OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2016. Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI), the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, is launching the first Mercury Marine technician career training certification program at its Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) campus in Orlando.

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Marine Technician Specialist program students now can pursue and achieve provisional certification as factory-certified technicians for Mercury Marine outboard products. MMI is the only career technical education school in the country with which Mercury Marine is offering this certification program.

There is no additional cost to MMI students to obtain the certification. Besides fulfilling MMI Marine program graduation requirements, students pursuing the certification must complete Mercury University components embedded into the 51-week marine technician training program as well as additional online E-Skills and distance-learning courses. 

The Mercury Marine technician certification program was developed in partnership with Mercury Marine and its Mercury University division, the largest global marine engine manufacturer training program for dealerships and partners. Graduates can achieve a provisional factory certification for Mercury Marine outboard motors and will have partially completed the training requirements for certification for MerCruiser sterndrives. The provisional certification becomes active upon employment with a Mercury Marine dealership within two years of graduation.1 

"Investing in training qualified Mercury Marine technicians is an investment in our future," said Rob Schrage, Director of Field Service Development & Operations, Mercury Marine. "Partnering with MMI was a natural fit for us to support the growing need for Mercury-trained technicians."

"This partnership is the latest reflection of our collaboration with our industry partners to train students with the skills employers want and validates MMI's position as the premier  school for training marine service technicians," said Steve McElfresh, president of Marine Mechanics Institute and its sister campuses, Universal Technical Institute and Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, in Orlando. "We have been collaborating with Mercury on curriculum to equip our students with the skills their dealers need since 1998 and we are delighted to partner with Mercury to help train the next generation of certified Mercury technicians."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation will need more than 1.2 million automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine service technicians by 2024. Based on government projections, this will mean an average of 37,000 job openings annually.2

MMI currently has manufacturer relationships with Honda Marine, Suzuki Marine, Yamaha Marine and Volvo Penta, in addition to Mercury Marine. Students train on equipment from each of those manufacturers but only Mercury Marine offers the opportunity to secure a provisional factory certification through completion of the coursework and additional Mercury University courses.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 190,000 graduates in its 50-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12 campus locations across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech).  For more information, visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweetand @NASCARTechUTI.

About Mercury Marine
Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A \\$2 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury's industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land 'N Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.

1MMI cannot guarantee employment or salary.

2Based on data compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections(2014-2024), www.bls.gov, viewed December 8, 2015.