Autobody Repair

Auto body repair technicians are in charge of restoring vehicles following a collision. Read on to discover more about education and career options in the auto body repair field.

Inside Auto Body Repair

Auto body repair refers to fixing motor vehicles after accidents and collisions. Auto body repair technicians deal with bent parts, dings and scratches, alignment issues and the replacement of automotive pieces that have been heavily damaged. Auto body repair technicians can make a vehicle, such as a car or a truck, look and drive like new after a crash.

Community and technical colleges offer certificates, diplomas and associate's degrees in auto body repair. These programs teach students about workshop abilities required for auto body repair jobs, including welding, tool handling and computer basics. Training on safety measures and mechanical principles is also covered. Associate's degree programs may offer courses that can improve a student's communication, business and people skills, such as math, psychology and economics.

Voluntary, industry-recognized certification is available through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). According to the ASE, technicians must be re-certified every five years due to frequent changes within the automotive industry, including new materials and technological advances (www.ase.com). Those in the industry may need to take courses throughout their careers to keep their skills up-to-date.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), auto body repair technicians with formal training and updated skills will have the best job prospects despite the very little growth expected in the field from 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). Job openings will happen due to people retiring or switching careers. The BLS reported that the middle half of technicians earned hourly wages of $14.50-$24.02 as of May 2010.

Learn More about Auto Body Repair

Aspiring auto body repair technicians have diverse options in terms of instruction and career routes. Students can find more information about those opportunities in the following Education-Portal.com articles.

Degree Options

Students may choose either to take on a 2-year or a shorter program. These links explore some of the options available:

Career Options

Auto body repair technicians may work on different types of vehicles, which broaden their professional alternatives. Here are some examples of possible career routes:

Distance Learning Options

Students interested in auto body repair can learn the craft from fully online or hybrid programs that require some practical training on-campus. The following links deal with such options:

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4 Popular Schools

Other Schools:

  • School locations:
    • Rhode Island (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at New England Institute of Technology include:
      • Non-Degree: Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Construction Management and Trades
      • Electrical Repair and Maintenance
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Autobody Repair
        • Automotive Mechanics
        • Marine Watercraft Repair and Maintenance
  • School locations:
    • Michigan (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Ferris State University include:
      • Graduate: First Professional Degree, Master
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
      • Post Degree Certificate: Postbaccalaureate Certificate
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Construction Management and Trades
      • Electrical Repair and Maintenance
      • Heavy Equipment Maintenance
      • Precision Metal Working
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Autobody Repair
        • Automotive Mechanics
  • School locations:
    • Michigan (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Northern Michigan University include:
      • Graduate: Master
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Construction Management and Trades
      • Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance
      • Heavy Equipment Maintenance
      • Precision Metal Working
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Aircraft Powerplant Tech
        • Autobody Repair
        • Automotive Mechanics
  • School locations:
    • Minnesota (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Dunwoody College of Technology include:
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Construction Management and Trades
      • Electrical Repair and Maintenance
      • Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance
      • Precision Metal Working
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Autobody Repair
        • Automotive Mechanics
  • School locations:
    • Oklahoma (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Oklahoma State University include:
      • Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance
      • Leatherworking and Upholstery
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Autobody Repair
        • Diesel Mechanics
  • School locations:
    • Wisconsin (1 campus)
    Areas of study you may find at Milwaukee Area Technical College include:
      • Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
      • Undergraduate: Associate
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies
      • Construction Management and Trades
      • Electrical Repair and Maintenance
      • Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance
      • Heavy Equipment Maintenance
      • Precision Metal Working
      • Vehicle Repair and Maintenance
        • Aircraft Powerplant Tech
        • Airframe Mechanics and Aircraft Maintenance
        • Autobody Repair
        • Automotive Mechanics
        • Diesel Mechanics

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