I discussed the certificate terminology with my wife last night.  We
concluded that the titles of the completion certificates would best reflect
the degree of proficiency in beekeeping to a prospective employer (or loan
officer).

The levels of education and practical experience might be as follows:

1. *Apprentice**:  b*asic understanding of bee biology and beekeeping
practices, plus a basic amount of hands on experience. Minimum 1 year's
experience with bees. Such a graduate would be hire-able as an entry level
trainee.

2. *Practiced:* having a minimum of two season's and at least 20
hive-years' experience.  (Experience comes not so much from number of
years, but from number of hives looked into on a regular basis. E.g., 10
hives over 2 years = 20 hive years).  Such a graduate would be hire-able as
a trained beekeeper who could be put right to work on a crew.

3. *Technician:  *Trained in the more esoteric aspects of bee management:
queenrearing, microscopy, parasite management IPM programs, nutrition.

4. *Journeyman:  *demonstrated ability to run a bee operation successfully,
either from employer feedback, or demonstration of a personal successful
operation involving thousands of hive inspections and management
decisions.  Many thousands of hive-years experience.  Hire-able as a
foreman.

5.  *Master:  *this would be an honorary title, awarded after a test to
confirm knowledge, and given sparingly at the request of the state
association in recognition for success in the field, *as well as for having
trained and influenced a next generation of successful beekeepers.*

-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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