What Advanced Technology Institute, Virginia Beach does

Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) is a privately held, for-profit vocational trade school founded in 1993 and headquartered at 5700 Southern Boulevard in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a second facility in Norfolk. The institution delivers hands-on, equipment-based training programs in eight skilled-trade disciplines: Automotive Technology (15–18 months to diploma or associate degree), Diesel/Heavy Vehicle, Commercial Driving (6-week CDL), Electrical Systems (7-month certificate), HVAC/Refrigeration, Industrial Maintenance, Trades Leadership, and Welding (including maritime welding). Programs are aligned to industry-recognized certifications (ASE, NATE, EPA 608, CDL, AWS) and delivered through on-campus labs with real equipment rather than online platforms.

ATI generates revenue predominantly through student tuition and fees, supplemented by Pell Grants, federal student loans, GI Bill benefits, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation sponsorship, and scholarships; pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website. The institution serves three customer segments: career-seeking individuals pursuing trade credentials (primary), veterans and active-duty military transitioning to civilian trades (primary), and employers seeking upskilling of incumbent technicians through the Workforce Solutions channel (secondary, B2B). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via campus visits, online information requests, and an online application portal, paired with an annual career fair and recurring on-campus employer recruitment events.

The competitive position rests on a layered set of regulatory credentials (ACCSC, SCHEV, NATEF Master Certified, NATE, EPA 608, ESCO, VA DMV CDL licensure, veterans training approval) and a partnership ecosystem of more than 60 regional employers spanning automotive, heavy equipment, maritime, logistics, and HVAC industries. The exclusive College Co-op relationship with Liebherr North America and an affiliated Pit Crew program at Langley Speedway further differentiate the student experience. The institution has no disclosed online program offerings, no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and operates from a single two-campus footprint within the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.

Name

Advanced Technology Institute, Virginia Beach

Legal name

Advanced Technology Institute

Website

https://auto.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Advanced Technology Institute is a private Virginia Beach trade school, founded in 1993, delivering hands-on vocational training in automotive, diesel, welding, HVAC, electrical, industrial maintenance, and commercial driving to career seekers, veterans, and employer workforce clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Trade School Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electronics Technician Training (Analog/Digital) (EDAOABAG), Mechatronics Systems & Integration (EDAOAHAB)

Keywords

• Vocational trade school
• Automotive technology training
• Skilled trades education
• HVAC welding training
• CDL commercial driving

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: ATI generates revenue through student tuition and fees for its vocational training programs including automotive technology, diesel mechanic, commercial driving, electrical systems, HVAC/refrigeration, industrial maintenance, trades leadership, and welding. Financial assistance including Pell Grants, federal loans, military education benefits, and scholarships are available to students.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) is a private trade school in Virginia Beach, Virginia that delivers hands-on vocational training programs for skilled trades including Automotive Technology, Diesel/Heavy Vehicle, HVAC/Refrigeration, Welding, Electrical Systems, Industrial Maintenance, Commercial Driving (CDL), and Trades Leadership. Programs range from a 6-week CDL course to 18-month Associate in Occupational Science degrees, with industry-recognized certification exam preparation including ASE, NATE, EPA 608, and AWS. The institute also offers workforce solutions and short-term certificate training for incumbent workers and employer partners.

