There are more beekeeping learning opportunities in British Columbia than in any other province. Many of the bee education opportunities in BC are offered by commercial operations but there are an increasing number of courses geared for the backyard enthusiast interested in non-commercial practices. Most are for beginners.
Because beekeeping is initially an expensive hobby and honeybees themselves are complex social creatures, it is advisable to take a beekeeping class of some kind or another. Bees and equipment are a major investment even for a hobbyist with a couple of hives. Honeybees, luckily for beekeepers, are the most studied insects in the world. Taking a course offers the opportunity to focus your attention on what is important to observe and manage a colony, will help you to develop positive skills and can open up the world of honeybees for you in a way that studying on your own may not accomplish.