This week, Universal Technical Institute said it opened a new 142,000-sq.-ft. campus in Long Beach to meet the area’s “strong demand for skilled transportation service technicians.” The new campus has the capacity to train up to 800 students who can complete their education in automotive technology, diesel technology and collision repair and refinish technology, and be ready to work in 11 to 18 months, according to the organization. The campus also will offer manufacturer-specific advanced training for Nissan automobiles, trucks and SUVs as well as the SMOG program, which trains students to take the California smog check inspector license exam.“Our employer and industry partners are telling us that they can’t get enough skilled technicians to meet their demand,” said UTI-Long Beach campus president Larry Hohl. “This is especially true in Southern California, where the need for automotive, diesel and collision repair technicians is particularly strong.” California’s Employment Development Department estimates jobs for automotive service technicians will increase by 15% from 2012 through 2022. Nationwide, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that there will be more than 1.2 million jobs in the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine industries by 2022. To reach that total, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 37,000 job openings on average every year to help meet the need, the institute said.UTI operates 12 campuses in the U.S., including locations in Rancho Cucamonga and Sacramento. The Long Beach campus will largely serve a commuter population with class schedules that allow students to work while they go to school.“We are excited about the reception and support we have received from the community and local educators,” Hohl said. “Student applications are ahead of schedule; we needed to open an additional session for our first classes.”Tours of the new facility will be offered to the public beginning Aug. 24.
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