Jedi Padawan

"Be mindful of the Living Force, my young Padawan."

- Qui-Gon Jinn to Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi

A Jedi Padawan, also referred to as a Padawan learner or Jedi Apprentice, was a child, or in some cases an adult, who began their core Jedi training under a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Master. They were generally chosen by the Jedi Knight or Jedi Master from the Jedi ranks as younglings. Padawans tended to follow their master wherever they went, unless seen unfit by the master, and this included simple tasks to dangerous missions so they could learn from their master’s experiences and personal wisdom.

Padawans that belonged to species that grew hair on their heads typically grew a braid signifying their apprentice status, although there were a few exceptions among species, even some Humans. When a Padawan passed the Jedi trials, he or she was promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight and their braid was cut off during the knighting ceremony. There was no fixed age when this happened. Padawans could even be adults, but for a Human, it usually occurred in the Padawan's early to mid-twenties. One such Jedi Padawan who successfully passed their trials was Selusda Kraren, shortly before Operation: Knightfall.

If a youngling was not chosen by any Jedi Knight to be their Padawan by the time they reached thirteen standard years of age, they would be placed into a lesser role in the Jedi Service Corps. This tradition was abandoned by Luke Skywalker when he created the New Jedi Order.

Known Padawans
There were numerous known Padawans throughout history, many of whom later became Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters. However, many also failed to achieve a rank higher than Jedi Padawan, either due to their rejection by a Jedi Master or by their deaths. The following individuals, sorted alphabetically by surnames, ended their time in the Jedi Order as Padawans.