Microscopy Certificate
This assessment provides a qualification and measure of achievement for those beekeepers with an interest in pollen, anatomy, and disease relevant to the honey bee. Knowledge and skills are tested through a number of practical tasks and oral questioning. The candidate will need to prepare 6 pollen slides and 3 anatomy slides during the year prior to the assessment. For the assessment, which lasts between 2 and 2 ½ hours, the candidate will need to provide 2 suitable microscopes and equipment necessary to carry out dissections and make slides. Full details are in the syllabus.
Prospective candidates should have passed the Basic Certificate
https://www.bbka.org.uk/learn
The Assessment.
(a) Assessors approved by the Board shall conduct the Assessment. The Board may wish a trainee Assessor or a member of the Board to be present as an observer, but prior approval of the Candidate must be obtained.
(b) The candidate shall provide:
Two suitable microscopes, one for dissection and one for the examination of microscope slides (a compound microscope with x400 magnification) including an eyepiece fitted with a graticule)
the equipment needed to calibrate an eyepiece graticule (e.g stage micrometer or a slide of Hazel pollen)
Dissecting tools and instruments
Spare slides and cover slips
6 pollen slides and 4 anatomy slides made by the candidate from the lists provided in the syllabus
Approximately 40 freshly killed worker bees.
The equipment required to embed one or more bees in wax for dissection purposes
Any other equipment the candidate may require.
(c) A requirement of the Assessment is the examination of the material prepared by the Candidate.
(d) The Assessment shall be conducted by two Assessors at a venue and time determined by the Board and shall be of an oral and practical nature.
(e) The Assessment may be expected to be completed within 2½ to 3 hours.
This assessment provides a qualification and measure of achievement for those beekeepers with an interest in pollen, anatomy, and disease relevant to the honey bee. Knowledge and skills are tested through a number of practical tasks and oral questioning. The candidate will need to prepare 6 pollen slides and 3 anatomy slides during the year prior to the assessment. For the assessment, which lasts between 2 and 2 ½ hours, the candidate will need to provide 2 suitable microscopes and equipment necessary to carry out dissections and make slides. Full details are in the syllabus.
Prospective candidates should have passed the Basic Certificate
https://www.bbka.org.uk/learn
The Assessment.
(a) Assessors approved by the Board shall conduct the Assessment. The Board may wish a trainee Assessor or a member of the Board to be present as an observer, but prior approval of the Candidate must be obtained.
(b) The candidate shall provide:
Two suitable microscopes, one for dissection and one for the examination of microscope slides (a compound microscope with x400 magnification) including an eyepiece fitted with a graticule)
the equipment needed to calibrate an eyepiece graticule (e.g stage micrometer or a slide of Hazel pollen)
Dissecting tools and instruments
Spare slides and cover slips
6 pollen slides and 4 anatomy slides made by the candidate from the lists provided in the syllabus
Approximately 40 freshly killed worker bees.
The equipment required to embed one or more bees in wax for dissection purposes
Any other equipment the candidate may require.
(c) A requirement of the Assessment is the examination of the material prepared by the Candidate.
(d) The Assessment shall be conducted by two Assessors at a venue and time determined by the Board and shall be of an oral and practical nature.
(e) The Assessment may be expected to be completed within 2½ to 3 hours.