Interne vs. Intern — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 3, 2024
Interns work within organizations to gain experience, while "interne" is a less common term, often used in French-speaking regions to describe a resident doctor.
Difference Between Interne and Intern
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An intern is typically a student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, at a trade or occupation to gain work experience. On the other hand, "interne" is a term less frequently used in English, primarily in French or Francophone contexts, referring to a resident doctor who is undergoing specialized training after completing medical school.
Internships are offered by various sectors including corporate businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, providing practical experience in a particular occupation. Whereas "interne" specifically relates to the medical field, denoting a stage in a doctor's training within a hospital or clinic, often after the completion of their initial medical degree.
The role of an intern can vary greatly depending on the industry and specific employer, ranging from administrative tasks to hands-on participation in projects. Conversely, an interne’s responsibilities are more narrowly focused on acquiring the clinical skills and knowledge necessary to practice medicine independently.
Internships can be either paid or unpaid, with the primary incentive being the valuable work experience and networking opportunities they provide. In contrast, internes are usually paid positions, as they are considered essential to the functioning of healthcare facilities, albeit at a lower salary compared to fully licensed physicians.
While internships are not exclusive to any stage of education or career, and can be undertaken by high school students, undergraduates, or postgraduates, the position of an interne is specific to medical graduates on their path to becoming a licensed doctor, highlighting a significant educational and professional progression requirement.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A student or trainee working to gain experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
A resident doctor undergoing specialized training after medical school, primarily in Francophone contexts.
Field
Varied - Can be in business, technology, non-profit sectors, etc.
Medical - Specifically relates to hospitals and healthcare.
Compensation
Can be paid or unpaid.
Typically paid, though less than a licensed physician.
Educational Stage
High school, college, postgraduate, or career changers.
Postgraduate medical graduates.
Main Purpose
To gain work experience, skills, and possibly academic credit.
To gain specialized clinical skills and knowledge required for medical practice.
Compare with Definitions
Interne
Focuses on learning and professional development.
As an intern, he attended several professional workshops.
Intern
Engages in specialized training.
His tenure as an interne focused on surgical techniques.
Interne
Can be found in a wide range of industries.
The tech startup offers internships to coding enthusiasts.
Intern
A resident doctor in a hospital, especially in Francophone countries.
After medical school, she chose to be an interne in pediatrics.
Interne
May lead to future employment opportunities.
Her internship at the design firm led to a full-time job offer.
Intern
Part of the path to becoming a fully licensed doctor.
Completing his years as an interne was a major milestone in his medical career.
Interne
Often associated with students or recent graduates seeking work experience.
He became an intern to explore potential career paths in finance.
Intern
Works under supervision in a clinical setting.
The interne conducted patient rounds under the supervision of a senior doctor.
Interne
A temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment.
She worked as an intern at the local newspaper to gain journalism experience.
Intern
Paid, though less than licensed doctors.
As an interne, her salary was modest but provided valuable experience.
Interne
Variant of intern.
Intern
A student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.
Interne
Archaic spelling of intern
Intern
Confine (someone) as a prisoner, especially for political or military reasons
The family were interned for the duration of the war as enemy aliens
Interne
Archaic spelling of intern
Intern
Serve as an intern.
Interne
That which is within; the interior.
Intern
A student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.
Interne
Same as intern.
Intern
A physician who has recently graduated from medical school and is learning medical practice in a hospital under supervision, prior to beginning a residency program.
Interne
An advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
Intern
One who is interned; an internee.
Intern
To train or serve as an intern.
Intern
To confine, especially in wartime.
Intern
A person who is interned, forcibly or voluntarily.
Intern
A student or recent graduate who works in order to gain experience in their chosen field.
Intern
A medical student or recent graduate working in a hospital as a final part of medical training.
Intern
(transitive) To imprison somebody, usually without trial.
The US government interned thousands of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
Intern
To confine or hold (foreign military personnel who stray into the state's territory) within prescribed limits during wartime.
The Swiss government interned the Italian soldiers who had strayed onto Swiss territory.
Intern
To internalize.
Intern
.NET 2003 Developer's Cookbook (page 81)
Intern
(intransitive) To work as an intern. Usually with little or no pay or other legal prerogatives of employment, for the purpose of furthering a program of education.
I'll be interning at Universal Studios this summer.
Intern
(archaic) Internal.
Intern
Internal.
Intern
To put for safe keeping in the interior of a place or country; to confine to one locality; as, to intern troops which have fled for refuge to a neutral country.
Intern
To hold until the end of a war, as enemy citizens in a country at the time of outbreak of hostilities; - an action performed by countries.
Intern
A resident physician in a hospital, especially one who has recently received the Doctorate and is practising under supervision of experienced physicians, as a continuation of the training process; a house physician; also called houseman in Britain.
Intern
A person working as an apprentice to gain experience in an occupation; sometimes the position is paid a salary, and other times it is not; as, a white house intern; an intern in a law firm.
Intern
An advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (`houseman' is a British term)
Intern
Deprive of freedom;
During WWII, Japanese were interned in camps in the West
Intern
Work as an intern;
The toung doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year
Common Curiosities
Can internships lead to employment?
Yes, internships can often lead to employment opportunities as they provide valuable work experience and networking.
What is an interne?
An interne is a resident doctor undergoing specialized postgraduate training, primarily in Francophone contexts.
Are all internships unpaid?
No, internships can be either paid or unpaid, depending on the industry and employer.
Who can become an intern?
High school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, or individuals looking to change careers can become interns.
Is being an interne a paid position?
Yes, internes are usually paid, albeit less than fully licensed physicians, as they are considered essential to healthcare facilities.
Can internships be part-time?
Yes, internships can be either full-time or part-time, depending on the employer's requirements and the intern's availability.
How long does an internship last?
The duration of an internship can vary widely, from a few weeks to several months, depending on the specific program and industry.
What is an intern?
An intern is a student or trainee who works, sometimes without pay, in a specific industry to gain relevant work experience.
Who can become an interne?
Medical graduates seeking specialized clinical training can become internes, especially in Francophone countries.
What is the main purpose of an internship?
The main purpose is to gain practical experience, develop skills, and potentially earn academic credit or certification in a particular field.
How long is the interne period?
The interne period typically lasts a few years, as it involves comprehensive clinical training in a specialized field of medicine.
Are internes considered doctors?
Internes are medical graduates in training and are considered doctors, but they do not yet have full licensure to practice independently.
What fields offer internships?
Internships are offered across various fields, including business, technology, healthcare, and non-profit sectors.
What is the main goal of an interne?
The main goal is to gain specialized clinical skills and knowledge necessary for independent medical practice.
Do internes work regular hours?
Internes often work long and irregular hours, including nights and weekends, due to the demanding nature of medical training and patient care.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
