Difference Between An Internship and Apprenticeship

When we are on the lookout for the best internships, sometimes we can come across a position titled apprenticeship. The two may seem similar and although both will give you hands-on training, that is where their similarities stop.

An internship is usually what is expected from any college graduate who is seeking employment after college, but with an apprenticeship, it almost guarantees you a high paying job once you have completed it.

“The comparison between an internship and an apprenticeship is like comparing a rowboat to a destroyer. There’s a lot of applied work with people who are highly accomplished in their field,” said Anthony Carnevale, the Director and Research Professor of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, in an interview with Glassdoor.

To make your life a little easier we compiled a list so you can see the difference between an internship and an apprenticeship.

1. Apprenticeships Last Longer

An internship is typically a semester-long or during the summer, after that, you move onto another or you get hired full-time. An apprenticeship can take years to complete, and it requires a full-time commitment. Apprenticeships can last a few years too, although there are a few programs where the program only requires a year to complete. With an internship, you get work experience, but with an apprenticeship, you get more than just work experience.

2. There are More Internships Then Apprenticeships

In the United States apprenticeships are hard to come by. In Europe, you are more likely to see an apprenticeship, but they are still hard to come by. Apprenticeships are more geared toward people who are highly skilled in technical jobs, like engineering or construction. Carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and telecommunications are other popular fields where you can find apprenticeships.

When it comes to internships, they are usually available for most college students through their school or university. The internship is often generalized instead of focusing on a specific trade.

3. Classroom Training is Coupled to the Apprenticeship

The benefit of an internship is the exposure you get to the workforce, something that some college students might not be used to yet. An internship is a great way to beef up your resume and learn something within a company that you might not learn in the classroom.

With an apprenticeship, this isn’t the case. During an apprenticeship, you combined the classroom and on the job training and the best part is you get paid for doing both. The critical piece to your apprenticeship is the classroom experience you get since it is linked to your occupation.

4. After Your Apprenticeship, You Have a Job

The downside to an internship is the fact that you’re not guaranteed a job once it is finished. Although an internship does get you to experience in corporate America that you need, that doesn’t always mean it will get your foot in the door. An apprenticeship will do that for you though. With an apprenticeship, an employer is sponsoring you and spending their time to teach and train you, which means you are almost guaranteed a good paying job once you finish.

When you end an apprenticeship, you have a certificate that states that you are proficient in the job you studied under, making it incredibly easy to find a job in your field.

5. Hands-on Training Comes with an Apprenticeship

Going into an internship you aren’t typically given a lot of responsibility. The best part of an internship is how you can see how your job is supposed to be done, but you aren’t doing the job you want to be doing. It is the reverse with an apprenticeship. Instead, you will get real hands-on job training in the profession you will one day work in. The point of the apprenticeship is to see and feel what you will be doing for the rest of your professional career.

6. You Get Paid More than an Internship

When it comes to an apprenticeship, they are highly competitive, and that is since you get paid while you learn. You won’t be breaking the bank with the paycheck you make during your apprenticeship, but it is more than what you can expect from an internship. Not all states require a company to pay a student during their internship and sometimes they earn college credits or a small stipend, but with an apprenticeship, you are given a salary you can live off.

Apprenticeships may seem like the better option when it comes to deciding between the two, but they are just as hard and are a considerable commitment. Not all trades do apprenticeship either, so if it’s something you are interested in being sure to check the career center at your school to see if there is an opportunity in your job field.