Product overview

Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) is a trade school in Virginia Beach offering vocational training programs in skilled trades. The institution provides multiple diploma and degree programs including Automotive Technology, Commercial Driving (CDL), Diesel Mechanic Training, Electrical Systems Training, HVAC/Refrigeration, Industrial Maintenance, Trades Leadership, and Welding. Programs range from 6-week certificate courses to 18-month associate degrees. ATI also offers ASE certification exam preparation, skills and certificate training for workforce development, career services, and student housing. The institution operates from a main campus in Virginia Beach and a Commercial Driving facility in Norfolk, with industry partnerships including an exclusive College Co-op partnership with Liebherr North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automotive Technology Diploma program completed in 15 months or Associate in Occupational Science Degree in 18 months covering engine repair, transmission, brakes, electrical systems, and heating/air conditioning, aligned with ASE certifications. Program is NATEF Master Certified. Targets students pursuing entry-level automotive technician careers.
• Commercial Driving (CDL) CDL training program combining range, road, and classroom instruction, completable in 6 weeks. Licensed by the Virginia DMV to teach truck driving. Delivered at the Norfolk Commercial Driving Facility.
• Diesel Mechanic Training Training program for diesel engine diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of heavy vehicles and equipment. Diploma in 15 months or Associate in Occupational Science Degree in 18 months.
• Electrical Systems Training Certificate program in electrical systems completable in 7 months, covering residential and commercial wiring, electrical codes, and safety protocols.
• HVAC/Refrigeration Training program for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems installation and repair. Diploma in 15 months or Associate in Occupational Science Degree in 18 months. Aligned with EPA 608 and NATE certifications.
• Industrial Maintenance Program covering mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems maintenance for manufacturing and industrial facilities. Diploma in 15 months or Associate in Occupational Science Degree in 18 months.
• Trades Leadership Associate in Occupational Science Degree program requiring an additional 15 weeks beyond another ATI program, focused on management and supervisory skills for trade professionals.
• Welding Program covering MIG, TIG, stick welding, and specialized maritime welding for shipbuilding and repair. Diploma in 15 months or Associate in Occupational Science Degree in 18 months. Includes AWS certification preparation.
• Skills & Certificate Training (Workforce Solutions) Short-term hands-on training courses and certificate programs for incumbent workers and career changers, designed around employer-requested skills. Used by regional employers for workforce upskilling and continuing education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduation and employment rates by program are published annually — 70% graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients, 88% for federal loan recipients, 84% for students without Pell or loans.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Liebherr North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATI is the exclusive College Co-op partner of Liebherr North America, one of the largest construction machine manufacturers in the world. This partnership provides ATI students with exposure to heavy equipment technology and potential career pathways in Liebherr's operations.
• Langley SpeedwayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATI's Pit Crew Program allows students to work with a professional racing team for an entire season, gaining trackside experience at Langley Speedway and becoming part of the motorsports community.
• NATE (North American Technician Excellence)coreTechnology or IntegrationATI is an authorized NATE testing site and NATE-certified training provider. Students can earn NATE certifications which are nationally recognized in the HVAC/R industry.
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)coreTechnology or IntegrationATI is an authorized EPA testing site, enabling students to obtain EPA 608 certifications required for handling refrigerants in HVAC/R work.
• Regional Employer NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorATI maintains relationships with over 60 employer partners including automotive dealers (Ford, GM, Audi, Hendrick Automotive Group), heavy equipment (Cummins, Kenworth, Daimler, Navistar), maritime (Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipyard), logistics (Schneider, Melton Truck Lines), and HVAC (RS Andrews, Damuth Trane). Employers regularly recruit on campus.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Penn Foster: Penn Foster is an online trade and vocational school offering self-paced HVAC, electrical, welding, and automotive programs. It is a partial overlap with ATI — same target occupations but delivered online — and represents the digital delivery model ATI currently lacks.

Direct peers

• ECPI University: ECPI University is a Virginia Beach-based private college with overlapping technology and trades-adjacent programs, and the same recruiting/HR system identifier (ECP1000ECPI) appears in ATI's career portal, indicating institutional affiliation. Both institutions serve the Hampton Roads market with career-focused, hands-on programs.
• Universal Technical Institute: UTI is the largest U.S. trade school operator focused on automotive, diesel, welding, and HVAC technician training, with a national campus footprint. It competes head-to-head with ATI's core programs and shares the same employer-recruitment and certification-prep business model.
• Fortis College: Fortis College operates a network of for-profit trade and vocational schools with programs in HVAC, electrical, welding, and industrial trades. It competes with ATI for the same career-seeker and veteran student segments in a multi-state footprint.
• WyoTech: WyoTech is a specialty trade school focused on automotive, diesel, and welding — three of ATI's core programs. It targets the same career-switcher and credential-seeking student persona with hands-on, short-form training.
• Lincoln Tech: Lincoln Tech operates a national network of for-profit trade schools offering automotive, diesel, HVAC, welding, and electrical programs. It directly parallels ATI's curriculum mix, target student (career-changers and veterans), and tuition-funded revenue model.
• New England Institute of Technology: NEIT is a private, career-focused college offering Associate's and Bachelor's degrees in skilled trades, automotive, HVAC, and welding — directly comparable to ATI's diploma and Associate's degree structure with an emphasis on industry-aligned curriculum.

Regional players

• Tidewater Community College: TCC is a Virginia public community college headquartered in the same Hampton Roads region as ATI, offering lower-cost career training, workforce credentials, and Associate's degrees in skilled trades. It competes with ATI primarily on price and federal-aid stacking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/133621094859
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/advanced-technology-institute-virginia
• Instagraminstagram.com/advancedtechinstitute
• Xx.com/advtechinst

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advanced Technology Institute, Virginia Beach