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Auto Body Technician |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
Auto body technicians repair and replace damaged motor vehicle structures and body parts, and interior and exterior finishes.
Journeyperson auto body technicians may specialize in damage appraisal, frame straightening, surface preparation, sheet metal work, painting, or plastics.
After preparing or reviewing motor vehicle repair estimate reports, auto body technicians:
Auto body technicians usually 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 metals and power tools.
The work is most rewarding for creative decision-makers who perform expert and very precise work.
To be successful in the trade, technicians need:
Auto body technicians are employed by auto body repair shops, automobile and truck dealerships, custom shops and sometimes by companies with vehicle fleets.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $19 to $35 an hour plus benefits, depending on the region.
Experienced auto body technicians may advance to supervisory positions, start their own businesses or become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies.
To work as an Auto Body Technician in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson or hold a recognized trade certificate. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
An auto body technician who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Motor Vehicle Body Repairer Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
An auto body technician who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Auto body technicians who have no trade certification but can prove that their skills and work experience meet the standards set for journeymen in Alberta may apply for certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, a document indicating that the individual holds a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate, or a certificate that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The auto body technician trade does not have an apprenticeship program. A person must complete apprenticeship training in the auto body repairer and auto body refinisher branches of the trade in order to qualify for certification as an auto body technician.
An apprentice who successfully completes both programs as an auto body repairer and auto body refinisher will be issued four Alberta Journeyman Certificates in the Auto Body Technician trade – one as an auto body prepper, one as an auto body repairer, one as an auto body refinisher, and one as an auto body technician.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyman or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Auto Body Technician)
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized certificate, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Journeyman Equivalency document. Because some employers may not be familiar with these certificates, the holder may choose to apply for an Equivalency document.
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a non-recognized certificate, a person must:
An applicant who chooses to write the exam(s) must:
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Auto Body Technician)
An applicant who chooses to have their skills and knowledge assessed (instead of writing an exam) must:
- complete the Equivalency Application – Alternate Assessment and submit it to an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office
- pay the non-refundable application fee as identified on the application noted above
The Alternate Assessment process includes an assessment of the standards that the certificate is based on compared to Alberta's standards, and verification and assessment of the applicant's previous work experience, skills, knowledge and training in the trade. The application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's experience in the trade.
An applicant whose trade credential from another Canadian province or territory is currently not valid (has expired) in the jurisdiction for which it was originally issued may apply to the Qualification Certificate Program to have their experience assessed and examined.
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate, a person must:
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
- review available resource materials (see Resource Materials - Auto Body Technician)
