The Difference Between an Internship and Apprenticeship: Internships and apprenticeships are conveyed to help students or young professionals gain skill in an industry. So in this article, we will show you the difference between an internship and apprenticeship.
Internships and apprenticeships give you entry-level experience in a career, but they work in different ways. They are frequently described as programs that allow you to earn while you learn, apprenticeships pay you to learn a skill or trade in the work environment.
Definition of an Internship
The idea of an intern first started in the medical world. The term actually referred to an individual who practiced medicine but was not licensed (yikes). After WWI, the term developed to mean a medical student in training after medical school.
What’s the aim of an internship?
An internship provides an individual with an overview of a position or field for a short period of time. It’s surface-level learning pitched toward applicants who are still surveying their interests and deciding what options they’d like to pursue.
Definition of Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship means a course of on-the-job-training where the apprentice goes through the training for a fixed duration on a contract basis, in which he learns certain skills needed for a particular trade and occupation.
However, in an apprenticeship training, the trainee learns and earns at the same time. The training may also be part-time or full-time, depending on the terms of the contract. The orientation program is directed for new employees.
How’s an apprenticeship any different?
The traditional idea of an apprenticeship originated in the middle ages. It also referred to the practice of assigning a novice to learn a trade under the direction of an expert. Generally, people likely associate the apprenticeship model with vocational careers.
An apprenticeship is a position which is meant for someone who has decided on a career path and is looking to gain in-depth experience in a certain field. It also consists of a combination of hands-on experience and classroom education.
Under an apprenticeship model, you also learn the business from successful executives and firms. You learn design from top designers or gain perception into social innovation from leading entrepreneurs, educators, and experts.
There’s an educational theory that gives insight on how apprenticeships are beneficial because they provide hands-on, experiential learning that involves the learner in the process within the exact physical context and occupies them in authentic activities.
The Difference Between Apprenticeship and Internship
The difference between an internship and apprenticeship are provided below:
- Apprenticeship is a training program directed in an industry or undertaking where the trainee gets an opportunity to learn and earn at the same time. An internship is a system of training in which the trainee gets a chance to learn the required skills and knowledge, which are needed by him in getting jobs.
- Apprenticeship is a work-based training, while internship is work-based learning.
- The time duration of an apprenticeship is actually longer than the internship training.
- Apprenticeship training is provided to potential employees, while internship training is provided to undergraduate students.
- Apprenticeship training is seen as a part of Vocational Education and Training. On the contrary, Internships may or may not be a part of formal education.
- The trainees of apprenticeship training are usually called an apprentice. While, the trainees in case of internship training are known as interns.
- Apprenticeship training ends with a job in the hand of trainees whereas internship training ends with an experience to the applicant.
- Apprenticeship training is always paid. Not like Internships which may or may not is paid.
- In apprenticeship training, the induction and orientation training is usually given which is not in the case of internship training.
Intern and Apprentice Salaries
Internships are usually volunteer placements. Most posts don’t pay a salary, although some do. So unpaid internships in the private sector must meet the regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
However, this prevents organizations from using interns as a substitute for paid employees and make sure that internships have an accurate educational focus. Apprenticeships pay a salary, but you’re likely to earn low wages to start with. This usually increases as you gain experience and skills during your apprenticeship training.
Employment Chances for Intern and Apprentice
Interns may not be seeking for immediate jobs and may simply use placements to assess possible careers. However in some cases, this can be an important way to get into an organization, and some employers offer jobs after successful internships.
This experience may help you get jobs in the future, adding applicable experience to your resume and helping you build a network of contacts. Hence, if you’re an apprentice, you have a job until the end of your program, when you reach journey-level status. At this stage, you get a certificate of completion.
This certificate, combined together with your training, experience, and any qualifications you may have earned during your apprenticeship, may enhance your job prospects. Well in some cases, the organization with which you trained may offer you a job.