What to Expect From Your First 90 Days as an Apprentice

Starting your first apprenticeship is exciting, but let’s be real: the first few months can be a rollercoaster. Like with any new job, you're learning new skills and processes, meeting new people, and developing new routines. With an apprenticeship, however, you're doing this on multiple planes since you're starting a new job AND taking classes. Those classes may involve some of your colleagues or may not so it can feel like starting 2 new jobs all at once. It can, and likely will, be hard to balance at first. Trust the process. The first 90 days are about as hard as it will ever be since everything will be new. With each passing day, each passing week and month, certain aspects of your apprenticeship will become more familiar and simply become new routines.

Here’s what you can expect during your first 90 days — and how to make it through the learning curve.

First 30 days

Orientation and Survival Mode

Your first month is all about getting your bearings. You’re probably feeling excited -- finally getting started! -- and overwhelmed all at the same time. If you're working a trade, you might feel a bit sore as your body adjusts. Regardless, you're likely getting used to a new, rigorous schedule that demands a lot of your time. Embrace it.

Here’s what usually happens during this stage:

• Safety training – Most programs start with safety protocols. Pay attention. This stuff matters.

• Shadowing your mentor – You’ll mostly observe, ask questions, and handle small tasks.

• Learning the basics – Expect to organize tools, prep materials, and get familiar with routines.

Pro tip: Show up early and watch closely. Reliability and effort count more than skill at this stage.

Days 31–60

Getting Hands-On

By your second month, some things will start to click. You have a bit of a routine even if it's still somewhat new.. You’re trusted with simple tasks on your own. You've started to accumulate some hours and can see progress towards your overall on-the-job (OJT) training goals. Your body adjusts to the work schedule.

You might start:

• Installing, assembling, or assisting with real projects (or real patients or students depending on your industry)

• Reading basic instructions or blueprints

• Building confidence as your mentor lets you try new skills

Don’t worry if you make mistakes. That’s normal. What matters is listening to feedback and improving quickly.

Days 61–90

Becoming Part of the Team

By month three, you’re no longer “the new kid.” Your coworkers start trusting you to handle basic tasks without constant supervision, work alongside the team as a contributing member, balance your on-the-job learning with any classroom requirements.

This is usually when you start to feel like an apprentice, not just a helper.

The first 90 days are the toughest. Push through the awkward stage. Ask questions. It’s better to learn correctly now than to fix mistakes later. Show you’re dependable. Showing up on time and with the right attitude is half the battle.

Wrap up

Your first three months as an apprentice will test your patience, your energy, and sometimes your confidence. But if you stick with it, by day 90 you’ll start to see why apprenticeships are worth it — you’re learning, earning, and building a real career.