Abstract: Based on the historical reviews, this article divides the evolvement of apprenticeship in western countries into five stages: pre-apprenticeship, guild apprenticeship in Middle Age, statute apprenticeship in 16-18 century, collective bargained apprenticeship after industry revolutions, and modern apprenticeship after World War II. The backgrounds, institutions and training forms of each stage are described respectively. Based on comparison, some features of and driving forces behind the evolvement are concluded in the end.

Key words: Apprenticeship, history, comparison