Advanced Career Institute

What Advanced Career Institute does

Advanced Career Institute (ACI) is a private, for-profit vocational training institute founded in 1986 and headquartered in Visalia, California. The company operates five physical campuses across California's Central Valley (Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Visalia) and Nevada (North Las Vegas), delivering three principal programs: Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) truck driver training, hands-on welding certification (38-week Advanced Welding Technology), and fully online IT Professional Training covering CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and Cloud+ certifications. CDL programs include the 4-week Professional Truck Driver, 6-week Advanced Professional Truck Driver, 20-week Ag Transportation, and CDL refresher tracks, with instruction supported by trucking simulators that expose students to clutch operation, backing, sightline management, and adverse weather scenarios.

ACI generates revenue primarily through one-time tuition payments for CDL and welding programs and subscription-style tuition for the online IT program, supplemented by administering federal financial aid (Pell Grants, GI Bill benefits, WIOA workforce funding) on behalf of eligible students. The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer: prospective students enroll via website inquiry forms, admissions phone lines, or in-person campus visits. Job placement assistance and an employer partnership network—including Werner Enterprises, Swift Transportation, Northern Refrigerated, Kinder Morgan, and Harris Ranch—are positioned as student outcome support rather than enterprise revenue streams. The company is family-owned, led by Barry Bither (President/CEO), David Bither (VP/CAO), and Matthew Bither (VP), with no external funding rounds or M&A activity disclosed. Regulatory accreditations include FMCSA ELDT certification, California BPPE authorization, and COE national accreditation.

Name

Advanced Career Institute

Legal name

Advanced Career Institute, Inc.

Website

https://advanced.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Advanced Career Institute is a family-owned vocational training operator founded in 1986, running five campuses in California and Nevada that deliver CDL truck driver, welding, and online CompTIA IT certification programs to career-changers and veterans without bachelor's degrees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Career Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Driving & Heavy Transport (CDL) (EDAOANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding Inspection, QA/QC & NDT Prep Training (e.g., CWI) (EDAOADAF), Vendor/Authorized Certification Training (Microsoft/AWS/Cisco, etc.) (BPAEANAA)

Keywords

• Vocational training
• CDL truck driver training
• Welding certification
• IT professional training
• Career trade school

Headquarters

HQ city

Visalia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. CDL Training Tuition: Tuition for Class A CDL training programs including Professional Truck Driver (4 weeks, 160 hours), Advanced Professional Truck Driver (6 weeks), Ag Transportation (20 weeks), and CDL refresher courses. Revenue generated from student tuition payments.
2. Welding Training Tuition: Tuition for Advanced Welding Technology programs (38-week certification course) at Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield campuses.
3. IT Professional Training Tuition: Online IT Professional Training program tuition (32 weeks full-time or 48 weeks part-time) covering CompTIA certification preparation.
4. Financial Aid Administration: Administering federal grants (Pell Grant), veterans benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, etc.), WIOA funding, and company-sponsored funding programs on behalf of eligible students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Advanced Career Institute provides hands-on vocational career training in three core areas: Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) truck driver training, welding certification, and fully online IT Professional Training. Programs range from 3-week to 38-week courses and prepare students for industry-recognized certifications (CDL, AWS welding codes, CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+/Cloud+). Training is delivered at five physical campuses in California and Nevada, with the IT program offered online to California residents.

