Apprenticeships and internships both offer on-the-job training. The main differences are the length and intensity of programs. Typically, an internship lasts from three months to one year, while apprenticeships are typically one to six years in length, with a national average of four years. Internships focus on general skills development, while apprenticeships provide specialized training in specific occupational skills. Apprenticeships are full-time, paid positions, while internships are generally part-time and may or may not be paid. Interns are not obligated to work for the employer after the internship is over. If you start early enough to do a few internships, you can use the first internships to get a feel for what career you’d like to pursue and the later internships to build your experience.