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Beekeeping is a unique and highly skilled operation. The Beekeeping Industry in Western Australia has a high proportion (66%) of workers with no post-secondary qualifications. The low qualification levels have significant implications for the industry in terms of keeping up to date with modern beekeeping practices, attracting young workers to the industry, and for succession planning. The industry has a proud reputation of producing the ‘cleanest’ honey in the world – i.e. produced by ‘disease free’ bees. 

There are no entry requirements to become a beekeeper. Most skills can be learned on the job, but a tertiary qualification in beekeeping is useful. Employers may support their beekeepers to complete Disease Elimination Conformity Agreement (DECA) training – to make sure they can recognise American foulbrood disease.Many employers require their beekeepers to have a driver's licence and a heavy vehicle licence, and some may support staff to gain heavy truck and fork-lift licences.

Buy your first bees and equipment from beekeeping equipment manufacturers. Refer to advertisements in beekeeping journals and request catalogs from the suppliers listed at the end of this publication. Before you buy usedequipment, familiarize yourself with honeybee diseases and pests. Second hand equipment may be safe; or it may turn out to be a costly and discouraging investment.