Product overview

Advanced Career Institute offers vocational career training programs in three main areas: CDL (Commercial Driver's License) truck driver training, welding, and IT professional certification. The CDL programs include Class A CDL Training, Ag Transportation CDL Training, and CDL Refresher Courses, with options ranging from 3-week expedited programs to 20-week advanced courses. The welding program provides hands-on training through Advanced Welding Technology (38 weeks) covering multiple welding processes. The IT Professional Training is a fully online 32-48 week program preparing students for CompTIA certifications. All programs are supported by job placement assistance and financial aid options. Training is delivered at five campuses in California (Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced, Visalia) and Nevada (Las Vegas).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Class A CDL Training Entry-level commercial driver's license training program teaching students how to operate trucks safely, maintain vehicles, and perform non-vehicle activities. Prepares students for CDL certification with multiple endorsements. Available at Visalia, Fresno, Merced, Bakersfield, and Las Vegas campuses.
• Ag Transportation CDL Training Specialized CDL training combining truck driving skills with agricultural industry procedures, preparing students for transporting agricultural commodities and equipment in the San Joaquin Valley region. 20-week extended program.
• CDL Refresher Course Continuing education program for experienced drivers looking to refresh their CDL skills and knowledge. Targets drivers with valid CDL permits seeking to update their training.
• Welding Training Hands-on welding program preparing students for entry-level positions including Welder, Arc Welder, and Combination Welder. Covers various welding techniques, shop safety, shop math, and blueprint reading. Available at Fresno, Visalia, and Bakersfield campuses.
• IT Professional Training Fully online IT certification program lasting 32 weeks full-time or 48 weeks part-time, providing instruction in software applications, hardware troubleshooting, network security, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. Prepares students for CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and Cloud+ certifications. Available to California residents.
• Job Placement Assistance Career services including resume updates, job application assistance, interview techniques, and networking support for students and graduates. Includes partnerships with trucking carriers such as Werner, Swift, Northern Refrigerated, Kinder Morgan, and Harris Ranch.
• Tuition Assistance & Financial Aid Administration Financial aid administration services including Pell Grants, veterans benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill), WIOA funding, scholarships, federal loans, private loans, payment plans, and company-sponsored funding for eligible students.

Quantifiable outcome

• National first-time CDL knowledge test pass rate: ~50%. ACI structured training programs report pass rates of 95% or higher.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Werner EnterprisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor trucking carrier partner that recruits ACI graduates for truck driving positions. Part of the trucking partners network helping students transition from training to employment.
• Swift TransportationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor trucking carrier partner recruiting ACI CDL graduates for truck driving careers.
• Northern RefrigeratedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRefrigerated trucking carrier partner hiring ACI graduates for specialized transportation careers.
• CompTIAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial authorized partner for IT Professional Training program. Provides certification preparation for CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and Cloud+ certifications. Proof of partnership available on consumer information page.
• Kinder MorgancoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnergy infrastructure company that employs ACI graduates in tanker trucking careers for transporting various products including fuel ingredients.
• Harris RanchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgricultural transportation partner employing ACI graduates in specialized hauling operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Prime Inc. Major trucking carrier operating paid CDL training academies (Prime Truck Driving School) — represents an alternative CDL pathway that competes for the same career-changer student segment while also functioning as an employer-partner model similar to ACI's carrier relationships.
• Schneider National: Major trucking carrier that operates its own paid CDL training program (Schneider Trucking School) — a vertically integrated competitor/employer-partner that both competes for students and serves as a hiring channel that ACI's graduates also target.

Broad incumbents

• ECPI University: For-profit institution offering IT, technology, and trade-focused degree and certificate programs on multiple campuses — comparable to ACI's IT Professional Training pathway with similar CompTIA-aligned curriculum and career-changer student base.
• Universal Technical Institute: Large publicly-traded multi-program vocational school offering transportation (including CDL/motorcycle), welding, and industrial trades training across many U.S. campuses — broader portfolio than ACI but overlapping core categories and employer-partnership GTM.
• Lincoln Tech: Established multi-campus for-profit vocational school with automotive, welding, and trades programs including CDL-aligned curricula, serving a similar career-changer and federal-aid-eligible student demographic as ACI.
• Miller-Motte College: Multi-campus for-profit vocational institution offering CDL, welding, and skilled trades programs across the U.S. — a broader portfolio operator with similar tuition-plus-financial-aid revenue model and target student profile as ACI.

Direct peers

• Tulsa Welding School: Specialized welding vocational school offering hands-on welding certification programs (SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, GTAW) comparable to ACI's Advanced Welding Technology curriculum, with similar AWS-aligned outcomes.
• Roadmaster Drivers School: National CDL training school with multiple campus locations offering Class A CDL programs, ELDT-certified training, and job placement assistance — a directly comparable for-profit vocational CDL operator with similar GTM and employer-partnership model.
• New Horizons Computer Learning Centers: IT and computer training provider delivering vendor-authorized certification preparation (CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco) — directly comparable to ACI's online IT Professional Training program covering CompTIA A+/Network+/Security+/Cloud+.
• 160 Driving Academy: Multi-location for-profit CDL training provider operating across the U.S., offering Class A CDL programs with similar tuition-based revenue model and employer placement partnerships to ACI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/advancedcareer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advanced-career-institute

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Advanced Career Institute