MIAT College of Technology was founded in 1969 by a highly experienced aircraft technician whose foresight regarding the growth of the aviation industry motivated him to develop a training resource for aircraft technicians.
The original school, Detroit Institute of Aeronautics, was located on the west side of Willow Run Airport. The school had expanded to 14,300 square feet by 1980. In response to dramatic growth and sophistication in the aviation industry, a new 38,000 square foot training facility was constructed in 1990 for classes beginning in 1991. In 2010 the school expanded again and moved operations to a 125,000 square foot facility in Canton, Michigan.
Aviation Technology programs were created in 1969 to encompass training focusing on FAA certificated curriculum. Graduates of the Aviation Technology programs are eligible to take federal exams that qualify them to be certificated Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Technicians. MIAT’s Houston campus was approved by the FAA as an Aviation Maintenance School in 2014.
Energy Technology programs began in 2007 in response to the energy industry looking for qualified technicians to work in steam and gas turbine technology, powerplant operations, wind turbine technology, and other areas of power generation such as substation, standby, and nuclear. The industry recognized the high degree of skills the aviation graduates possessed and asked for a program that was similar, but also specific, to the energy industry needs.
In 2010, MIAT opened a branch campus in Houston, Texas, originally offering only the energy programs to meet demand for skilled technicians for the oil and gas and energy producing industries in Houston and surrounding areas.
The HVACR Technician program was created in 2012 to meet the demand for residential and commercial technicians with obtaining EPA certifications and skills in installation, maintenance and service of climate control equipment.
In August 2012, MIAT received approval from the State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) to offer an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. As a degree granting institution, the State of Michigan recognized MIAT as a college. In the fall of 2012 MIAT changed its name from Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology to MIAT to reflect this achievement. The Houston campus received state approval for degree programs in 2014.
The Robotics and Automation Technology Associate in Applied Science degree and the Robotics and Automation Technician certificate programs began enrolling students at the Canton campus in 2018. The programs are designed to create a knowledge bridge for the technician between mechanical technology and the electrical and electronic circuits used to control and automate mechanical processes. The Houston campus added both programs in 2021.
Following the Houston campus’s successful launch of the welding program in 2018, the Canton campus added welding in 2019. The welding programs are specifically designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in structural, pipe and pipeline, thin alloy welding, pipefitting, and steam fitting.
Additional diploma programs were added in 2019 at the Houston campus to meet market demand for trained technicians in the area of Non-Destructive Testing. Utilized in a wide range of industries, non-destructive testing is the process of inspecting, testing, or evaluating materials, components or assemblies for discontinuities, or differences in characteristics without destroying the serviceability of the part or system.
MIAT became part of Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in November 2021 when UTI acquired the Canton and Houston campuses from HCP ED Holdings, Inc.