North Central Institute
North Central Institute is a nonprofit, FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school in Clarksville, Tennessee, training individuals and military veterans for A&P certification through 17-month AMT 147, AMT 65, and Associate degree programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersClarksville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What North Central Institute does
North Central Institute (NCI) is a privately-held, nonprofit post-secondary educational institution headquartered at 168 Jack Miller Blvd., Clarksville, Tennessee. It is an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School operating under FAR Part 147 (initial certification training) and FAR Part 65 (experienced-mechanic certification pathways). The institution was founded by Dr. John D. McCurdy, who passed away in March 2021; current ownership and executive leadership succession are not publicly documented.
NCI's core product is the 17-month Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT 147) program, which prepares students without prior aviation experience for the Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. Adjacent offerings include the AMT 65 program for experienced mechanics, an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AASD) that pairs certification with general education credits, FCC examination preparation, and a continuing education flight courses catalog. Training is delivered through a combined theoretical and hands-on practical curriculum delivered on a single physical campus and supported by the Diamond LMS platform for student portal and mobile access.
Revenue is generated entirely from tuition, fees, and ancillary continuing education, paid by individual students direct-to-consumer or via financial aid, scholarships, and veterans benefits. Go-to-market is direct enrollment through the website, phone (931-431-9700), campus tours, and multi-channel digital marketing (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, email). The institution holds accreditation through the Council on Occupational Education (reaffirmation in process for 2026), state authorization from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and BBB accreditation.
North Central Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- North Central Institute
- Legal name
- North Central Institute
- Website
- https://nci.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- North Central Institute is a nonprofit, FAA-approved aviation maintenance technician school in Clarksville, Tennessee, training individuals and military veterans for A&P certification through 17-month AMT 147, AMT 65, and Associate degree programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
North Central Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Maintenance Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Aircraft Inspection, Quality Assurance & Airworthiness (IA Prep) (EDAOAFAE)
Keywords
Where North Central Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Clarksville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
North Central Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Educational Services: Revenue generated from tuition for aviation maintenance training programs including AMT 147, AMT 65, and Associates of Applied Science Degree. Additional revenue streams include continuing education flight courses and professional development programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT 147) Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
North Central Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
North Central Institute is an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School that delivers certification training under FAR Part 147 and FAR Part 65. The institute trains individuals for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification through its AMT 147 program, the AMT 65 program for experienced individuals, an Associate of Applied Science Degree, FCC certification preparation, and continuing education flight courses, combining theoretical instruction with hands-on practical training.
Product overview
North Central Institute offers a portfolio of aviation maintenance training programs centered around its FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School. The core offerings include the AMT 147 program for initial certification, the AMT 65 program for experienced individuals, and the Associates of Applied Science Degree (AASD) which combines certification with college credit. The institution also provides FCC certification preparation and continuing education flight courses. All programs emphasize both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical training to prepare students for careers in aviation maintenance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT 147) FAA-approved program under Part 147 that trains students to become certified aviation maintenance technicians, covering airframe and powerplant maintenance with both theoretical and hands-on practical training. Can be completed in approximately 17 months.
- Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT 65)
Quantifiable outcome
- Graduates can earn average starting salary of $45,000 as certified technicians
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use North Central Institute
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
North Central Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
North Central Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)coreFAA Part 147 and Part 65 regulatory oversight and certification authority. NCI operates as an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School under FAA regulations.
- Council on Occupational EducationcoreAccrediting body that provides institutional accreditation for North Central Institute through the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.
- Tennessee Higher Education CommissioncoreState authorization body that authorizes North Central Institute for operation as a post secondary educational institution in Tennessee.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
North Central Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aviation Institute of Maintenance: One of the largest networks of FAA Part 147-approved aviation maintenance technician schools in the U.S. with multiple campuses. Directly competes with NCI for the same career-changer and veteran student segments seeking A&P certification.
- Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology: FAA-approved aviation maintenance training school offering AMT programs alongside avionics and nondestructive testing tracks. Comparable to NCI in regulatory positioning, target audience, and program mix.
- Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics: Long-established FAA Part 147 school offering aviation maintenance, avionics, and NDT programs. Directly comparable to NCI on curriculum, FAA approval basis, and career-changer student model.
- Vincennes University Aviation Program: Public university offering FAA-approved aviation maintenance technology programs leading to A&P certification and associate degrees. Directly comparable to NCI's regulatory positioning, degree pathway, and career-changer student model.
- Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology: Specialized aeronautics college offering FAA-approved aviation maintenance and aviation operations programs leading to A&P certification and associate/bachelor's degrees. Directly comparable regulatory and program mix to NCI.
- Lewis University Aviation Science Department: University-based FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance program with degree pathways. Competes with NCI's AASD offering for students seeking both A&P certification and a college degree.
Broad incumbents
- FlightSafety International: Major professional aviation training organization offering pilot, maintenance, and crew resource training globally. Overlaps with NCI on aviation maintenance training but primarily serves incumbent professionals rather than entry-level students.
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Large aeronautical university offering aviation maintenance, pilot, and engineering programs with degree pathways. Competes with NCI's AASD offering and overlaps on FAA Part 147 curriculum delivery at a much larger scale.
- CAE: Global aviation training leader providing pilot simulation and maintenance training solutions to airlines and defense customers. Comparable only at the broad aviation training level, not at the entry-level AMT student segment NCI targets.
- Universal Technical Institute: Publicly traded for-profit technical and trade school offering aviation, automotive, diesel, and welding programs including FAA-approved AMT training. Broader portfolio than NCI but directly competes for the same aviation maintenance cohort.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
North Central Institute social profiles
Digital presenceNorth Central Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
North Central Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
North Central Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
North Central Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
North Central Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about North Central Institute
What does North Central Institute do?
North Central Institute is an FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School that delivers certification training under FAR Part 147 and FAR Part 65. The institute trains individuals for Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification through its AMT 147 program, the AMT 65 program for experienced individuals, an Associate of Applied Science Degree, FCC certification preparation, and continuing education flight courses, combining theoretical instruction with hands-on practical training.
Is North Central Institute a public or private company?
North Central Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was North Central Institute founded?
North Central Institute was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is North Central Institute based?
North Central Institute is headquartered in Clarksville, United States, in the North America region.
How does North Central Institute make money?
One revenue line is on record: tuition and Educational Services.
Who are North Central Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, Vincennes University Aviation Program, Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology and Lewis University Aviation Science Department. Broad incumbents are FlightSafety International, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, CAE and Universal Technical Institute.
Does North Central Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for North Central Institute.
What industry is North Central Institute in?
North Central Institute's product category is Aviation Maintenance Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOAFAN, Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145), with a secondary code of EDAOAFAE, Aircraft Inspection, Quality Assurance & Airworthiness (IA Prep). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.