Automotive Body Panels Education and Training

Specializing in repairing car body panels can be a rewarding career

If you are interested in a career as an automobile collision repair technician, then you will have to know the ins and outs of auto body repair panels. This is a specialized field, as these car body panels make up the entire vehicle. There is a lot involved in repairing and replacing them so having the proper education and training is important.

When thinking about pursuing a career that works with body panels, it’s as important that you get enough background information, as it is to get the proper training. Follow these steps when deciding your plan of action:

1. Look into the field of collision repair and specifically working with replacement body panels.

2. Join automobile trade organizations to network and continue your education.

3. Pursue the proper automotive body panels education and training program.

 

Pick up the basics of replacement auto body panels by doing some background research beforehand

When you are considering a career in which you work with automotive body panels, it is important to know the basics of what a career like that would entail. In most cases you would be entering into the collision repair or automobile restoration field, since these are the careers that use automobile body panels most often. Look into the different ways to use body panels to make sure that this is the direction you want to take for your long-term career plans. Getting to know some of the terminology will introduce you to the other aspects of collision repair as well.
Try: Check out iAutoBodyParts.com for many helpful articles and tips on auto body panels. Cascade Collision Services offers this helpful glossary of terms that are associated with repairing an auto body panel. Lansing Community College has some great career facts about collision repair technicians.

Become a member of a trade organization with other professionals who specialize in auto body panels

When you have completed all of your automotive body panels education and training, it is now a good idea to meet up with other professionals in that area. Joining a trade association is a great way to stay on top of what's going on in auto body panel innovation through seminars, conferences and continuing education courses. It is also a helpful way to network with your fellow professionals.
Try: The Society of Collision Repair Specialists holds many events throughout the year that can be used to network with other auto body panel professionals. Join the Automotive Service Association and take advantage of the trade conferences and seminars they attend every year.

Educate yourself with the proper classes and become an auto body panel specialist

Once you have decided that a career working with replacement auto body panels is for you, then it's time to take the appropriate classes in order to get the proper certifications. Most training programs are in-person only as this is a hands-on career and it is important that you get real-life experience in addition to learning from the books and manuals.
Try: The most respected skills certification in auto repair comes through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and they have an extensive education and testing program for collission repair. Southwestern Illinois College will teach you what you need to know in order to be a successful technician who specializes in automotive body panels. Universal Technical Institute offers a collision certification that will give you in-depth knowledge about auto body repair panels.

 

• When at networking events through the various trade organizations, get recommendations from other members regarding what kind of classes dealing with replacement auto body panels would be a good idea. You may get some suggestions that weren't in your training curriculum.

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