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Auto Body Technician |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009
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 Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Auto body technicians who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a credential 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 term of apprenticeship for an auto body technician is 4 years (four 12 month periods). This includes 1600 hours of on-the-job training and 4 weeks of technical training in the first year; 1600 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of technical training in the second year; 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of technical training in the third years; and 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of technical training in the fourth year.
To learn the skills required of an auto body technician in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice auto body technicians earn at least 55 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 70 percent in the second year, and 75 percent in the third year and 80% in the fourth year;
- select an educational institution that offers training for Auto Body Technician apprentices, and a time to attend training (see Technical Training Locations and Schedule)
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution (see Enrollment Instructions)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyperson or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require an Alberta Equivalency document as proof that the certificate is equivalent to the requirements of the trade in Alberta.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on Canadian credentials, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, 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.
This application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's work experience hours/months as well as one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
