The paper describes the modern practice of assistantship and the peculiarities of its functioning at US universities. It presents the actual typology of programs for faculty assistants, and identifies the structural, organizational and methodical aspects of the professional activity of young faculties within the assistant programs. The article also determines the role of assistantship practice in training a prospective faculty of higher education within the doctoral program. Key words: assisting, socialization, doctorate, faculty assistant, junior faculty, assistant in research work, tutor, reader, facultative introductory meeting, training workshop.