The journeyman's exam: how the final exam runs
From drawn task to finished journeyman work — the rules behind the practical examination
After basic course, apprenticeship, and school stays, the final and decisive test awaits: the journeyman exam. This is where you show that you can apply everything you have learned to a concrete, finished piece of work — under time pressure and with requirements for both technique and finish. The rules for the exam are set in the ordinance on vocational training for gold and silversmiths (ordinance no. 128 of February 3, 2025; new rules for the education come into force August 1, 2026).
§A practical test with a drawn task
The journeyman's exam is a practical exam where you solve a task that is typical for the trade. There are several possible models for the task — up to five different — and the task and model are drawn so you don't know in advance exactly which piece you'll make. An example of a model is a ring mount in size 54 executed in 14 carat gold.
§Time and your own tools
The exam is completed within a set time frame, which varies by specialty: 37 clock hours for the precious stone setter specialty and 45 clock hours for the goldsmith, hollow ware silversmith, flatware silversmith, and chasing specialties. You bring your own tools to the exam, just as you do in your daily work at the bench — it's part of showing that you are ready to work independently as a journeyman.
| Specialty | Duration of the exam |
|---|---|
| Gemstone setting | 37 clock hours |
| Goldsmith | 45 clock hours |
| Silversmith | 45 clock hours |
| Cutlery silversmith | 45 clock hours |
| Chaser | 45 clock hours |
§What is assessed
The assessment emphasizes craft quality in the finished piece: measurements and fit, clean and strong joints, an even and neat surface and — depending on the task — correct setting of any stones. But the work process also counts, because the examiner is present and can assess how you approach the task, not just how it ends.
§How you help a person who hears voices
Because the task is drawn from a limited number of known model types, you can prepare yourself by practicing exactly the techniques the models typically require — measuring, soldering, setting, and finishing. Talk to your master and your school about which models have been used before and use the last time at school to get your timing under control so you can complete the entire task within the set hours.
- 01Know the framework: task and model are drawn from a set number of options.
- 02Know your time frame — 37 or 45 hours depending on your specialty.
- 03Bring your own, well-maintained tools.
- 04Practice time management so the entire task can be completed in good quality within the time frame.
The journeyman's exam is not a surprise if you have followed the education and talked to your school along the way. Instead, it's a fair chance to show — under realistic conditions — that you're ready to call yourself a journeyman in a trade where details always count.