Where Can You Find Auto Collision Repair Career Training?
You love cars and appreciate every angle, profile, and body line. Whether it’s a sleek sports car speeding by or a big-bodied SUV fresh off the showroom floor, it gets your attention. But can you really turn your passion into a career? With the right training and experience, you can! Before you enroll in an auto collision repair training program, consider your options. You can find collision repair training through apprenticeships, community colleges, and trade schools, but which will be right for you?
Apprenticeship Programs for Collision Repair Training
One way to learn about collision repair and auto restoration is to seek out an apprenticeship. An apprenticeship program combines hands-on training with mentorship and can be a pathway to a job as a skilled technician. Your apprenticeship can be formal, structured, and regulated or informal and flexible.
Informal Apprenticeships in Collision Repair Training
Usually arranged directly between you and a local auto repair shop, an informal apprenticeship may offer valuable hands-on experience, but the quality of the training will vary depending on the shop, owner, and mentor. There isn’t a guaranteed curriculum or timeline, and you gain no official certification when you’re done. While an informal apprenticeship may work for some, its lack of consistency and clearly defined outcomes may put you at a disadvantage in the job market.
Formal Apprenticeships in Collision Repair Training
A formal apprenticeship follows a defined curriculum and may be registered with government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) or your state’s apprenticeship board. These programs must meet certain standards for training, instruction, safety, and wages. They typically include:
- On-the-job training under a qualified mentor
- Classroom instruction (sometimes partnered with a trade school)
- Set hours for training and education (e.g., 2,000+ hours)
- A certification upon completion
- Wages that increase as skills improve
Community Colleges Offering Collision Repair Training
Some community colleges offer trades programs that include auto collision repair. Your program should blend hands-on technical training with foundational coursework to prepare you for entry-level careers in the auto body industry. Community college programs often lead to an associate degree (A.A.S.) in Automotive Collision Repair or Auto Body Technology. You learn about:
- Structural and non-structural damage repair
- Dent removal and panel replacement
- Frame straightening and welding techniques
- Automotive painting and refinishing
- Damage analysis and estimates
- Shop safety and tool usage
- Introduction to insurance processes and customer service
While community colleges can be convenient and accessible, they often require general education courses for an AAS degree. And because they serve a wide range of programs and students, they may not provide much individualized attention, access to shop time, and may have long waitlists for popular courses and programs. Also, an AAS degree in auto collision repair can take up to two years to complete.
Trade Schools for Collision Repair Training
One of the best places to find hands-on, career-focused collision repair training is at a trade or career school. These programs are designed to get you into the shop, so you can build real-world skills and graduate job-ready. You don’t spend time on general education classes; the focus is entirely about what you will need to perform well on the job. You do spend time in realistic shop environments, working with the tools, equipment, and materials used in actual body shops. And you learn by doing—fixing replacing panels, welding, sanding, painting, and more.
Career schools often offer:
- Shorter program lengths compared to traditional colleges
- Hands-on training with tools, equipment, and industry techniques
- Smaller class sizes and personalized instruction
- Certifications that employers recognize and respect
- Industry partnerships and employer connections to help you start working after graduation
Learning collision repair from a trade school offers several strong benefits, especially for students who want a direct path into the workforce with hands-on experience and industry-relevant skills. At Lincoln Tech, for example, our Collision Repair and Refinishing program is built with input from industry leaders around the skills employers actually look for from new hires. Students train in fully equipped shops and learn from experienced instructors who’ve worked in the field.
What to Look for in a Collision Repair Program
As you explore programs that specialize in auto collision repair and refinishing, look for programs that provide you with a comprehensive understanding and hands-on application of industry standard collision repair and refinishing techniques. You want to learn about the latest collision repair tools, equipment, and techniques so you will be qualified to work in a shop that performs various repairs using a range of manufacturers’ frame, alignment, and paint equipment.
Among the program components to consider:
- Program accreditation through organizations like the ASE Education Foundation and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
- Preparation for I-CAR Pro Level 1 Certifications in both the Non-Structural and Refinish areas along with preparation for I-CAR steel and aluminum welding certifications
- Hands-on learning opportunities using industry-standard tools and equipment
- Instructors with extensive knowledge and real-world experience
- Job placement support after graduation
Auto collision repair is a rewarding industry allowing you to pursue your passion for cars while providing needed services. Whether you’re fresh out of high school or looking for a new career path, the right training can set you up for success.
Ready to get started? Contact Lincoln Tech today to learn more about our Collision Repair and Refinishing program and how you can take the first step toward a dynamic career in the automotive industry.