UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program

Category: Learning Also called: UF Master Beekeeper Program; University of Florida Master Beekeeper Program; UF/IFAS MBP; HBREL Master Beekeeper Program Last checked: 2026-09-17

What it is

The UF/IFAS Master Beekeeper Program (MBP) is a first-party university extension certification pathway managed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory (HBREL). Official Online Extension Courses and the Online MBP Requirements PDF describe a four-level, four-year (minimum) program — Apprentice, Advanced, Master, and Master Craftsman — delivered as self-paced online Canvas courses with practical assessments, public-service and mentorship requirements at higher levels, and research/extension projects at Master Craftsman. The Requirements PDF states the UF/IFAS MBP is not a Master of Science or other degree-granting program. It is not a county club and not a hive-equipment retail shop.

Who it’s for

Serious beekeepers (hobby through commercial) who want research-based colony management training plus public outreach practice. Official pages: no application, prior experience, or specific education is required to join — register for the Apprentice online course (beekeepers with 2+ years may attempt a written+practical test-out of Apprentice). Designed for adults but with no maximum or minimum age printed; joiners must be able to keep honey bees and have a computer/mobile device with reliable internet. 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 by level, level requirements (colony years, practical pass scores, PSPs, mentorship, CE hours), registration links on the UF domain, and a Gainesville lab mailing/street address — curriculum/schedule-first, not a blog and not an affiliate landing page.

• Program overview (Online Extension Courses — checked 2026-09-17): join by registering for the Apprentice Beekeeper course; 2+ years practical experience may attempt Apprentice test-out; all experience levels welcome; courses accessed anytime/anywhere with internet; Bee-Learning Short Courses offered separately à la carte. Bee College 2026 program PDF (same lab domain) also prints: Apprentice–Craftsman levels online; self-paced; registration always open; no experience required to join; veterans and first responders may qualify for a scholarship.
• Tuition (MBP Course Costs and Lessons PDF linked from the online-courses page — checked today): Apprentice — $250; Advanced — $300; Master — $300; Master Craftsman — $250. Apprentice test-out fee $50, applied toward Apprentice course cost if the test-out fails. Higher-level registration links are provided after you become eligible.
• Requirements snapshot (Online MBP Program Requirements PDF — last updated July 27, 2023 on the PDF; linked from the courses page checked today): Apprentice — complete online course; maintain ≥1 colony for 1 year; currently keep bees; register as a beekeeper where required; score ≥80% on a hive-inspection practical (in-person or video). Advanced — complete Advanced course; hold Apprentice 1 year; keep bees 2 years; currently keep bees; registration; 10 Public Service Points; ≥80% on honey-harvest and Varroa-monitoring practicals. Master — complete Master course; hold Advanced 1 year; keep bees 3 years; currently keep bees; registration; 20 PSPs; 10 Mentorship Points; 5 hours continuing education; one Application of Practical Skills option. Master Craftsman — complete Craftsman course; hold Master 1 year; keep bees 4 years; currently keep bees; registration; 20 PSPs; 20 Mentorship Points; 10 hours CE; develop/implement an apiary experiment and an Extension program; present/discuss projects with the MBP Board.
• Lab contact (Online Extension Courses footer — checked today): instructional designer Mary Bammer, [email protected]; lab feedback [email protected]. Honey Bee Research and Extension Laboratory, PO Box 110620, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611; phone (352) 294-6927.

Dates, fees, seats, scholarship eligibility, and assessment formats above are what the official pages/PDFs showed on the check date. Catalog offerings change. Use the live UF/IFAS courses page and linked PDFs before treating any figure as fixed.

Official URL

Online Extension Courses (MBP entry + PDF links): https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honey-bee/extension/events-and-activities/online-extension-courses/

MBP Course Costs and Lessons (PDF): https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/media/entnemdeptifasufledu/honeybee/pdfs/MBP-Course-Costs-and-Lessons-(1).pdf

Online MBP Program Requirements (PDF): https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/media/entnemdeptifasufledu/honeybee/pdfs/Online-MBP_Program-Requirements-(3).pdf

Refund policy: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honey-bee/extension/events-and-activities/online-extension-courses/refund-policy-for-online-extension-courses/

Apprentice registration (Canvas catalog, linked from Requirements PDF): https://ifas-honeybee.catalog.instructure.com/courses/apprentice

Apprentice test-out (Canvas catalog): https://ifas-honeybee.catalog.instructure.com/courses/test-out

HBREL home: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/honey-bee/

Location

Primarily online coursework via Canvas / IFAS Honey Bee catalog, with practical assessments completed in person or by video as printed in the Requirements PDF. Lab mailing / street line printed on official pages: PO Box 110620, 1881 Natural Area Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611; (352) 294-6927.

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

Notes

• Category is Learning. Curriculum- and requirements-first university Master Beekeeper Program (UF/IFAS HBREL). Not Equipment and not Local clubs.
• Printed level tuition ($250 / $300 / $300 / $250), $50 test-out fee, 80% practical pass lines, PSP/mentorship/CE ladders, four-year minimum framing, and Gainesville lab address are transcribed from official entnemdept.ufl.edu pages and linked PDFs checked on 2026-09-17 and may change. Requirements PDF footer date: July 27, 2023 — verify live PDFs before relying on any rule.
• First-party program tile image saved beside this listing as uf-ifas-master-beekeeper.png (from entnemdept.ufl.edu honey-bee MasterBeekeeper.png asset).
• Not affiliated with Beekeeping Plaza.
• No Beekeeping Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: What does each MBP level cost?
A: Official MBP Course Costs and Lessons PDF (linked from the Online Extension Courses page, checked 2026-09-17): Apprentice $250, Advanced $300, Master $300, Master Craftsman $250. Apprentice test-out is $50 (credited toward Apprentice tuition if unsuccessful). Confirm live PDF/catalog before registering.

Q: Do I need prior experience, and are assessments online?
A: No prior experience is required to start Apprentice online. Beekeepers with 2+ years may attempt Apprentice test-out (written + practical). Certification at each level still requires colony-keeping years, beekeeper registration where applicable, and practicals scored ≥80% (in-person or video). Higher levels add PSPs, mentorship points, CE hours, and (Craftsman) research/extension projects — see the Requirements PDF.

Q: Is this a local bee club or a supply shop?
A: No. This listing is Learning — UF/IFAS’s Master Beekeeper Program via HBREL online courses. For a county/regional meeting club see Local clubs (e.g. AABA, CCHBA); for hive/gear retail see Equipment (e.g. Betterbee, Dadant).