Austin Career Institute

What Austin Career Institute does

Austin Career Institute (ACI) is a privately held, Council on Occupational Education-accredited trade school headquartered in Austin, Texas, operating two campus locations (7215 Cameron Rd and 7900 E. Highway 290). Founded in 2013 by CEO Shawn Jamali, a licensed Professional Engineer, and President Rosha Teimuri, the institution delivers five short-cycle vocational certificate programs: Medical Assistant (771 hours, 8 months), Advanced Electrical & Renewable Energy Technician with integrated solar photovoltaic training (720 hours, 7.5 months), HVAC-R Technician (720 hours, 8 months, with EPA and TDLR license preparation), Welding (720 hours, 7.5 months), and Phlebotomy (1.5 months). ACI is the first trade school in Austin to offer HVAC-R instruction in Spanish alongside an ESL structure, and the Medical Assistant program includes training in a real clinic setting followed by a 150-hour externship.

The business model is tuition-funded vocational education with diversified payment sources: ACI is approved for federal student aid (Pell Grants, federal student loans), Texas Workforce Commission oversight, and GI Bill/MyCAA veteran benefits, supplemented by Workforce Solutions scholarships that can cover up to 100% of tuition for eligible HVAC students. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a website-driven admissions funnel, campus tours, content marketing and SEO, and referrals from veteran service organizations and workforce development agencies. ACI reports strong outcomes, including 91-100% graduation rates and 91-100% employment rates across HVAC-R cohorts (2018/2019 TWC reporting), and has earned a White House National Skills and Credential Institute selection, a 2016 CCST Innovator Award, a City of Austin proclamation, and a 2019 Capital Area Workforce Solutions Partner of the Year recognition.

ACI's competitive differentiation rests on regulatory accreditation enabling access to federal funding, bilingual HVAC-R instruction targeting New Americans, integration of solar PV training within the electrical curriculum, and documented placement outcomes that serve as the primary conversion asset. The institution operates with 33 employees, has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, and no enterprise customers, functioning as a founder-led, owner-operated educational institution focused on filling Central Texas skilled trades labor shortages.

Name

Austin Career Institute

Legal name

Austin Career Institute LLC

Website

https://austincareerinstitute.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Austin Career Institute is a Council on Occupational Education-accredited trade school operating two Austin, Texas campuses that delivers 7-8 month vocational certificate programs in HVAC-R, electrical, medical assisting, welding, and phlebotomy, primarily serving career changers, veterans, and New Americans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Trade School

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Readiness & Employability Skills (Resume, Interview, Networking) (EDAMAKAG), Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• Trade school
• HVAC certification
• Electrical technician training
• Medical assistant diploma

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition for vocational certificate programs in HVAC-R, Electrical, Medical Assistant, Welding, and Phlebotomy. Programs range from 7-8 months with costs covered by financial aid, grants, loans, and scholarships. The school is approved for federal student aid (FAFSA), Pell Grants, and veteran benefits.
2. Financial Aid Administration: The institution processes federal student aid including Pell Grants, federal student loans, and state funding. Students may qualify for grants, loans, and scholarships to cover tuition, books, and supplies.
3. Veteran Education Benefits: Approved for GI Bill and veteran education benefits including Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Austin Career Institute is a trade school that delivers short-term vocational training programs leading to industry-recognized certifications. It offers HVAC-R Technician, Advanced Electrical & Renewable Energy Technician, Medical Assistant, Welding, and Phlebotomy programs on two Austin campuses, with instruction available in English and Spanish and hands-on lab components.

Product overview

Austin Career Institute is a trade school offering five vocational training programs: Medical Assistant (diploma), Advanced Electrical & Renewable Energy Technician (certificate with integrated solar training), HVAC-R Technician (certificate), and Welding (certificate). Programs range from 720-771 hours over 7.5-8 months, with bilingual instruction available for HVAC-R. All programs include certification preparation, financial aid assistance, and career services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Assistant Program An 8-month (32-week), 771-hour diploma program that trains students in clinical and administrative healthcare skills in a real clinic setting, with a 150-hour externship, qualifying graduates to test for the Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) certification through NAHP.
• Advanced Electrical & Renewable Energy Technician Program
• HVAC-R Technician Program
• Welding Certificate Program
• Phlebotomy Technician Program
• HVAC-R en Español (Bilingual HVAC-R Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• HVAC-R Hybrid 92.5% Graduation Rate & 91.9% Employment Rate; HVAC Hybrid 93.8% Graduation Rate & 91.1% Employment Rate; HVAC-R Traditional 100% Graduation Rate & 100% Employment Rate
• +4 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council on Occupational EducationcoreOthersAccrediting body for occupational education institutions. Austin Career Institute LLC is Accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education since February 2018. Located at 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350.
• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)coreOthersState regulatory body that approves career schools and colleges. Austin Career Institute holds Certificate of Approval from TWC (school number S4226). Students can file formal complaints with TWC.
• U.S. Department of Veterans AffairscoreOthersFederal agency providing education benefits. Austin Career Institute is approved for GI Bill benefits including Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and MyCAA for military spouses.
• Workforce SolutionsminorOthersWorkforce development agency that may provide scholarships covering up to 100% of tuition for eligible students in HVAC programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Tech: Multi-campus private career college offering skilled trades programs including HVAC, electrical, welding, and medical assisting with similar federal-aid-eligible, hands-on training model. Operates at materially larger scale but follows the same vocational, Title IV-funded playbook as ACI.
• Universal Technical Institute (UTI): Publicly traded forerunner in skilled trades education with strong HVAC, electrical, welding, and automotive programs. Closest publicly comparable peer by program mix and target student (career changers and veterans pursuing short-cycle credentials).
• ECPI University: Private career-focused institution offering diploma and degree programs in healthcare, technology, and skilled trades. Comparable in being a private, Title IV-funded provider emphasizing short-duration, certification-aligned outcomes.
• Fortis College / Fortis Institute: Multi-state network of private career colleges delivering medical, skilled trades, and trade programs. Operates with the same federal-financial-aid, short-cycle, hands-on training model targeting adult career-changers.
• Altierus Career College (Education Affiliates): Private career college network offering diploma programs in medical assisting, HVAC, electrical, and other skilled trades. Highly comparable on accreditation model, Title IV funding reliance, and short-cycle vocational training.
• Porter and Chester Institute: Regional private career college offering HVAC, electrical, welding, and medical programs. Closely aligned on program mix, hands-on training emphasis, and adult-learner/Title IV funding model.
• YTI Career Institute: Private career college focused on skilled trades, healthcare, and technology diplomas. Similar short-cycle, hands-on, accreditation-driven vocational model with comparable revenue mix from federal financial aid.

Regional players

• Southern Careers Institute: Texas-based private career college with Austin-area campuses offering medical assistant, HVAC, electrical, and welding programs. Most direct geographic peer, competing head-to-head for the same Austin student pool.
• Lamson Institute: San Antonio-based private trade school offering HVAC, medical, and skilled trades programs with Title IV eligibility. Comparable regional competitor in Central Texas targeting similar adult career-changer and veteran segments.

Broad incumbents

• Texas State Technical College (TSTC): Public Texas technical college system offering HVAC, electrical, welding, and medical programs at significantly lower tuition. Sets the public-sector price benchmark against which ACI competes in the same regional labor market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Austin Career Institute