There are numerous ways to learn about the auto body repair field.
The U.S. is home to around 165,000 auto repair shops, according to industry profiler First Research. Those shops take in annual revenues of $85 billion. Workers earn an average hourly rate of $17.81, according to May 2008 data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Whether you’re interested in learning auto body work as a career change or simply to maintain your own vehicle, there are a variety of options to help you master the field.
Instructions
1. Take an adult education course at your local community college or nearby school. Adult education classes are usually short-term (a couple of months), held in the evening and require no experience or education. Auto body enthusiasts in North Carolina, for example, can enroll in Haywood Community College’s Auto Body Repair course. It teaches entry-level information on construction and design of cars, tools, metal working, cutting glass, painting and safety procedures.
2. Enhance your education by enrolling in an auto body associate degree program. Associate degrees are offered by community and technical colleges. They usually last about two years and might require a high school diploma or GED. Consider a program such as the Auto Body Repair and Painting program from Mott Community College, located in Flint, Mich. Students there can take courses in auto body painting, auto body welding and metal finishing, ventilation and air conditioning, suspension and alignment, major collision and frame repair, and automotive fundamentals.
3. Review introductory textbooks such as "The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair" by Dennis Parks; "Auto Body Repair Technology" by James E. Duffy; "The ABCs of Auto Body Repair" by Mel Berg; or "Motor Auto Body Repair" by James E. Duffy and "Robert Scharff." Look for books with lots of finely detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions.
4. Check local or state job listings for available apprenticeships, where you’ll work side by side with experienced auto body technicians and receive hands-on training. In California, for example, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers operates the California Automotive Apprenticeship program. Students receive four years and 8,000 hours of training, which also includes 144 hours of community college coursework.
5. Review online auto websites, which offer video tutorials, downloadable instructions, detailed images and blueprints. Advance Auto Parts, a retail chain, offers a know-how section on its website, with podcasts, product and project brochures, articles and videos. A login is required, but you can set up an account free of charge.
Tags: Auto Body Repair, Body Repair, Auto Body, auto body, auto body, Auto Body
