Annual Beginning Beekeeping Course Information

Registration for the 2025 DC Beginning Beekeeping Course has closed

(Other local options below)

To receive notifications, please join our club, sign up for our mailing list, or participate in our Facebook or Google groups. Members get priority access to all offerings.

The purpose of the UDC/DC Beekeepers Alliance Beginning Beekeeping Course is to provide resources, knowledge, and a network needed to begin to keep bees successfully and responsibly in the District of Columbia.

Prerequisite class: “Is Beekeeping Right for Me?”

 NO FURTHER PREREQUISITE SESSIONS AVAILABLE 

Anyone interested in taking the 2025 Beginning Beekeeping Course must complete a free, 90-minute online class titled "Is Beekeeping Right for Me?" in order to assure that student expectations match the course and that the class is offered to committed and informed community members. This class is open to all at no charge on several dates in the fall.

After attending the prerequisite class, you will receive a link to register for the Beginner Beekeeping Course along with information about dates and times, cost, location, course materials, and more.  

Beginning Beekeeping Course:

This course is offered by the DC Beekeepers Alliance in partnership with the University of the District of Columbia's CAUSES (College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences). This course is an annual for-fee, non-credit bearing course comprised of: 

·       8 required 2-hour recorded lectures (16 hours total); and

·      8 optional in person, hands-on classes

The class is taught by active, volunteer beekeepers, including local Master Beekeepers and experienced DC Beekeepers. Additional DC beekeepers assist at each session.

Registration

Only individuals that complete the prerequisite class will be eligible to register for the course. Course registration will open the weekend after Thanksgiving, and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Members of the DC Beekeepers Alliance receive priority access to the course: remaining seats will be offered around December 7 to those who have also completed the prerequisite but are not DCBA members.

Schedule

The course will begin in January 14 with the release of the recorded lecture for the following week: registered students will receive a notification as well as link and password information each week. There will be a total of 8 weekly sessions to March 11, Each recording release will be followed by an optional hands-on in person session. Each in person session will take place from 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm Tuesday evenings beginning January 21. Though optional, we strongly encourage in person attendance.. 

Those who complete all class lectures receive a Certificate of Completion, introduction to a mentor, and connections to suppliers of equipment and bees.

Other Resources 

Demand for urban beekeeping classes is high. We urge you to explore all options available for beekeeping education. 

We are not the only local source for quality beekeeper education! Other area beekeeping associations that also offer courses include:

·       Bee Care Institute (DC)

·       Northern Virginia Beekeepers

·       Virginia Beekeeping Teaching Consortium

·       Bowie-Upper Marlboro (Prince George's County) Beekeepers

·       Montgomery County Beekeepers 

There are more options via local beekeeping businesses and universities: to learn more, we suggest that you join our Facebook or Google Group. Both of these are private and your request to join must be approved.