Adam,
A apprentice here in Victoria (rest of Australia is similar) is indentured to a tradesman who has worked for 12 years in his trade in this case a Gunsmith for 4 sometimes 5 years in this time he learns the art of gunsmithing and also he goes to technical college to learn other modules CNC machining, lathe and milling work etc but the qualification he recieves at the end is a trade in "Fitter & Turner" but the system is changing for the worse I believe.

Steve