- What is involved in this class?
- How much classroom work verses shop work?
- Will I get dirty?
- Can I work on my own vehicle?
- Are there any girls taking Collision Repair?
- Can I get a job after graduation?
- Is there a college institution for Collision Repair?
- What is the starting pay?
- What about certification?
- Can I work while in school?
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What is involved in this class?
We study the proper procedures for attitude and safety in the workplace, how
to correctly repair damage to a vehicle and make ready for refinishing. We
study the structure and how to repair major damages using "state of the art"
frame pulling and alignment equipment.
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How much classroom work verses shop work?
In the beginning class there is approximately 70% classwork and 30% shop
work getting you ready for the repairs to a vehicle. In the advanced
classes there are approximately 50% class time and 50% shop time.
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Will I get dirty?
Yes! In the Collision Repair Trade you will be working with various
materials ranging from working with plastic filler, primer and paints.
While working with these materials, there is a sanding process which creates
dust. We will require that you use a pair of safety glasses (either clear
or amber - no dark lenses) and a dust respirator. The dust respirator will
be furnished per six weeks of study.
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Can I work on my own vehicle?
During the beginning program, I do not allow students to work on their own
projects.
In the advanced program, if the student has a project that relates to our
line of study, they are allowed to bring in their project if it is newer
than a 1980 and there is not a lot of damage or rust. There is a spray
booth fee of $50.00 and a shop fee of $15.00 plus all the materials you use
on your vehicle.
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Are there any girls taking Collision Repair?
Yes! In the past classes I have had several female students taking
Collision Repair. There are open fields of employment for females taking
Collision Repair.
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Can I get a job after graduation?
This is a tough question. It all depends upon you. If you are serious and
want to become a Collision Repair Tech, the opportunity is there for you.
There are also related areas of employment in industry. I have several
former students working in industry painting, welding, working with sheet
metal and fiberglass. You have to prove yourself from the beginning. The
employment world wants only those who are motivated and works well on their
own without having to be told what to do.
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Is there a college institution for Collision Repair?
Yes! There are several opportunities for you to go and further your
education in the collision repair field. In Morristown - Tennessee
Technology Center. In Nashville Tn. - Nashville Auto Diesel College. In
Texas, you have Universal Technical Institute and in Alabama you have
Virginia Technical Institute for Collision Repair. There are others I'm
sure. If you are interested, we can do a web search and find others for you.
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What is the starting pay?
The salary depends upon the shop where you are working and your abilities.
Most shops start you out as a trainee mostly around $6 per hour. As your
knowledge increases and get more experience under your belt the raises come
and possibly go into a commision based salary where you get a percentage of
what the labor is on the project you are working on. Some of the tech's
today are making $60 - $70 thousand a year. Also you can go on to become
the shop manager or even have your own business.
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What about certification?
The certification most used in this area is the "Automotive Service
Excellence" or ASE. Tech's are asked to get their certification to prove
they are knowledgeable about the repairs to a vehicle and can perform
quality work. The customer comes first along with the safety of repairs.
If a tech denies taking the certification test, there could be grounds for
dismissal.
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Can I work while in school?
With the Collision Repair Program, you must be 18 and passed all of your
Gateway Exams to be able to "Co-op" out into a workplace. You must be an
advanced student and the workplace must be a related area of employment.
EX: Welding shop, industry that has painting, welding or working with
sheetmetal, fiberglass or glass - either household or automotive style. Of
course areas in the collision repair shops.
