for

People who are interested in beekeeping “but don’t know where to begin,” and beekeepers who want to improve their skills. The class page says, “At the end of the course, you will be prepared to begin beekeeping.” Not a self-paced online course.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party Learning program. The club’s official page prints the 2027 dates, weekly time, venue, delivery format, tuition, textbook and sample syllabus, with online registration open now.

Dates & format (class page — checked 2026-10-13): Tuesday nights, January 5 to March 2, 2027, 7:00–9:00 PM, in person at the Orange County Agricultural Center, 1020 US 70, Hillsborough, NC 27278, and simultaneously on Zoom.
Tuition (class page — checked 2026-10-13): $85 per individual; $150 for a couple or family at the same address. Tuition includes OCBA membership. Registration and payment are online, and registration is not final until payment is received.
Textbook (class page): The Beekeeper’s Handbook, 5th edition (2021), by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile; not included in tuition (the page estimates about $25).
Sample syllabus (class page): Introduction to Beekeeping; Honey Bee Biology; Bees as Social Insects; Beekeeping Equipment; Getting Started; Varroa Mites; Diseases and Pests; Products of the Hive; Seasonal Management.
After the course (class page): graduates “have the opportunity to take the NCSBA Certified Beekeeper written exam” and may join a First-Year Beekeeper Cluster mentoring group.
Organizer (About page — checked 2026-10-13): OCBA has “200+ members,” meets on the second Thursday of each month in Hillsborough with a different speaker each month, runs a Swarm Patrol, and builds a booth at the North Carolina State Fair.
Contact (class page): [email protected].

Course dates, fees and details above are what the official pages showed on the check date. Programs change. Use the live OCBA page before treating any detail as fixed.

Official URL

Program page: https://theocba.org/education/intro-to-beekeeping-class/

Education overview: https://theocba.org/education/

First-Year Beekeeper Cluster: https://theocba.org/education/first-year-beekeeper-cluster/

OCBA home: https://theocba.org/

About Us: https://theocba.org/about/

Join our Club: https://theocba.org/membership/join-our-club/

Location

In person at the Orange County Agricultural Center, 1020 US 70, Hillsborough, NC 27278, on Tuesday nights, January 5 to March 2, 2027, 7:00–9:00 PM, with every session also streamed on Zoom.

This is a Learning / hybrid course identity, not a Local club hall and not an Equipment retail counter.

Notes

Category is Learning. The course has published 2027 dates, a weekly schedule, tuition, a textbook and a syllabus, and it feeds into the NCSBA Certified Beekeeper exam. It is not Equipment and not Local clubs, although it is run by a club. It is separate from the North Carolina listings already in the directory (Beez Needz and Cabarrus County Beekeepers).
9 weeks is calculated from the printed range: January 5 to March 2, 2027 spans nine Tuesdays. The page also says “This 9-week course.”
The class page’s textbook note names several sellers, including Amazon; Beekeeping Plaza does not repeat that link.
The registration link was only viewed; nothing was submitted or paid.
Dates, fees and details are copied from official theocba.org pages checked on 2026-10-13 and may change.
First-party image saved beside this listing as orange-county-beekeepers-intro-class.png (the official OCBA logo OCBA_Logo_FINAL.png, unedited 522×530 original; the page itself shows a 90×90 resize, too small to use).
Not affiliated with Beekeeping Plaza.
No Beekeeping Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: When is the 2027 OCBA Introduction to Beekeeping class?
A: Tuesday nights from January 5 to March 2, 2027, 7:00–9:00 PM, per the official class page checked 2026-10-13.

Q: Can I take it online?
A: Yes. The 2027 class is hybrid: in person at the Orange County Agricultural Center, 1020 US 70, Hillsborough, NC 27278, and simultaneously on Zoom. Students can attend either way.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: $85 per individual or $150 for a couple or family at the same address, including OCBA membership. The textbook, The Beekeeper’s Handbook (5th edition), is extra.

Q: Is there a certification?
A: Graduates can take the NCSBA Certified Beekeeper written exam, per the class page. For multi-level programs, see the Master Beekeeper listings under Learning.

Q: Is this a local club or an equipment shop?
A: It is listed here as Learning, a dated course run by the Orange County Beekeepers Association. For hive gear, see the Equipment listings (e.g. Overflow Honey Co.). For monthly club meetings, see Local clubs (e.g. Capital Area Beekeepers Association).