Artificial intelligence (AI) apprenticeships are an ideal way to break into the industry with no experience. They can kickstart your career, improve your knowledge and academic development skills, and help you earn money. With an apprenticeship, you also get to work with real clients and build a portfolio in the process.
This article will teach you all about AI apprenticeships, salaries, and available jobs at the time of writing. You can get the chance to learn about business processes, complex datasets, processing technologies, and other industry-standard skills. At the end, you will be able to decide on a career path in AI and learn how to get jobs in the field.
What Is an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship?
AI apprenticeships are training programs during which people upgrade their skills by working in the field. AI apprentices develop, program, and train complex networks of algorithms. An apprenticeship is a good way to practice your skills, get real-life experience, and build your portfolio. While most apprenticeship programs pay their apprentices, not all do.
However, you stand to gain more than you lose as the company you apprentice for may also choose to make you a full-time employee on completion of the program. The duration of an apprenticeship depends on the company and could range from three months to a year. IT and digital apprenticeships could last for up to two years.
What Does an Artificial Intelligence Apprentice Do?
An AI apprentice works with experienced AI engineers to build algorithms that can function like the human brain. They will work to develop software that can be used for robots and AI applications. As an apprentice, you may not get to work on solo projects but will work closely with experts to expand your knowledge and skills.
You will also collaborate with other teams like electrical or robotics engineers to come up with AI designs. As an AI apprentice, you should be skilled in programming languages, linear algebra, and statistics. You should also know about signal processing techniques and neural network architectures as well as have communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Salary
While there is no official salary rate for AI apprentices, the average annual salary of AI engineer interns is $132,515, according to ZipRecruiter. While ZipRecruiter also reports that professional AI engineers earn about $164,769, apprentices can expect to earn an amount somewhere in between both salary rates.
Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Requirements
The requirements for apprenticeships differ based on the company, but they are usually similar. AI apprentice applicants should have a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field. Those who do not have a degree can get accepted with four years of experience in the field or bootcamp training.
Some programs also accept applicants who are self-taught or have little experience in relevant programming languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript. One of the best artificial intelligence bootcamps can also help apprentices prepare for the role. Online learning or a blended approach is a great way to limit the hours per week you’ll have to commit.
Types of Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeships
There are several career opportunities awaiting you in the AI field. You can work as a machine learning engineer, business intelligence developer, big data engineer, robotics engineer, data scientist, AI research scientist, or product manager. All of these fields are great careers, and you can start as an apprentice in any of them.
Machine Learning Engineer
A machine learning engineer works to develop machine systems that can make accurate predictions and resolve data problems. They use algorithms for building AI software like virtual assistants and driverless cars. An example of AI software is Apple’s Siri that can work as a virtual assistant.
Artificial Intelligence Research Scientist
AI research scientists are professionals who conduct research with consumers to analyze and understand their problems and help AI engineers solve these problems. They create reports, research papers, and pursue new technologies that can be used to solve consumer problems and establish new areas of research.
Data Scientist
Data scientists are in charge of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting raw data to glean valuable information that can help organizations make well-informed decisions and optimize processes. They collect data from multiple sources to come up with solutions to problems and help a company achieve its business goals.
Big Data Engineer
Big data engineers are professionals responsible for a company’s big data. They develop, test, and maintain big data solutions for a company by gathering data from several sources and making it easily accessible to end-users. You can become a big data engineer from a coding bootcamp or apprenticeship program.
Robotics Engineer
Robotic engineers are in charge of creating prototypes, building machines, and testing and maintaining the software that controls them. They begin by conducting research to determine the most cost-effective and safe methods of manufacturing robotic systems. They use communication techniques and storage architectures to make sure robots can function.
Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Jobs
Given the exploding popularity of AI, there’s ample opportunity to participate in AI apprenticeships. The world keeps evolving through technology, making AI even more valuable each year. Find below a few AI apprenticeships available at the time of writing.
LinkedIn Apprentice Engineer III – Artificial Intelligence (AI)
LinkedIn is a business and employment online service that allows both employers and job seekers to post job opportunities and resumes. LinkedIn has an apprenticeship program called REACH that is designed specifically to help people find their purpose and career path through an apprenticeship.
The LinkedIn AI apprenticeship program is designed for those who are self-taught, transitioning from another career, reentering the workforce, or completing bootcamp training. They are expected to have the relevant AI skills but not a bachelor’s degree. Applicants who are accepted will be put in locations based on where they live, their skillset, and the company’s needs.
The role will allow apprentices to have time for their own personal technical growth with access to the company’s system and external educational opportunities. The apprentices will be appointed to work with LinkedIn’s AI team and will get the opportunity to put their skills to use, expand their knowledge, and gain key skills to grow in the field.
The duration of the program is dependent on each apprentice’s knowledge, industry-relevant skills, experience, and progress throughout the entire program. All applicants must be authorized to live and work in the US.
NC State University Artificial Intelligence Academy
NC State University is the largest university in the Carolinas. The AI apprenticeship program is a government-funded apprenticeship designed for veterans and underrepresented groups with a background in computer science or IT. US citizens currently working in computer science or IT are encouraged to apply, as well as unemployed individuals taking a course in the field.
The program includes two levels of training: basic AI (AI and data mining focus) and advanced AI (machine learning and analytics focus). The apprentices accepted will get paid for part-time work and participate in coursework led by an AI professional. Employers can also register their employees to upgrade their skills to meet the industry’s continuously changing demands.
