Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship with a length of 3 or 4 years are the most common ones. The certificate awarded after successfully completing a 3 or 4-year apprenticeship is called "Certificat Fédérale de Capacité" (), "Eidgenössisches Fähigkeitszeugnis" (EFZ) or "Attestato federale di capacità" (AFC).
Irish Army Apprentice School
From June to September each year the apprentices were required to undergo "Military Training", where they were taught the basics of military drill and fieldcraft. Most apprentices hated this part of the year because military instructors were brought in from different parts of the country and these instructors were usually allowed "let loose" on the apprentices. During military training the apprentices spent two months learning the military side of life, which also included a gruelling two weeks in either the much hated "Kilbride Military Camp" or the "Glen of Imaal" in Co. Wicklow. 
Upon completion of the 3 years the apprentices achieved the rank of "2 Star Private" or "Ordinary Seaman" in the case of Naval Apprentices.