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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 out in the executive order on vocational training for gold and silversmiths (Executive Order no. 79 of 14 January 2026, in force from 1 August 2026) and in the training regulations (uddannelsesordningen). Students who started before follow Executive Order no. 128 of 3 February 2025.
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.
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 |
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.
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.
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.