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.

Students taking the Beginning Beekeeping Course offered by the IEBA, will cover material in all ten lessons, and will have the exam administered to them by the association.  The exam is free if done at a local association.

 If you choose to take the exam by mail, the cost is $5.  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 Van Sherod at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 206-284-1520.

Testing by correspondence is as follows:

1. Apprentice test is mailed after receiving the testing fee and application form.
2. The assigned Committee member receives the completed test and grades the result.
3. If the result is a passing score, then the test result (and a brochure describing the journeyman program) are sent to the participant and to WSU for a certificate and inclusion in the Master Beekeeper Certification Program database. You can view the brochure here in PDF format.
4. The certificate is sent as indicated on the application form.
5. 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).