Career Training in Auto Body Collision Repair & Upholstery

Careers in auto body collision repair and upholstery require at minimum a high school diploma or GED, but increasingly demand more specific training and education according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Types

Auto body repair technicians can receive training in the field in vocational high school programs, associate's degree programs at community colleges or certificate or degree programs at technical or trade schools. Some smaller shops may take on a worker right out of high school and provide on the job training. (see reference 1)

Time Frame

While a auto body technician and upholsterer may join the workforce after receiving no formal secondary school training, it is recommended. Once hired at the entry level, on-the-job training typically takes a few years to put a tech at an independent productive working position. Additionally, most auto body techs take continuing education courses or training throughout their careers to stay up-to-date with new technology in the field.

Identification

Those who want to enter this field often have an eye for color and design, and have an artistic flair and a genuine love of cars. They should have basic math and computer skills, be able to communicate well with customers and have good hand/eye coordination to succeed in both the training for the career and in the career itself.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Automotive Body and Related Repairers
• Auto Careers Today: Collision Repair
• Collision Careers: Collision Industry Job Descriptions