The correspondence program is geared toward to those who live outside of Washington State or who do not live near a WSBA local beekeeper association. The certified Apprentice level requires beekeepers to have a minimum of knowledge and experience of beekeeping. Ten lessons are provided each applicant to the program and the student is tested from the lesson material. The student has the opportunity to take an open book exam following the instruction or they may elect to take the exam without the instruction.
Click here for application form (PDF)
The cost of the apprentice program is $15 ($10 for the book and $5 for postage). WSBA provides a self addressed and stamped envelope for the test to be returned. To apply for the exam or to purchase the Apprentice booklet, contact David Pearson at apprentice@wasba.org or 425-583-8139.
Testing by correspondence is as follows:
- Apprentice tests are mailed after receiving the testing fee and application form.
- The assigned Committee member receives the completed tests and grades the results.
- If the result is a passing score, then the test result (and a brochure describing the journeyman program) are sent to the participant. An Apprentice Certificate will be awarded and the beekeeper is included in the Master Beekeeper Certification Program database as a Certified Apprentice Beekeeper. You can view the brochure here in PDF format.
- The certificate is sent as indicated on the application form.
- If test sections did not receive a passing score, the test section is returned to the participant for re-test and the process is repeated (within reason).
