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Auto Body Repair Training Program

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Auto Body Repair Schools

There are many people out there that really care about cars. These individuals want to be able to make a car stand out and look amazing. But, if you are considering doing this for a living then you need to know that you are going to need to have some training and education in order to learn how to do this properly. While a diploma may be good enough, you can always learn a lot more when you have the right trainers and you get your hands dirty doing the job. Are you looking for auto body training as well as auto detailing programs?

So what will you are doing everyday if you really want to get into the auto detailing profession for a living? For starters you are going to be making cars nice and shiny. You will be cleaning them inside and out. This is not something that is going to require a nice little brush; rather you are going to need to know how to use a wide range of cleaning tools. Individuals that do this job are also going to be expected to be able to mix different cleaners and abrasion cleaners together to get the desired effect. How many times have you cleaned your car and it did not look like it would if you were to have paid an auto detailer to do it? That is because it goes beyond basic soap.

While all of this may sound like a lot of fun to you, you are going to want to know about the work conditions that are going to be included with this job. Many times these professionals are going to be working in conditions that are going to be noisy. This might not be a problem for some but if you want to be working in a quiet office, this will not be the job for you. Many times these professionals are also going to be working around many contaminates and this will take place in enclosed places.

Auto Body Training Programs

Auto detailing is not a job that you are going to be carrying out on your own each and every day. There are a few different skills that you are going to need to ensure that you are good at this job and that you can make a career out of auto detailing. First off, you will need to be able to communicate with others and take directions from your superiors. You will also be expected to have professional relationships with the individuals that ask you to detail their work. Much of your education is going to be related to hands on experience.

Many professionals are going to get their education and training from vocational schools. But, you are going to want to consider obtaining some of this training through post-secondary schooling if you would like to have your own business one day and you want to be the person that is in charge. While you are obtaining this education you are also going to be expected to learn about many safety precautions that you will be expected to know and exercise on a daily basis. There are many professional organizations for this career that will continually offer advanced training and courses that can help professionals continue to improve their skills.

If you are concerned about job security with this job selection you will be very happy to know that it has been expected that the job opportunities in this field are actually expected to grow up to 20% over the next decade. This is an amazing outlook when you consider the fact that many professionals are not able to find a job when they are finished with their schooling.

 

Auto Body and Collision Duties

 

If you are looking for a great automotive career then take that first step and start researching what it would take to become an auto body or collision technician. As a technician you’ll know everything to be able to properly inspect and repair damage that is done to a car including such things as rear-end collisions, frame and body work and even glass repair. Many technicians are skilled at removing dents caused by the weather including hail damage. They also are experienced in sanding and even prepping a car to be painted.


Very often auto body technicians learn hands-on during their training program and below we will tell you how to find the right auto body and collision school so you can reach your career goals.


Where to Find Auto body Work

 

After you graduate from an auto body training school approx. 70% go to work for an auto body or maintenance shop, 10% will go to work for a dealership as one of their mechanics and the rest end up starting their own business. Your job will mostly be indoors unless you deal strictly for a company that does house calls regarding maintenance including window and glass repair. One common question we get asked is how will the school I attend help me find a job. As you know no school can promise a job but many schools in the automotive industry have solid relationships with local auto body businesses and those businesses will hire the schools graduates. This is very important as it takes the stress out of finding a job after you graduate as many graduates will already have a job lined up before they receive their certification.


Trusted Education

 

Your first step is to start your research to find a campus based auto body repair school. Search our site based on your state or zip code to find one close to where you work or live. It is important that you don’t have to drive a long distance to school, especially if you are working at the same time. When looking at a school we recommend finding one that focuses on automotive training. They might offer other programs such as detailing, mechanical or alternative fuel repair. Request information so you can review the materials they send you. When you find one that interests you schedule a campus tour so you can take a look at their facility but more importantly ask questions while on your tour.


When it comes to tuition costs every automotive school will be different as there is not set pricing for the industry on what they can charge. Most programs we list can range from $5000 to around $40,000. It really depends on the duration of the program and what they are going to teach you. Many of the programs are full-time and take a year to complete so make sure you research this before you enroll.


Certification and Licensing

 

Be sure to find out from the school you want to attend what type of certification or licensing you’ll need in order to get a job. This might vary by state but one certification that is common is from the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. Another certification is from I-CAR. Keep in mind that each car manufacturer might also have specific certification including those from Chrysler and BMW.


What will I Learn in Auto Body School

 

During your training you will most likely get an introduction to some sort of welding. You get welding training as many times you’ll be working on cars or trucks with structural or fame damage where welding skills are a must. You’ll take courses that cover topics in electrical, brakes, computerized systems and even paint and refurbishing. One course that almost every school covers is how to give estimates. When a car or truck comes in you’ll need to be able to accurately estimate how many hours and what it will take to get the vehicle back to its original condition. This could mean dealing with insurance companies. Many of the schools are taught by ASE certified instructors with years of real-word experience. All of this information can be learned when you go into the school and take a campus tour.


Things to Avoid

 

When looking into a auto body program you need to make sure you don’t fall into a trap by enrolling in a program that doesn’t fit your career goals. An example would be if you want to be just a painter then enrolling in an engine repair program might not be a good fit. Luckily for you most schools will go over career goals with you before you enroll. Don’t take what every school tells you as fact and make sure you do your own research. We always recommend to connect with them socially online and talk to other students and graduates. One of the best is someone that is already in the field working. Go into your local auto body shop and ask them where they hire their mechanics from and learn where they went to school. Another thing to make sure you ask them about while on a campus tour is their graduation and placement rates. This should be posted on their site but it is important you go to a school that is successful in placing their graduates into a job.


Student Services Department

 

When you are in the middle of your studies at any school it is never too early to start looking for employment. Be sure to work with your schools student services department as they are a wealth of information. Many auto body schools will have solid job leads for you and will help you produce a great looking resume that showcases your automotive experience while you were in school. Be sure to take advantage of this service early on in your training.

 

Auto Body and Collision Repair Resources


I-Car Collision
Automotive Service Excellence

Bureau of Labor Statistics
NSF