INCAP ADULT CAREER PROGRAM
Applied AI Associate
Develop AI skills, and get paid while you learn.
The INCAP Applied AI Associate Career Program prepares adults to design, build, and improve practical generative AI and automation solutions — inside a real Indiana employer, as a full-time paid employee. Most organizations don’t need someone who can build frontier models. They need people who can spot where AI improves a workflow, prepare information for it, evaluate whether outputs can be trusted, and keep it inside security and governance rules. That’s this job.
- Prepare and organize data for analysis and AI use
- Create prompts, reusable templates, and AI-enabled workflows
- Evaluate AI-generated results for accuracy, quality, bias, and safety
- Support the responsible rollout and adoption of AI solutions
2 years
LENGTH
40
HOURS PER WEEK
$17–25/hr
TRAINEE PAY
Business offices
SETTING
What You’ll Earn
- INCAP credential — recognized by TechIndiana and technology employers across Indiana as equivalent to an associate degree in applied AI, business, and technology
- Two years of paid, full-time experience with an Indiana employer
- Optional industry certification: CompTIA AI Fundamentals (supplemental — program completion is based on demonstrated competency)
- College credit toward a related degree program, where accepted
Is This Program Right for You?
This could be a great fit if you…
- Enjoy working with data and technology
- Are curious about how AI can solve practical business problems
- Like analyzing information and looking for patterns
- Want a role that combines analytical thinking, communication, and hands-on problem-solving
What You’ll Actually Do
The work is real from day one. Across two years, trainees build competency in these areas:
PREPARE DATA
Turn raw information into usable data
- Collect, clean, and organize data for analysis and AI workflows
- Identify missing information, duplicates, inconsistencies, and quality risks
- Document data definitions, sources, assumptions, and changes
APPLY AI EFFECTIVELY
Use AI to support everyday work
- Use approved AI tools to draft, summarize, classify, and extract information
- Create clear prompts, templates, and output formats
- Review AI-generated content for unsupported claims or missing details
DEVELOP AI-ENABLED WORKFLOWS
Identify automation opportunities
- Create AI-assisted solutions, including copilots and simple agents
- Build workflows that route requests, trigger actions, and log outputs
- Monitor workflows and collect feedback
EVALUATE AI SOLUTIONS
Make sure AI keeps working safely
- Evaluate AI outputs for accuracy, bias, safety, and compliance
- Document limitations and mitigations
- Maintain records that support transparency and auditability
ANALYTICS
Connect AI to business decisions
- Analyze results and build visualizations
- Translate findings into recommendations
- Measure whether an AI solution actually helped
RESPONSIBLE ADOPTION
Help the organization adopt AI well
- Follow security, privacy, and governance requirements
- Prepare guidance and training for users
- Support rollout, change management, and incident response
Typical Program Timeline
Every week, all two years
About 30 hours at your employer doing real work, plus 10 paid hours of online Intercompany Training Center (ICC) instruction delivered by TechIndiana with Awesome People Leaders and Ivy Tech Community College.
Months 1–6
Orientation, foundations coursework, and supervised work on live tasks. Weekly cohort sessions with other INCAP trainees.
Months 7–18
Growing responsibility at your employer. Competencies are evaluated through work cases and supervisor rubrics.
Months 19–24
Independent ownership of real work and a final portfolio and project that demonstrates full program competency.
Trainees are full-time employees paid $17–25 per hour for all 40 hours. 4,160 program hours over two years: 3,120 on the job and 1,040 in ICC instruction.
At completion, you have three options
- Continue with your employer in a full professional role
- Go to college, potentially faster, with credit for your INCAP credential
- Continue with another INCAP Career Program
Real Jobs This Program Prepares You For
Common roles INCAP graduates are prepared for include:
- AI Analyst / AI Operations (AIOps) Associate
- Data Analyst / Business Intelligence Analyst
- Automation Specialist (Workflow Automation / RPA)
- AI Product / Program Coordinator
- AI Security / Governance Analyst
- Data Engineering Technician (entry level, employer-dependent)
- And many more
Program Documents
Official INCAP occupation materials, published by the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway:
Full occupation page on IndianaCAP.org: Applied AI Associate (Adult)
Common Questions
What can I expect to earn during the program?
Trainees typically earn $17 to $25 per hour, set by the employer, for all 40 hours a week — including the 10 hours of ICC instruction. Trainees are employees, so they fall under their employer’s policies for benefits, performance reviews, and raises.
When can I begin, and how long does it last?
Positions are two-year, full-time jobs with a participating employer. Openings are posted as employers create them — most often in January and summer — on the TechIndiana job board. Express interest and we’ll let you know when a position opens near you.
What does a typical week look like?
About 30 hours of real work at your employer plus 10 paid hours of online Intercompany Training Center (ICC) instruction, every week for two years. ICC coursework is delivered by TechIndiana with Awesome People Leaders and Ivy Tech Community College, one Ivy Tech course at a time, with a weekly cohort session alongside other INCAP trainees.
Do I need prior experience or classes?
No prior AI experience is required. Self-paced online courses in AI fundamentals and data literacy are encouraged before or alongside the program to accelerate your readiness.
What will I earn when I finish?
An INCAP credential, recognized by TechIndiana and technology employers across Indiana as equivalent to an associate degree in the field. It may also count toward college credit in a related degree program. CompTIA AI Fundamentals is available as an optional supplemental certification.
What is the work environment like?
Business offices, working alongside business and technical teams. The scope is deliberately practical: applying existing AI tools and platforms safely and effectively. Advanced model training, machine-learning engineering, and computer vision are outside the program.
What skills will I learn?
Data: preparation, quality review, governance, documentation, and privacy-aware handling. Generative AI: tool selection, prompting, summarization, extraction, and classification. Automation: process mapping, AI-enabled workflows, simple agents, and human-review controls. Responsible AI: accuracy evaluation, bias awareness, security, governance, and incident response. Professional: communication, teamwork, and stakeholder support.
What jobs can this lead to?
AI analyst or AI operations associate, data or business intelligence analyst, automation specialist, AI product or program coordinator, AI security or governance analyst, and entry-level data engineering technician. Many trainees continue with their employer in a full professional role.
Can I keep my current job?
This is a full-time position with the participating employer, so it replaces rather than supplements a full-time job. If you already work for a participating employer, you can move into the program as an incumbent employee — INCAP serves new entrants, career changers, incumbent workers, and veterans alike.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Adult positions are posted as employers open them — most often in January and summer. Tell us you’re interested and we’ll let you know when a position opens near you. Employers: this is also where you start.
TechIndiana leads the Tech/IT Industry Talent Association for INCAP, the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway. Program questions: Jeni McIntosh-Elkins, jeni@techindiana.org · Dennis Trinkle, dennis@techindiana.org