Once a cat turns six moons old, they are considered to be ready to become an apprentice.

There are multiple situations where a kit would not become an apprentice at six moons old:

- If the kit has gotten into serious trouble, and they must wait however much longer their leader decides as a punishment

- If the kit has been severely injured, and must wait to recover before they are ready to start training

- If the kit is very ill, and is not fit to become an apprentice at the time

The leader will call a clan meeting to appoint new apprentices, and assign them to their mentors. They will speak the following words:

"(Kit), you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you recieve your warrior name, you will be known as (new name, ending with "paw"). Your mentor will be (name of warrior or medicine cat). I hope (name of warrior or medicine cat) will pass down all he/she knows on to you."

The leader calls up the cat that he/she has chosen as a mentor.

"(Warrior or medicine cat), you are ready to take on an apprentice. You have received excellent training from (former mentor), and you have shown yourself to be (quality) and (quality). You will be the mentor of (apprentice), and I expect you to pass on all you know to (apprentice)."

The mentor touches noses with their apprentice, and the clan greets the new apprentice by calling out their name.