Auto Repair Trade School Opens ‘High-Tech’ Campus In Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — As the price of a college education rises along with student debt, a new vocational school in Bloomfield is offering a way for car lovers and mechanics to turn their tech skills into careers in as little as 11 months.

Last week, Universal Technical Institute (UTI) opened enrollment to prospective students at its new, “state-of-the-industry” campus in Bloomfield, with classes to begin in the fall. The campus will train students for jobs as automotive and diesel transportation technicians and will mostly serve a commuter population, according to a news release.

At full capacity, the 108,000-sq.-ft. facility in Bloomfield can offer “hands-on, high-tech training” to about 800 students. Students can complete core automotive and diesel technology programs and be ready to work in 11 to 18 months, administrators said.

• See related article: NJ College Students Drowning In Debt (Can These 10 Bills Help?)

The Bloomfield campus marks the company’s first entry into the Tri-State area and will be its 13th campus nationwide. UTI’s campuses, including UTI-Bloomfield, are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Nationwide, UTI’s partners include brands like BMW, Cummins, Ford, Freightliner, Mercedes-Benz, NASCAR, Peterbilt, Porsche and Volvo, administrators said.

“As we hear every day from our employer partners, there is a clear, significant and unmet demand for trained automotive and diesel technicians,” said UTI-Bloomfield Campus President Steve McElfresh. “We give students the skills needed to fill these jobs, which cannot be outsourced, automatized or off-shored.”

• See related article: Airport 'Job Outsourcing' Bill Would Protect Workers, Senators Say

Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photos: Universal Technical Institute

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page here.