Wake County Beekeepers Association

Want to learn more about becoming a beekeeper?

The club's beginner bee class was held January through March.  We will hold our next class in January of 2027.  If you are looking for a bee class, there are two more classes scheduled in 2026 through Johnston Community College and held nearby in Clayton/Cleveland near Garner.  To view classes offered at JCC, visit https://www.johnstoncc.edu/programs/personal-enrichment.php 

 The WCBA will be hosting a beginner bee school on Tuesday nights, January 27, 2026 through March 24.  Classes will be from 7p until 9pm and will be held at the Wake County Commons Building at 4011 Carya Drive, just off Poole Dr near the Raleigh Beltline. 

What’s included: 

• Annual membership to the WCBA.  Membership benefits include monthly educational meetings, fellowship with other beekeepers, participation in the club mentoring program including assignment to an area mentor, and free use of club-owned beekeeping equipment such as honey extractors.
  
• Bound student manual to accompany class lectures
  
• Beverages and snacks provided during class

What’s NOT included:

• Class Text The Beekeeper’s Handbook by Diana Sammatoro and Alphonse Avitabile, 5th edition.  This book is recommended to be purchased by all students.  Lectures and out-of-class assignments will reference materials in this text.
  
• Membership in the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association.  Membership in the NCSBA is required to test for Certified Beekeeper.  Testing and participation in certification is voluntary. (See NCSBA website for complete info on the benefits of certification).

Class Itinerary

• Week 1- Beekeeping Equipment
• Week 2 - Beekeeping Basics and the Certified Beekeeper Program
• Week 3 - Hands-on clinic for assembling bee hives and equipment
  
• Week 4 - Bee Biology
  
• Week 5 - Bee Races
  
• Week 6 - Basic Colony Management, Botany, Foraging Behavior
  
• Week 7 - Varroa Management
  
• Week 8 - Other Pests and Diseases plus Seasonal Colony Management
• Week 9 - History of Beekeeping and the Certified Beekeeper Written Examination