As artificial intelligence reshapes job roles faster than most training programs can adapt, Per Scholas is doubling down on a critical question facing today’s tech workforce: how do professionals already in the field stay relevant as AI moves from buzzword to baseline skill?
The national nonprofit has announced the launch of its AI Solutions Developer course, a new advanced upskilling program for alumni designed to deliver applied, employer-aligned AI skills at no cost. The initiative, supported by long-time corporate partner TEKsystems, officially launched on January 26, 2026, with its first cohort already underway.
The move marks a notable expansion of Per Scholas’ Career Accelerator Upskilling portfolio and signals a broader shift in workforce development—from helping people break into tech to helping them stay competitive once they’re in.
Why AI Upskilling Is Becoming Non-Negotiable
AI is no longer confined to data science teams or experimental labs. Prompt engineering, Python-based automation, and AI-assisted workflows are quickly becoming table stakes across roles in software development, IT operations, data analytics, and even non-technical functions.
Yet many working technologists face a familiar problem: traditional training programs are either too theoretical, too expensive, or too disconnected from what employers actually need.
Per Scholas’ new AI Solutions Developer course is designed to close that gap. Built specifically for alumni with existing technical experience, the program focuses on practical, hands-on AI skills aligned with real-world use cases—rather than abstract concepts or vendor-specific hype.
From Entry-Level Access to Lifelong Learning
Per Scholas has long been known for its mission-driven approach to economic mobility, offering no-cost technology training to individuals from underrepresented and underserved communities. Historically, much of that focus centered on helping learners land their first role in tech.
The AI Solutions Developer course reflects a strategic evolution.
A recent analysis of Per Scholas’ Career Accelerator programs found that graduates who completed instructor-led upskilling courses saw an average 32% wage increase. That data underscores a growing reality in tech: continued learning isn’t just about skills—it’s about income stability and long-term career growth.
“This course represents an important evolution in how we support our alumni,” said Per Scholas President Caitlyn Brazill. “Not just in launching their careers, but in helping them continue to grow and adapt as technology and employer expectations change.”
What the AI Solutions Developer Course Covers
While Per Scholas hasn’t positioned the program as a full AI engineering bootcamp, it’s intentionally designed to deliver high-impact, in-demand capabilities that employers are actively seeking.
Key areas of focus include:
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Prompt engineering techniques for working effectively with generative AI models
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Python programming for AI-driven workflows and automation
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Applied use cases that mirror how AI is used in modern enterprise environments
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Hands-on instruction that prioritizes practical outcomes over theory
The emphasis is on usable skills, not credentials for their own sake—a distinction that matters as hiring managers increasingly prioritize demonstrated capability over buzzwords.
TEKsystems’ Role: Aligning Training With Market Demand
The inaugural cohort is made possible through sponsorship from TEKsystems, a leading provider of IT talent and services and a long-time Per Scholas partner.
For TEKsystems, the investment reflects a growing recognition among employers and staffing firms alike: AI is reshaping job requirements faster than traditional pipelines can respond.
“As AI transforms the nature of work across industries, employers need access to practical, in-demand skills,” said John Lullen, Director of Marketplace Inclusion at TEKsystems. “Through our ongoing partnership with Per Scholas, we’re helping technologists build the capabilities they need to thrive in the next generation of tech roles.”
This employer-backed model is increasingly common in workforce development, where relevance is defined less by curriculum design committees and more by real-time market needs.
Strong Demand Signals a Broader Trend
Interest in the AI Solutions Developer course has been immediate. Per Scholas reports more than 100 applications for the inaugural cohort—a clear signal that experienced technologists are actively seeking structured, credible ways to upskill in AI without stepping away from their careers.
That demand mirrors a larger industry trend. As AI tools become embedded across software stacks and business processes, professionals who fail to adapt risk stagnation—not because their core skills are obsolete, but because their workflows are.
Programs like this one aim to make AI less intimidating and more accessible, particularly for workers who may not have followed a traditional computer science or data science pathway.
Implications for the HR and Workforce Development Landscape
The launch of Per Scholas’ AI Solutions Developer course also highlights a shift in how workforce development intersects with HR tech and talent strategy.
Rather than treating AI skills as niche or specialized, organizations are increasingly viewing them as baseline competencies—something every technologist should understand at a functional level. That shift has implications for hiring, internal mobility, and pay equity, especially as AI literacy becomes a differentiator in compensation and promotion decisions.
By targeting alumni—rather than only new entrants—Per Scholas is addressing a frequently overlooked segment of the workforce: professionals who are employed, capable, and motivated, but need structured access to next-generation skills.
The Bottom Line
Per Scholas’ AI Solutions Developer course is less about chasing the latest AI trend and more about institutionalizing lifelong learning in a rapidly changing tech economy.
With employer backing from TEKsystems, a proven upskilling model, and strong early demand, the program reflects a growing consensus across HR, workforce development, and talent leaders: access to AI skills is quickly becoming a prerequisite for economic mobility—not a nice-to-have.
For Per Scholas alumni, the message is clear. The future of tech work is already here, and staying relevant means learning continuously, not occasionally.
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