Penn State Extension Beekeeping 101

Category: Learning Also called: PSU Beekeeping 101; Penn State Beekeeping 101; Extension Beekeeping 101; Penn State Extension online Beekeeping 101 Last checked: 2026-09-18

What it is

Penn State Extension Beekeeping 101 is a first-party beginner-to-intermediate online, self-paced beekeeping course from Penn State Extension. The official course page describes educational videos, readings, and knowledge-check questions covering bee biology and behavior, year-round hive management, diseases and pests, swarming, beekeeping equipment, bee products including honey, pollination, and global threats to honey bees, plus handouts (including plans for building a solar extractor). There is a final quiz; learners earn a certificate of completion when they pass. It is not a county club and not a hive-equipment retail shop.

Who it’s for

People interested in starting beekeeping and keepers with some experience who want more science-based grounding, as printed under “Who is this for?” on the course page. Skill level on the page: Beginner / Intermediate. Anyone can enroll (you do not need to be a Penn State student). Not a substitute for a local club meeting or for buying woodenware.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party Learning program with printed dollar tuition, section count, estimated length, certificate-on-passing-quiz framing, instructor attribution, and a University Park Extension address on the course page — curriculum-first, not a blog and not an affiliate landing page.

• Course overview (extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-101 — checked 2026-09-18): 10 sections; about 9 hours of content; 365 days of content access after purchase; English; note: “This course offers a certificate of completion.” Description: beginner-level self-paced course on bee biology/behavior, hive management throughout the year, pests and diseases, swarming, equipment, bee products, and threats to honey bees; final quiz; certificate on passing.
• Tuition (course page / Extension online-courses listings — checked today): $159.00. Page also printed a September online-course promotion line (“Save 25% on online courses in September! Use discount code LEARN25 at checkout. Restrictions apply.”) — promotional codes and windows change; confirm the live course page at checkout.
• Learning outcomes (course page — checked today): understand honey bee science and best practices; bee biology and behavior; typical clothing and equipment; year-round hive management; identify/treat common pests and diseases; outline bee products; understand pollination roles.
• Instructor (course page — checked today): Tom Butzler, Extension Educator (expertise listed includes Vegetable and Small Fruit, Beekeeping, Green Industry).
• Access / support (course FAQ block — checked today): work at your own pace; access expires about one year after purchase regardless of completion; customer service for phone registration 1-877-345-0691, weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern. Online courses do not go on a college transcript.
• Extension address printed on the course page footer area (checked today): 323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802.

Fees, access windows, certificate rules, and promo codes above are what the official pages showed on the check date. Catalog offerings change. Use the live Extension course page before treating any figure as fixed.

Official URL

Course page (tuition / syllabus summary): https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-101

Related Extension beekeeping hub: https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-honey-bees

Related next course (not this listing): Beekeeping 102 — https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-102

Location

Primarily online self-paced coursework via Penn State Extension. Extension address printed on the course page (checked 2026-09-18): 323 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802. Phone registration / customer service: 1-877-345-0691 (weekdays 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. ET as printed on the course FAQ).

This is a Learning / university Extension course address, not a Local club hall and not an Equipment retail counter.

Notes

• Category is Learning. Curriculum-first Penn State Extension online beginner beekeeping course with certificate of completion on passing the final quiz. Not Equipment and not Local clubs.
• Printed $159.00 tuition, 10 sections / ~9 hours, 365-day access, certificate-on-pass framing, Tom Butzler instructor line, and University Park Agricultural Administration Building address are transcribed from official extension.psu.edu pages checked on 2026-09-18 and may change. September LEARN25 promo was visible on check day — verify live pricing.
• First-party course image saved beside this listing as penn-state-beekeeping-101.png (from the official Extension course product image).
• Not affiliated with Beekeeping Plaza.
• No Beekeeping Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: How much does Beekeeping 101 cost, and do I get a certificate?
A: Official course page (checked 2026-09-18): $159.00. The page states the course offers a certificate of completion; you earn it when you pass the final quiz. Confirm live tuition and any current promo on https://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping-101 before registering.

Q: Is it self-paced? How long do I keep access?
A: Yes — self-paced online. Page prints ~9 hours across 10 sections and 365 days of content access; FAQ block notes you lose access about one year after purchase whether or not the course is finished. Confirm the live Account Dashboard / course page for your expiration date after purchase.

Q: Is this an equipment shop or a local club?
A: No. Penn State Extension Beekeeping 101 is listed here as Learning — an official Extension online course. For hive gear see Equipment listings (e.g. Foxhound Bee Company, Betterbee); for Central Ohio club meetings see Local clubs (Central Ohio Beekeepers Association).