Why Choose Collision Repair As a Career and What to Look For in a School

Why choose collision repair as a career pathway?Why choose collision repair as a career pathway?
Hands-on: Why should your job be boring andHands-on: Why should your job be boring and
dreadful? You can earn income doing the thingsdreadful? You can earn income doing the things
you like to do. If you're someone that likesyou like to do. If you're someone that likes
working with your hands, a high-tech environmentworking with your hands, a high-tech environment
and you enjoy being able to step back and seeand you enjoy being able to step back and see
the results of your work; then collision repair maythe results of your work; then collision repair may
be a good fit for you.be a good fit for you.
High income potential: I-Car Education FoundationHigh income potential: I-Car Education Foundation
completed a survey, showing the average incomecompleted a survey, showing the average income
that a collision repair technician earns. You may bethat a collision repair technician earns. You may be
surprised that the average income of $51,312 issurprised that the average income of $51,312 is
higher then many other comparable trades. Inhigher then many other comparable trades. In
fact, the top 10% earn $88,460. Although, justfact, the top 10% earn $88,460. Although, just
like with any career, you shouldn't expect thislike with any career, you shouldn't expect this
your first year on the job. These are the incomesyour first year on the job. These are the incomes
you can expect to make with experience andyou can expect to make with experience and
commitment.commitment.
Job Security: As roads and highways becomeJob Security: As roads and highways become
more populated with vehicles, the results aremore populated with vehicles, the results are
more auto accidents. Unfortunately, themore auto accidents. Unfortunately, the
automotive industry is not finding enough trainedautomotive industry is not finding enough trained
technicians to properly repair these modern daytechnicians to properly repair these modern day
vehicles. This means job security for you.vehicles. This means job security for you.
Work will never be outsourced: Think about it!Work will never be outsourced: Think about it!
Could you imagine a damaged vehicle being loadedCould you imagine a damaged vehicle being loaded
on a ship, taken overseas, repaired, and shippedon a ship, taken overseas, repaired, and shipped
back to the customer...it's not going to happen.back to the customer...it's not going to happen.
We need trained collision and paint technicians rightWe need trained collision and paint technicians right
here in the United States, in every state andhere in the United States, in every state and
every city to repair our cars. As a technician, youevery city to repair our cars. As a technician, you
will never have to worry about your job beingwill never have to worry about your job being
outsourced.outsourced.
What are some of the things to consider whenWhat are some of the things to consider when
choosing a school to attend?choosing a school to attend?
NATEF certified: Make sure the school is a NationalNATEF certified: Make sure the school is a National
Automotive Technician Education FoundationAutomotive Technician Education Foundation
(NATEF) accredited. This gives you peace of mind(NATEF) accredited. This gives you peace of mind
knowing that the school has met the NATEFknowing that the school has met the NATEF
standards and is a quality school. NATEF is nationalstandards and is a quality school. NATEF is national
recognized in the automotive industry and will giverecognized in the automotive industry and will give
you a competitive edge, when you pursue a job.you a competitive edge, when you pursue a job.
In order to be NATEF accredited, all instructorsIn order to be NATEF accredited, all instructors
must be Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)must be Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
certified to teach. This means that you will havecertified to teach. This means that you will have
competent instructors to ensure your success incompetent instructors to ensure your success in
the future.the future.
I-Car affiliation: Make sure the school is affiliatedI-Car affiliation: Make sure the school is affiliated
with I-Car. I-Car is an organization that helps thewith I-Car. I-Car is an organization that helps the
collision industry with on-going training. Theycollision industry with on-going training. They
provide training to technicians already on the jobprovide training to technicians already on the job
and they provide curriculum and support toand they provide curriculum and support to
colleges and technical schools to prepare studentscolleges and technical schools to prepare students
for the world-of-work. I-Car is known throughoutfor the world-of-work. I-Car is known throughout
the collision industry and will give your potentialthe collision industry and will give your potential
employer another perk to hire you.employer another perk to hire you.
Where do I find a school like this and how do IWhere do I find a school like this and how do I
enroll?enroll?
1. Call the school to set up a time you can visit1. Call the school to set up a time you can visit
with them and ask to tour the collision repairwith them and ask to tour the collision repair
program.program.
2. Is the collision program accredited? If so, who2. Is the collision program accredited? If so, who
are they accredited through?are they accredited through?
3. Are they affiliated with I-Car and what3. Are they affiliated with I-Car and what
curriculum do they use?curriculum do they use?
4. Ask if one of the program instructors are4. Ask if one of the program instructors are
available to speak with. You can ask themavailable to speak with. You can ask them
program specific questions. This will give you aprogram specific questions. This will give you a
better feel of the program and the instructors.better feel of the program and the instructors.
5. What is their student per instructor ratio?5. What is their student per instructor ratio?
6. Find out what requirements, tools, tuition,and6. Find out what requirements, tools, tuition,and
fees are required.fees are required.
7. Have them explain the difference between a7. Have them explain the difference between a
certificate and an associates degree. (somecertificate and an associates degree. (some
technical schools do not offer associates degrees)technical schools do not offer associates degrees)
8. Does the college have any articulation8. Does the college have any articulation
agreements with any other schools, which allowsagreements with any other schools, which allows
the student to transfer into a four-yearthe student to transfer into a four-year
university?university?
9. Once you feel you have made the correct9. Once you feel you have made the correct
decision, ask them to direct you to an advisor.decision, ask them to direct you to an advisor.
The advisor will walk you through the steps toThe advisor will walk you through the steps to
get you enrolled.get you enrolled.