Download our catalogs and learn about programs, courses, tuition, fees, admissions and much more.
State-of-the-art, 248,000 sq.ft. Avondale campus will provide you with hands-on experience with everything from undercar maintenance to advanced diagnosis. Learn more here.
Find out what some of our graduates are doing today in pursuing their successful careers.
Learn more about how we assist our veterans from VA funding to exclusive scholarships.
UTI welcomes General Education Diploma students. Find out more in our resources.
It only takes a few minutes to learn about technician training opportunities.
Tell us a bit about yourself so we can find the campus nearest to you.
By submitting this form, I agree that Universal Technical Institute, Inc., Custom Training Group, Inc., and their representatives may email, call, and / or text me with marketing messages about educational programs and services, as well as for school - related communications, at any phone number I provide, including a wireless number, using prerecorded calls or automated technology. I understand that my consent is not required to apply, enroll or make any purchase.
By submitting this form, I further understand and agree that all information provided is subject to UTI's Privacy Policy available at uti.edu/privacy-policy
There are many heroes in our society, including doctors, teachers, veterans and emergency personnel, just to name a few. However, many heroes go unnoticed—among them being automotive and diesel technicians.
Auto and diesel techs who maintain essential service vehicles like ambulances, fire trucks and police cars play an incredibly important role in our society. We live a world that relies on medical professionals and emergency personnel every day, and it’s important to recognize the people who keep their vehicles running.
Universal Technical Institute (UTI) graduate Ben Phelps knows the importance of giving back to his community firsthand. Since graduating from UTI Orlando, Ben has been servicing emergency vehicles to ensure they are ready to serve their communities.
Continue reading to learn about Ben’s inspiring story and how he went from army helicopter technician to an emergency vehicle technician who’s helping first responders during a global pandemic.
You could say that being a technician was in Ben’s blood. Ever since he was 10 years old, Ben has been turning wrenches with his dad and helping him work on cars.
Whether it was changing brakes or learning to do routine oil changes, Ben was always interested in learning about cars. His dad taught him the basics of car and engine maintenance, and his interest only grew as he sought job opportunities later in life.
Ben began his professional career in 2010 when he started working as a firefighter. While in this role, he noticed that the firetrucks needed frequent maintenance, which sparked his interest in learning how to properly maintain an emergency vehicle.
In 2014, Ben made a career change and joined the Army as a black hawk helicopter mechanic. He worked on helicopters until he medically retired in 2018, which was when he began his search for a hands-on trade school to continue his education.
Luckily, Ben found the UTI Orlando campus to be the perfect fit for him. He was drawn to the school because it offered programs that applied to both his past career and future professional aspirations.
Ben very much enjoyed his experience at UTI, where he completed the Automotive and Diesel training programs. After his core training, he went on to take the Ford Accelerated Credential Training Program (FACT).
During his time at UTI, Ben quickly realized that several members of his class were also veterans. He felt like a mentor to some of the younger students and got along well with his instructors. He appreciated that his instructors were always willing to spend extra time explaining things to him if he didn’t understand the first time.
One of Ben’s favorite classes was the high performance class, and he also enjoyed his Ford FACT program. His training gave him the hands-on experience he needed to learn about electrical issues and diesel engines.
After taking a month off to spend time with family, Ben began his new job servicing emergency personnel vehicles at Ten-8 Fire Equipment.
While he credits UTI for setting him up for success, his love of learning new things and working with his hands has helped him to succeed in his new job. These learning opportunities allow him to continue to grow to be the best technician he can and work toward becoming a mobile emergency vehicle technician.
According to Ben, students should be ready to learn a lot at UTI. He encourages students to take diesel classes and pay close attention to the air system and hydraulic courses, as all of this information will come into play when working on emergency vehicle trucks.
Ben encourages students who are looking for a rewarding career path to consider becoming an emergency vehicle technician. There’s a shortage of these technicians within the industry, as the vehicles they work on need much more maintenance to keep running smoothly.
Finally, Ben shared that networking and maintaining relationships after graduation is essential. He stays in touch with many of his classmates, who he now considers friends, and knows he can always contact if he’s trying to troubleshoot a mechanical issue at work or share a fun challenge he solved.
Overall, Ben’s story is proof that a combination of passion, hard work, and the right training can open the door to exciting career opportunities.
UTI’s 12 campuses across the country deliver the hands-on experience needed to succeed as a technician in the field. To learn more and take the first step toward an exciting career, request information to get in touch with one of our Admissions Representatives today.
Every year, millions of high school students and workers face the dilemma or whether they should pursue an education at a traditional 4-year college/university or trade school.
Junior Alvarez graduated from UTI Avondale's Diesel Technology Program. He works as a Caterpillar field service tech by day. And he's an entrepreneur by night.
Brandon Rubio calls himself “a doctor for tractors." Find out how he got there.
By submitting this form, I further understand and agree that all information provided is subject to UTI’s Privacy Policy available at uti.edu/privacy-policy
