Practical Internship Program
Every year, the Société Apicole du Québec offers young enthusiasts the opportunity to gain practical experience in beekeeping. This program is for those who wish to supplement their theoretical training by managing an apiary of 10 to 25 colonies, under real-world conditions and supervised by a beekeeper.
The internship will run from mid-May to mid-September. It will begin with an initial apiary visit in the spring, followed by inspections every two weeks. Throughout these encounters, the intern will be able to document their observations, create nucs (nuclei), carry out necessary hive treatments, harvest honey, and participate in the extraction process. In the autumn, they will take part in feeding the colonies and, in November, in winterizing the apiary.
In total, the program represents approximately ten full days in the field, offering concrete and comprehensive experience in managing an apiary through all stages of the beekeeping season.
The following spring, selected interns receive an equivalent number of hives — including bees — to support them in their first steps toward professional beekeeping.
To be eligible, candidates must have completed either a Société Apicole du Québec training course or an AEC in beekeeping at Cégep d’Alma. As places are limited, a rigorous selection process involving interviews is carried out. Only the most motivated, serious, and committed candidates will be chosen to ensure the success and sustainability of their beekeeping project.