The Apprentice is a television franchise that originated in 2004 in the United States. As originally conceived, the show depicted 16 contestants from around the country with various backgrounds competing in an elimination-style competition to become an apprentice to Donald Trump. They would have the opportunity to work for him as the president of one of his companies for at least one year with an annual salary of $250,000. The Apprentice was developed by Mark Burnett, who successfully brought Survivor to the US. Since its premiere, the show has spawned many licensed international versions as well as several imitations.

The Apprentice is a reality television show that originated in the United States on NBC. Billed as "The Ultimate Job Interview," the show depicted a group of 15-18 businessmen and -women competing in an elimination-style competition for a one-year, $250,000 job of running one of host and executive producer Donald Trump's companies.

The first season aired during winter and spring of 2004. The Apprentice is produced by Mark Burnett and real estate magnate Donald Trump, who hosted the show. The premise of the show is to conduct a job talent search for a person to head one of Trump's companies. The position starts with an introductory one-year contract with a starting yearly salary at six figures ($250,000 USD to be exact, roughly about $4807.70 USD per week assuming a 52-week work-year). The show led Trump to become known for his fateful catch phrase "You're Fired!", which he took from WWE chairman Vince McMahon which would later result in a confrontation between both of them at Wrestlemania 23 (but in fact originated in the 1960s cartoon series The Jetsons). The theme song for the show is For the Love of Money by the O'Jays.

The contestants live communally in a suite at Trump Tower in New York City and the boardroom showdown is with Trump and two of his associates (usually Carolyn Kepcher, Former Chief Operating Officer and General Manager for the Trump National Golf Club, and George H. Ross, Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel, The Trump Organization). Season 6 saw the show move to Los Angeles. On May 14, 2007 NBC announced the show was not on its fall 2007 schedule, but that a decision to cancel or renew it had not yet been made. On May 19, 2007, Trump announced that he was "moving on from The Apprentice",[citation needed] effectively ending the series. However, on May 22, NBC responded by saying Trump still has a year left on his contract.[citation needed] It was finally officially announced on July 16, 2007 that NBC renewed the show for mid-season as a special celebrity edition. Season seven debuted January 3, 2008. The eighth season "is set to premiere in January 2009".

The apprentice website is now online at theapprenticefan.com, this site include news, video, photo and forum.