One of the first steps to successfully receiving your beekeeping licence from the City of Edmonton is to meet training and mentorship requirements. Applicants must submit proof of completion of a beekeeping course from an accepted organization/association. If this is the first time you have kept bees in an urban environment, you must include proof of support and assistance from a mentor. Please see the Urban Beekeeping Guidelines for further details.

Beginner Courses

Individuals can take any of these intensive beginner courses to receive a beekeeping certificate recognized by the City of Edmonton.

Introduction to Urban Beekeeping Certification

Provider: Alberta Avenue Community League

This 8-hour course will teach you:

  • Bee basics
  • Hive maintenance
  • Pest and disease control
  • Registering your backyard beehive
  • The importance of urban agriculture community projects

Upon completion of the course, you will be offered opportunities to watch hive inspections and get hands-on experience with honeybees.

Date: TBD

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Teens Urban Beekeeping Certification

Provider: Alberta Avenue Community League

This 8-hour course will teach you:

  • Bee basics
  • Hive maintenance
  • Pest and disease control
  • Registering your backyard beehive
  • The importance of urban agriculture community projects

Upon completion of the course, you will be offered opportunities to watch hive inspections and get hands-on experience with honeybees.

Date: TBD

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BEKP100 - Level 1 Beekeeping

Provider: Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)

Build or enhance your own backyard beekeeping operation! Whether you are a beginner or an established beekeeper, a hobbyist or a professional, living in an urban or a rural setting, gain the skills to raise and manage honey bees through an entire beekeeping season. Apply your knowledge of bee biology and health, pollen and nectar, hive placement, feeding plans, and strategies for colony management.

With the knowledge gained in this course, you will be able to develop solutions to overcome a variety of common beekeeping challenges. NOTE: NAIT is pleased to partner with Eliese Watson of ABC Bees to offer this course. Students who successfully pass this course will receive a certificate from ABC Bees that meets the City of Edmonton’s Urban Beekeeping Guidelines.

Course Length: 30 hours online

Course Information

BeeComm'

Provider: BeeComm - The Bee Community

BeeComm's community beekeeping certificate consists of four online courses geared towards giving small-scale and backyard beekeepers the skills and knowledge successfully manage honeybee colonies. Course material is approached through an ecological lens and emphasizes techniques that work with honeybee behaviour and biology. 

Students may register for all four classes or enroll in courses individually. Students complete lessons and activities at their own pace and attend live Q&A sessions. Lessons are delivered online via recorded video, scheduled activities, and live question-and-answer sessions.

Each of the four beekeeping courses contains approximately 3 hours of lesson material and will require 2-3 hours additional time for activities and discussions. Taken together, the Beekeeping Certificate requires 20 to 25 hours to complete.

Students will have ongoing access to all course material, a course activity feed, a cohort of fellow students, and a growing community of small-scale and backyard beekeepers.

Course Information

Beekeeping for Beginners

Provider: Natural Elements Honey

Budding beekeepers can learn the basics in this course including bee regulations and bee guidelines in Edmonton and surroundings, equipment and tools, seasonal management, honey harvesting and processing, disease identification and treatment options and much more. 

Upon completion of the one-day course, graduates can attend free optional mentoring sessions which include both theory and hands-on activities. The program averages 64+ mentoring hours throughout the season.

  • January 20, 2024
  • February 24, 2024
  • March 23, 2024
  • April 20, 2024 
  • May 25, 2024

Course Information