This registered apprenticeship is ideal for North Carolinians who want to learn more about customer service, effective architectures, and documentation processes in the field. They will learn how human decision-making is a key factor in the day work duties of artificial intelligence experts.
Pearson Machine Learning Engineer Apprenticeship
Pearson is an education publishing and assessment company that offers services to schools, corporations, and students. The company believes in the continuous education of the world and finding new ways to educate and find new talent around the world. The machine learning apprenticeship is an asset for career-oriented learners.
In this program, you will work with deep learning tools to become a machine learning specialist later on in your career. This apprenticeship offers computer science opportunities that can help you learn about innovative approaches to completing customer requirements. It includes practical training to help you become a novice worker.
The machine learning program is designed for professionals who have a master’s degree or PhD in a computer science or mathematics field. Applicants must also be skilled in SQL, database structures, and complex data models in AWS or Google Cloud. The role is also strictly limited to apprentices in the North Carolina State University apprenticeship program.
Interos Inc Machine Learning Apprentice Program
Interos is a software company in Arlington, Virginia that helps businesses save time and effort through software as a service (SaaS) platforms. Organizations that work with Interos experience reduced risks, avoid disruptions, and achieve dramatically superior resilience.
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This apprenticeship program is a three-month program at the end of which apprentices have a chance to be hired for full-time positions. Apprentices will learn natural language processing (NLP) applications, internal tooling for inter-team workflows, and Amazon Web Services. This apprenticeship is only available to those who are legally authorized to live and work in the US.
To apply for this role, applicants must complete a coding challenge and will be considered based on the results. There are no formal qualifications, but candidates should have an understanding of machine learning, Python, NLP, statistical analysis, experimental design, and hypothesis validation. Apprentices in this program earn $40 per hour.
Peraton Cyber Software Engineer Apprenticeship Program
Peraton is a tech firm that specializes in space, intelligence, cyber solutions, defense, homeland security, and health. It employs over 22,000 employees and serves as a partner to government agencies including the US Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, and NASA.
This apprenticeship program is built for cyber security engineers but is open to those with skills in machine learning and data science. Machine learning is a subcategory of artificial intelligence and is an essential skill for artificial intelligence engineers to have. The program requires candidates to have a minimum of a bachelor’s or four years of experience in the field.
The program is only available to candidates in the US who are legally authorized to live and work there. Apprentices will join the company’s software engineering team and participate in tasks involving development, engineering, interfacing, integration of hardware and software systems, concepts of operation, and system architectures.
How to Get an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship
There are several education options that you can use to your advantage to land a spot at an AI apprenticeship. Not only will they increase your chances of finding an apprenticeship, but they will also provide you with the hard skills necessary to succeed in the industry. Some of them include coding bootcamps, internships, trade schools, and vocational training programs.
Bootcamps
Artificial intelligence coding bootcamps are a great way to start a career in tech. They are designed to equip students with hard in-demand skills sought after by employers and typically offer post-graduation career services.
The majority of bootcamps partner with companies that may hire students after they complete a program. They organize events for students to meet with potential employers and recruiters to showcase their portfolios and skills to secure jobs. They also help students gain apprenticeships, internships, and permanent roles.
Internships
Internships are programs that are organized by universities or companies to allow students to gain on-the-job training. They are sometimes a part of a school or bootcamp’s curriculum, something that should be viewed as a benefit when applying to a school or bootcamp.
Through an internship, you can find apprenticeship openings within your company and also increase your chances of landing apprenticeship roles at other companies. Completing an internship means you have experience gaining technical skills and using soft skills to get the job done.
Trade Schools
Trade schools often partner with companies to help their students gain job experience. These schools specialize in equipping students with the specific skills needed to perform a job role or work in a field. Attending one will give you the relevant knowledge and practical skills needed to land apprentice roles.
Vocational Training
Vocational training programs are programs that equip students with the technical skills needed to perform a technical task or job. They prepare their students to start technical jobs or careers and become skilled workers. With the training obtained from a vocational program, you can apply for apprenticeship programs.
Is an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Worth It?
Yes, an AI apprenticeship is worth it for anyone looking to break into the tech industry. As a graduate with a college degree who is yet to get a job, a bootcamp graduate, or a self-taught AI engineer, an apprenticeship will help you gain the relevant experience and portfolio needed to land better professional roles and have a rewarding AI career.
Joining a coding bootcamp will give you a higher chance of being accepted as an apprentice at high-profile companies. It is also a good career path for those who are transitioning from another career into the tech sector. If you want to learn artificial intelligence and get a job in the field, an apprenticeship, internship, or bootcamp is the best place to start.
Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship FAQ
To become an artificial intelligence engineer, you typically need a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field. You also need to have good computer skills, programming skills, problem-solving skills, analytical thinking skills, and critical thinking skills.
Artificial intelligence jobs are in demand and keep growing every year. The need for professionals in this field will continue to exist as long as technology keeps evolving.
You can get a job in AI without a degree by joining a coding bootcamp, applying for internships that don’t have hard prerequisites, or taking online classes. These methods will help you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to start a career in the field, while an apprenticeship can help you get some actual work experience.
Artificial intelligence isn’t the easiest to grasp, but with the right amount of dedication, time, and effort to learn, understand, and practice, it’s a rewarding and fulfilling discipline.
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