Apiarist Courses
An Apiarist manages beehives to produce honey and products, ensuring bee health, marketing, and handling physical tasks outdoors in varying weather.
AI Exposure
Low
Core skills such as social intelligence and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).
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How do I become a Apiarist
Get qualified to work as a Apiarist with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
AHC31818
Duration
12 months - 24 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Traineeship
Begin and exciting career in apiculture or start your own bee colony at home with the AHC31818 Certificate III in Beekeeping. This 2 year course will teach you how to establish an apiary site, assemble and maintain a beehive, extract honey, safely use smokers and beekeeping equipment, re-queen a bee colony, manage honey bee swarms, and safely transport bee hives to a new site. The course also covers essential aspects of workplace safety and quality assurance.
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Career opportunities
Duration
12 months - 24 months
Study mode
Blended, On Campus, Traineeship
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AHCBEK313
The AHCBEK313 Manage Pests and Disease within a Honey Bee Colony unit equips beekeepers with the skills to identify, monitor, and manage pests and diseases affecting honey bee colonies. It satisfies the biosecurity training requirements under the Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice. This unit is suited to beekeepers who work independently, using discretion and judgement in their tasks while ensuring the effective management of colony health and compliance with biosecurity obligation...
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AHCBEK402
The AHCBEK402 Perform Queen Bee Artificial Insemination equips advanced beekeepers with the skills to collect drone bee semen and inseminate queen bees for breeding purposes. It is designed for experienced beekeepers who work independently, using analytical skills and judgement to plan and execute complex breeding activities. These professionals take responsibility for their work, oversee others, and develop innovative solutions to achieve specific bee breeding objectives.
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Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Apiarist.
Common questions
How much does an Apiarist earn?
In Australia, a full time Apiarist generally earns $1,300 per week ($67,600 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
What are the job opportunities for an Apiarist?
The beekeeping industry has seen an increase in employment numbers in recent years. There are currently 1,200 people employed as an Apiarist in Australia compared to 1,000 five years ago. Apiarists may find work across all regions of Australia but are more likely to find job opportunities in rural and regional areas.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights
How do I become an Apiarist?
If you’re planning a career as an Apiarist, consider enrolling in a Certificate III in Beekeeping. This course will show you how to extract honey, use smokers and transport a beehive. You’ll explore topics such as establishing an apiary site, assembling and maintaining a beehive and managing a honey bee swarm.
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More information
An Apiarist produces honey and other honey products by managing bees and their beehives. You’ll market your products for sale and organise transportation of stock. Apiarists monitor the health of bee colonies and ensure living conditions and available nutrition are appropriate for bees’ needs. Some Apiarists also breed bees for use in pollinating other crops.
An Apiarist spends a lot of time outdoors so you’ll need to be prepared to work in a range of weather conditions. You’ll also need to be ready for some physically demanding tasks during your day. Apiarists need to plan ahead to ensure their hives are ready to produce honey as required and you’ll need to undertake various administrative tasks to manage and market your apiary.
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