Apprentice vs. Journeyman — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 4, 2024
An apprentice is a beginner learning a trade under a master, while a journeyman has completed training and can work independently.
Difference Between Apprentice and Journeyman
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
An apprentice is someone at the initial stages of learning a trade or craft, typically under the supervision of a master craftsman. They engage in both practical and theoretical training, aiming to gain the skills necessary for proficiency. On the other hand, a journeyman has completed such an apprenticeship and passed requisite exams, qualifying them to work independently without supervision.
Apprentices often start with basic tasks and gradually take on more complex responsibilities as their training progresses. They are usually bound by formal agreements that outline the duration of their training and the skills they are expected to learn. Whereas, journeymen can undertake all aspects of their trade and may also supervise apprentices, taking responsibility for imparting the skills they have mastered.
Apprentices receive a lower wage, reflective of their learning status and the investment of resources in their training. Conversely, journeymen earn higher wages, commensurate with their higher skill level and ability to complete professional-level work independently.
In terms of career progression, becoming a journeyman is a significant step as it opens up opportunities for independent work, higher earnings, and further professional development. Journeymen may also pursue additional certifications or even aim to become master craftsmen themselves, overseeing both journeymen and apprentices.
Recognition within their trade is different as well. Apprentices are considered trainees and are learning the norms and standards of their craft. Journeymen, however, are recognized as competent and fully qualified professionals within their trade, often required to maintain their status through ongoing education and adherence to professional standards.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A beginner in a trade, learning under supervision.
A qualified worker in a trade, working independently.
Training Status
Undergoing training, not yet qualified.
Completed training and passed necessary exams.
Responsibilities
Basic tasks, learning various aspects of the trade.
Handles complex tasks, can supervise apprentices.
Wages
Lower, reflecting their learning status.
Higher, reflective of skill and independence.
Professional Development
Aims to accumulate skills to pass exams.
May pursue further certifications or master status.
Compare with Definitions
Apprentice
Bound by a training contract.
His four-year apprenticeship contract outlined all required skills and duties.
Journeyman
Recognized as fully competent.
Certified as a journeyman, he was eligible to bid for his own contracts.
Apprentice
A novice learning a trade under a master.
The apprentice spent his days learning carpentry techniques.
Journeyman
Qualified to work independently.
As a journeyman, he no longer required supervision on construction sites.
Apprentice
Prepares for professional exams.
The apprentice studied nightly for the upcoming certification exam.
Journeyman
A tradesperson who has completed an apprenticeship.
The journeyman electrician installed complex wiring systems independently.
Apprentice
Engaged in on-the-job training.
As an apprentice, she repaired simple circuits under supervision.
Journeyman
Earns full professional wages.
Her wages significantly increased once she became a journeyman.
Apprentice
Receives a stipend or lower wage.
The apprentice earned a modest wage while training at the plumbing company.
Journeyman
Can supervise apprentices.
The journeyman carpenter was responsible for overseeing two apprentices.
Apprentice
One bound by legal agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business.
Journeyman
A journeyman is a worker, skilled in a given building trade or craft, who has successfully completed an official apprenticeship qualification. Journeymen are considered competent and authorized to work in that field as a fully qualified employee.
Apprentice
One who is learning a trade or occupation, especially as a member of a labor union.
Journeyman
One who has fully served an apprenticeship in a trade or craft and is a qualified worker in another's employ.
Apprentice
A beginner; a learner.
Journeyman
An experienced and competent but undistinguished worker or athlete
"Most scientists are semiliterate journeymen with respect to the humanities" (Edward O. Wilson).
Apprentice
To work as an apprentice
She apprenticed at the ceramics studio.
Journeyman
A tradesman who has served an apprenticeship and is employed by a master tradesman.
Apprentice
To engage as an apprentice
In colonial times many children were apprenticed to craftsmen.
Journeyman
A competent but undistinguished tradesman, especially one who works, and is paid by the day.
Apprentice
A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.
Journeyman
(sports) A player who plays on many different teams during the course of his career.
The Los Angeles Lakers added journeyman forward Bob McAdoo to their roster in hopes that he could help them win a title.
Apprentice
(historical) One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a tradesperson, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
Journeyman
Formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly, one who has finished an apprenticeship and is a competent worker in a handicraft or trade, but has not received recognition as a master; - distinguished from apprentice and from master workman.
I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well.
Apprentice
(dated) One not well versed in a subject; a tyro or newbie.
Journeyman
A competent and experienced worker who performs adequately but without a high level of expertise or imagination.
Apprentice
(transitive) To put under the care and supervision of a master, for the purpose of instruction in a trade or business.
His father had apprenticed him to a silk merchant.
He was apprenticed to a local employer.
Journeyman
A skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
Apprentice
(transitive) To be an apprentice to.
Joe apprenticed three different photographers before setting up his own studio.
Apprentice
One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a mechanic, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
Apprentice
One not well versed in a subject; a tyro.
Apprentice
A barrister, considered a learner of law till of sixteen years' standing, when he might be called to the rank of serjeant.
Apprentice
To bind to, or put under the care of, a master, for the purpose of instruction in a trade or business.
Apprentice
Works for an expert to learn a trade
Apprentice
Be or work as an apprentice;
She apprenticed with the great master
Apprentice
In training;
An apprentice carpenter
Common Curiosities
What is an apprentice?
An apprentice is a trainee who is learning a specific trade by working under the guidance of a skilled professional.
What qualifications does a journeyman have?
A journeyman has completed an apprenticeship program and passed necessary exams to demonstrate competence in their trade.
How long does an apprenticeship last?
An apprenticeship can last anywhere from 1 to 6 years, depending on the trade and the specific requirements of the program.
What are the benefits of completing an apprenticeship?
Completing an apprenticeship provides hands-on experience, necessary skills, and qualifications needed to advance to a journeyman, leading to better job opportunities and higher wages.
What responsibilities does a journeyman have?
A journeyman can independently handle all aspects of their trade, supervise apprentices, and may also manage projects.
Can a journeyman become a master craftsman?
Yes, a journeyman can advance to become a master craftsman after gaining additional experience and meeting further qualifications.
How does one become a journeyman?
One becomes a journeyman by completing an apprenticeship and successfully passing any required qualifying exams.
Do apprentices get paid?
Yes, apprentices are paid a wage, which is lower than that of a journeyman but designed to support them while they learn.
Are journeymen required to continue education?
In many trades, journeymen are encouraged or required to continue their education to maintain their skills and qualifications.
What is the difference in wage between an apprentice and a journeyman?
The wage difference is significant, with journeymen earning considerably more due to their higher skill level and independence.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Inductive vs. Deductive
Next Comparison
Direct vs. IndirectAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
