So, before Obi-Wan became the Jedi Master we know, sitting on the Jedi Council, he was just like any other Jedi—going through trials and tests set by the Council. And yes, Obi-Wan was passed over by multiple Jedi Masters before Qui-Gon Jinn finally chose him as his Padawan. And I can confirm that this is officially part of Star Wars canon.
The Mission That Almost Ended Obi-Wan’s Apprenticeship Under Qui-Gon
The story I want to share with you comes from the canon novel Star Wars: Master and Apprentice by Claudia Gray. This event takes place about eight years before The Phantom Menace when Obi-Wan was still a thirteen-year-old youngling.
The book opens with Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, on a mission involving the Hutts. While being pursued by Wanbo the Hutt and his guards, Qui-Gon gives Obi-Wan a quick command: “Handle the door!” However, the instruction isn’t clear—Qui-Gon meant for Obi-Wan to take care of the guards at the entrance, but Obi-Wan hesitates, confused.
“I meant, take care of the guards at the door!” Qui-Gon clarifies.
Obi-Wan, frustrated, shouts back, “You could’ve said so!”
After the mission, Qui-Gon reflects on his teaching methods, wondering if he’s failing Obi-Wan as a mentor. But things take a more serious turn when the Jedi Council calls Qui-Gon in—suggesting that Obi-Wan might be better suited for a different master.
The book describes Qui-Gon’s expectations, stating, “Regardless, he expected the Council to eventually ask him if he wanted them to reassign Obi-Wan’s training to another Master.”
When the moment finally arrived, Qui-Gon’s thoughts reflected his uncertainty. “Qui-Gon focused his attention back on the Masters surrounding him. They were exchanging glances in what seemed to be anticipation. He straightened. ‘Have you another mission for us?’ Maybe they intended to test him and Obi-Wan one more time before any decision about reassignment would be made.”
This moment shows that Qui-Gon wasn’t entirely caught off guard—he had considered the possibility of Obi-Wan being reassigned, but he still held onto the hope that they would be given another chance.
The Jedi Council wasn’t just considering reassigning Obi-Wan—they were also offering Qui-Gon Jinn a seat on the Council, a promotion that would officially make him a Jedi Master. This offer came with the expectation that Qui-Gon would no longer train a Padawan, meaning Obi-Wan would be placed under a different mentor.
However, Qui-Gon had no interest in joining the Council. He knew that if Obi-Wan was reassigned, his Padawan would take it personally, believing it was his own failure. The book gives us insight into Qui-Gon’s thoughts on the matter:
“The main reason Qui-Gon hadn’t asked for a transfer before was that he knew Obi-Wan would be hurt by it and would blame himself. The Council’s invitation would allow the transfer to be impersonal, merely practical. Obi-Wan could then be reassigned to a teacher who would serve him better.”
From what we see in the book, we can tell that before Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan was likely considered by other Jedi Masters. But it wasn’t until Qui-Gon Jinn that he finally found the right mentor—one who could truly train him, not just through successes, but through the mistakes they both made along the way.
What if Obi-Wan Hadn’t Been Chosen by Qui-Gon, or What Happened to Other Younglings Who Failed Their Trials?
If you’ve never heard of the Jedi Service Corps, it’s where younglings who failed their trials were sent. Instead of becoming Padawans and eventually Jedi Knights, they were reassigned to serve the Republic in a different way—still part of the Jedi Order, but without wielding a lightsaber.
The Jedi Service Corps had multiple branches, each designed to utilize the Force in ways that didn’t involve combat. Some younglings joined the Agricultural Corps, using their abilities to restore ecosystems and improve farming conditions on struggling planets. Others were placed in the Medical Corps, where their Force sensitivity helped in healing the sick and injured. The Exploration Corps sent members into the unknown regions to chart new worlds, while the Educational Corps trained the next generation of Jedi scholars.
According to The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force, any youngling who failed their trials would be placed in one of these divisions rather than expelled from the Order entirely. The book makes this clear:
“If you are not taken on as an apprenticed Padawan, a position in the Agricultural Corps or the Educational Corps will allow you to continue to follow the principles you have sworn to uphold and serve the Republic as you have vowed.”
