 | Automotive Service & Repair Association"Serving Alberta's Automotive Service Professionals" |
Top of Page
Auto Body Technician
| Employment Outlook: | Average occupational growth |
| Physical Requirements: | Lifting between 11 & 25 kg (approximately 25 to 55 lbs) |
| Educational Requirements: | General high school diploma |
| NOC Number(s): | 7322 |
Introduction
Auto body technicians repair and/or replace damaged motor vehicle structures, body parts, and interior/exterior finishes. They may work primarily on structural repairs or refinishing, or do both types of work. Duties
In general, auto body technicians Auto body technicians may specialize in making collision repairs or in refinishing, or work in both branches of the trade. Collision specialists are involved in damage appraisal, frame and unibody structural repair, body sheet metal work, plastic repair, component replacement and alignment. In the past, they used heavy frame machines and simple gauges to repair heavy collision damage. Today, they rely on precise factory specification charts and use sophisticated measuring and repair systems to restore damaged vehicles. In particular, collision specialists Refinishing specialists are involved in damage appraisal, surface preparation, minor damage repair, masking, colour matching, priming and top coating. In particular, refinishing specialists Working Conditions
Auto body technicians generally work a 40-hour, five-day week with occasional overtime required. They work indoors in a noisy, sometimes dusty, environment. Although most shops are well ventilated, the work involves exposure to dust and fumes. There is always some risk of injury involved in working with sharp or hot metals, welders and power tools. Auto body technicians may be required to lift parts and equipment weighing up to 25 kilograms. Auto body technicians need the following characteristics: They should enjoy using tools and equipment to perform tasks requiring precision, following routine procedures, and repairing damaged auto body components. Education Requirements
In Alberta, the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act requires that anyone working in this trade be a certified journeyman or a registered apprentice. To enter the Auto Body Technician apprenticeship program, applicants must have a minimum of Grade 10 education or equivalent (or pass an entrance exam), and find an appropriate employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. Employers generally prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees. While still in high school, students can begin an apprenticeship program and earn high school credits at the same time through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). After high school graduation, RAP apprentices may complete their apprenticeship programs as full-time apprentices. To register in the apprenticeship program, the apprentice and the employer complete an application form together and submit it to the closest Apprenticeship and Industry Training office. Once the application is approved, a contract is drawn up and signed by the apprentice and the employer. The term of apprenticeship is different for each branch of the trade. The classroom training for the first and second periods is common for all branches of the trade. Applicants who have successfully completed related courses of study or work experience may be eligible for advanced standing in the apprenticeship program. The classroom training is arranged by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training and is currently being offered at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. When apprentices attend training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies. Human Resources Development Canada may provide employment insurance benefits to apprentices attending classroom training. For more detailed information, contact your local Human Resources Development Canada office. After successfully completing the required examinations and hours of employment, an apprentice is awarded an Alberta Journeyman Certificate. Those who pass an approved interprovincial exam qualify for the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal which means their trade qualifications are recognized throughout most of Canada. Prospective auto body technicians may take a one-year Auto Body Repair certificate program offered by the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton prior to finding employment and becoming apprentices. The program entrance requirement is completion of English 10 or 13, Math 10 or 13 and a Grade 10 science. Once the apprenticeship program is completed, auto body technicians need to keep up to date with new technologies and industry advancements. Journeyman Update Courses are offered at technical institutes and through private training organizations such as I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair). Employment and Advancement
Auto body technicians are employed by auto body repair shops, automobile and truck dealerships, custom shops and sometimes by trucking companies and buslines. Experienced auto body technicians may advance to supervisory positions, start their own businesses or become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies. With additional training, they can transfer their skills to related occupations such as sheet metal worker, aircraft technician, motorcycle mechanic or automotive service technician. For the foreseeable future in Alberta, the employment outlook in this occupation is expected to be average compared to all other occupations. Salary
Apprentice auto body technicians earn at least 55% of the journeyman wage in their place of employment in the first year, 70% in the second, 80% in the third and 90% in the fourth year. Journeyman wage rates vary, but generally range from $16 to $22 an hour (1997 figures). Some auto body technicians are paid on commission or flat rate so their earnings depend on the amount of work assigned to them, and how quickly it is completed.