In addition to the Apprentice Objectives and the Journeyman Objectives, the following is a listing of general objectives to serve as a study guide for the Master level examination in the Alabama Master Beekeeper Program.  It is not to be considered an exclusive list of topics that may appear on the examination. 

Bee Anatomy

Upon completion of the Master level, a candidate should be able to identify and label, using correct nomenclature, the external parts of the honey bee and describe the function of each.  A candidate should also be able to identify and label the internal organs and systems (nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and glandular) and describe the functions of each component of each system.

Products of the Hive

Upon completion of the Master level, a candidate should able to describe the process by which bees render honey, the compounds that make up honey, methods and procedures for harvesting honey, the various equipment used in harvesting and storing honey, the characteristics of honey, the granulation of honey, the storage of honey, the fermentation of honey and common methods that honey is packaged, labeled and marketed. 

Diseases and Pests

In addition to the Apprentice and Journeyman Objectives, a candidate for Master level should be able to give product names and state the primary active ingredient in all effective treatments and medications that can legally be introduced to a hive to treat honey bee diseases, pests and pathogens in the United States.

Queen Rearing

In addition to the Journeyman Objectives, a candidate for Master level should be able to:

• List traits that may be desirable in a breeder queen. 
• Identify the equipment used in queen rearing and discuss the uses of each. 
• Describe the role and timing of a cell builder hive and a finisher hive in queen rearing.
• Discuss the queen’s reproductive system.  Include in this discussion specifically mating flights, the queen’s reproductive anatomy, diploid and haploid eggs, etc. 

Colony Management

Upon completion of the Master level, a candidate should be able to:

• When presented with a scenario, discuss what management practices are needed.  Be able to identify if extra equipment is needed, as well as any advice for the best method to handle the scenario.
• Advise fellow beekeepers of corrective measures for a variety of management mistakes.  These will be typical questions posed by beginners as well as seasoned beekeepers.  In your answers, be able to identify a disease, pest, equipment misuse, etc. 
• Discuss common management problems. Be prepared to identify and diagnose pests and diseases as well as queen problems in this discussion.
• Advise fellow beekeepers of their options when addressing a hive of laying workers.
• Perform a necropsy on a hive dead out.  Be able to determine whether bees died from starvation, mite infestation, queenlessness (laying workers) or other.