Jedi ranks

Structure of the Order
In order to show a person's strengh in the force, the Jedi Order placed a set of ranks/levels for the Jedi to progress through. Each one meant a different responsibilities and different potential in the force.

Jedi Youngling
Youngling / Initiate / Apprentice This is an unofficial title and an unofficial rank. This refers to a child with Force potential. (Also referred to as a Jedi Hopeful.)Youngling is just Galactic slang for children of any sort. At a very young age, the Jedi initiates are brought from their homes and are assigned to a group for training. If a youngling is not chosen by a Jedi Knight to be their Padawan by 13 years of age, the youngling is placed into another, lesser role in the Jedi Services. Depending on where the student's talents lay, this may be the Agricultural Corps, the Medical Corps, or the Exploration Corps.

Jedi Padawan


An apprentice who undergoes intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight or Master after graduating from the academy. As tradition a human Padawan grows a long strand of braided hair that is finally cut off during the ceremony of knighthood, when a Padawan becomes a Jedi Knight. A Jedi may have only one apprentice at a time, and is required to promote the current apprentice before taking another. Some rogue Jedi Masters take more than one Padawan at a time against the wishes of the Jedi Council.

Jedi Knight
Disciplined, experienced Padawans may become full-fledged Jedi once they have completed "the trials", which are usually intensified tests, physical and otherwise, of candidates' skills, knowledge and dedication. The known trials are, but aren't limited to: the Trial of Flesh, the Trial of Courage, the Trial of Skill and the Trial of Self. Occasionally, performing an extraordinary (usually heroic) act can earn a Padawan learner Jedi Knight status, such as when Obi-Wan Kenobi, toward the end of his training, defeated Darth Maul, Dark Lord of the Sith, during the Battle of Naboo. Jedi Knight is the most common rank of Jedi; hence, the title is also used, mostly by non-Jedi, to refer to any member of the order that has at least met the compulsory requirements of the Jedi Council.

Jedi Master
A Jedi Knight may become a Master after successfully training a Padawan learner to Knight status. Though this is the most common manner, it is not always the case. If the council sees that a Jedi Knight has become more powerful and has gained more knowledge and discipline in the Force, then they can be nominated by one or more council members to take the trials again. But this time, the trials will be more difficult. It should also be said that most Jedi Masters, like Qui-Gon Jinn, never become members of the Council, as it is not a requirement to be a Master. The rank can also be achieved through the performance of extraordinary deeds or self-proclamation, though the latter is extremely rare.

Jedi Council Member
When a Jedi Council Member vacates their seat the council looks for an exceptional Jedi Master to fill the empty position. Presiding Council members elect prospective candidates when openings become available. In its history the Council has accepted Knights into it ranks, but this had become more and more uncommon by the time of the Clone Wars. While there are no explicit ranks among the Jedi Council (as it is, at least theoretically, a conclave of equals), there are clear centres of authority. Master Yoda, during his tenure on the Council, was generally regarded as the Council's senior-most member, or better known as the Grand Master, and Mace Windu as his second. During the time of the New Jedi Order, Luke's idea of "first-among-equals" position as the Grand Master is also unquestioned, if not totally agreed with. Some members were permanent, or lifetime, members while the rest served limited terms, after which they stepped down and another member would be elected to the council.