Automotive Body and Related Repairers
Automotive bodies and related repairers repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
Automotive bodies and related repairers’ daily duties involve restoring the body and frames of vehicles. When a customer brings in a damaged vehicle, an automotive body repairer examines the damage, evaluates the costs, and executes repair work. Depending on the intensity of the damage, they may replace broken parts, realign the frame, or both, to recover the vehicle's look to new.
For a career in the role of automotive body repair training, one should have a high school diploma followed by postsecondary training preferred by employers.
Next, you should earn a certificate or an associate's degree in automotive technology to improve your job opportunities in this field. These programs are offered at community colleges, trade schools and vocational schools. They teach students to repair damaged body parts of cars, trucks and other vehicles. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers training and certification exams for individuals seeking professional credentials as an automotive body repairer. Certifications make individuals more eligible for better work roles and the best automotive body and glass repairers' salary.
For a successful career in automotive repair jobs, the key skills which you should possess are manual dexterity, strong customer service and critical thinking skills, and working knowledge of hydraulic and power equipment.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- NSQF Level 3 Basic Car Servicing
- NSQF Level 2 Basic Automotive Servicing 4 wheeler
- ITI Course Motor Vehicle
- ITI Course Agriculture Vehicle
- ITI Course Repair and Maintenance of Heavy Vehicles
Tasks
- File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
- Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
- Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
- Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
- Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
- Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
- Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
- Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
- Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
- Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
Progression Routes
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