April 21, 2017—A new Infiniti Technician Training Academy (ITTA) celebrated its grand opening at Universal Technical Institute's (UTI) campus in Long Beach, Calif. This training program is the first of its kind for INFINITI and is exclusive to UTI.
Graduates of UTI's core automotive technology program can apply for the 18-week ITTA program. If they are selected and commit to working with an Infiniti USA retailer once they graduate, Infiniti will pay their tuition for the ITTA program in full. Graduates will hold numerous Infiniti‑specific credentials and have 95 percent of the requirements needed to be an Infiniti KEI Master Technician.
"We worked with UTI to create a comprehensive training program that will prepare graduates for a promising career as a master technician with our national network of retailers," said Andrew Speaker, director of aftersales at Infiniti USA. "UTI graduates have a strong reputation for being well-trained, career‑ready workers. This partnership ensures that our retailers will have access to the top talent entering the automotive industry."
The U.S. Department of Labor reports there will be more than 1.2 million jobs in the diesel, automotive, motorcycle and marine industries in the United States by the year 2024. To reach that total, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 37,000 technician job openings on average every year. Infiniti estimates that it will need to fill nearly 400 service technician positions this year alone.
"With demand for skilled transportation service technicians still on the rise, forward-thinking manufacturers like Infiniti are partnering with us to help build their technician workforce," said Walt Langley, vice president industry alliances at Universal Technical Institute. "UTI's close ties with our industry manufacturer partners and the advanced training that we provide make graduates more attractive to employers and can accelerate their career advancement. ITTA graduates who go to work for an authorized Infiniti retailer can achieve a master-level certification within a year, and significantly increase their earning potential in a field that already pays well and offers real career opportunities."
ITTA gives students the latest technology in web-based learning as well as high-tech, hands‑on instruction in INFINITI vehicle diagnostics, maintenance and repairs, customer service and dealership operations.
The inaugural ITTA class began on March 27 with 10 students. At full capacity, the ITTA program will graduate 96 INFINITI technicians annually and become a valuable recruitment resource for INFINITI retailers across the country.
ITTA is one of more than a dozen manufacturer-specific programs UTI offers in partnership with the leading automotive and diesel brands in the country. On average, graduates of these programs are hired more quickly, earn higher starting salaries and are employed at a higher rate.
