When Does a Probation Period End? (3 & 6 Month Examples)

A probation period ends on the same date as your start date, but in a future month. For a 3-month probation starting January 15, your probation ends on April 15.

Common Probation Lengths

Standard probation periods vary by industry and country:

• 3 months: Common in the UK and Europe
• 6 months: Standard in many corporate roles
• 90 days: Common in US employment (slightly shorter than 3 months)
• 12 months: Sometimes used for senior positions

Try our Probation End Date Calculator to find your exact probation end date.

How Months Are Counted

When counting months, the end date is the same day number in a future month:

• Start: January 1 → 3-month end: April 1
• Start: March 15 → 6-month end: September 15
• Start: May 31 → 3-month end: August 31

Edge Cases: Month-End Dates

What happens when the start date doesn't exist in the end month?

• Start: January 31 → 1-month end: February 28 (or 29)
• Start: March 31 → 1-month end: April 30
• Start: August 31 → 6-month end: February 28

The general rule: if the date doesn't exist, use the last day of the month.

90 Days vs 3 Months

These are not the same:

• 90 days = exactly 90 calendar days
• 3 months = same date, 3 months later (could be 89-92 days)

Always check whether your contract specifies days or months.

What Happens at Probation End?

Typically, one of three things:

• Confirmation: Your employment is confirmed as permanent
• Extension: Probation is extended for a further period
• Termination: Employment ends (often with shorter notice during probation)