• McCarthy Collision Center

Call 816-224-7575 Directions
«
»

How to Become an Auto Body Technician

Aug 2, 2022

Although it’s not as glamorous a career as “celebrity chef” or “person who writes Netflix categories,” an automotive body technician is arguably more important. What would happen if either of those two professions didn’t exist? Blander food and blander streaming options.

That’s not to take anything away from the Ramsays, Flays and Rays of the world – the work they do and roles they play are invaluable to society. However, society would move on without grilled pork loin recipes; society would literally not move on without functioning vehicles.

About 90% of American adults are licensed drivers. If each of those drivers owns one car, the math comes out to be…*beep boop beep* 700 trillion 240 million vehicles on the road. And every day, there are approximately 17,000 car accidents, about half of which necessitate auto body repairs before those vehicles are safe to drive again. (Could Gordon Ramsay replace a windshield or fender on any of those millions of cars? We doubt it.)

As you start formulating your career path, why not choose to be a difference maker? Here are some reasons why a job in the auto body repair field could be a perfect match for you.

What skills do I need to be a collision repair technician?

The most important skills necessary to take on an auto body technician career are the aptitude (and passion!) to learn, a solid work ethic, and a general inclination to solve problems. Everything else can be taught with time, experience and a good core of peers, teachers and colleagues to guide you.

Overall, the skills and knowledge you’ll acquire as you seek a collision repair career will include:

Is auto body work a good career path for you? Although challenging at times, an auto body career is very rewarding for those of us who are creative problem solvers with basic mechanical skills and aptitude.

Do I need to attend an auto body repair school?

Most shop employers prefer to hire people who have official auto body repair training, whether that’s through collision repair classes at a local trade school, like Northwood Tech, or hands-on experience in an auto garage. Although highly recommended, graduating from a paint and auto body school isn’t required to become a car body technician. Entry-level or auto body apprentice jobs may be available to anyone with a high school degree/GED and without formal secondary education.

New and inexperienced employees will gain on-the-job training in the shop by assisting experienced technicians perform basic skills, which can include dent removal, calculating price estimates, ordering parts, disposing of materials, and more.

To work your way up to becoming the highest paid auto body technician or paint prepper in your field, you’ll be required to complete several years of hands-on training and/or body shop classes, as well as certifications to ensure you’re competent in all pertinent technical fields. In order to continue developing their skills and knowledge, ongoing education and testing is also usually required of A-techs, especially if they wish to choose a specialization.

Should I have my own tools before accepting a collision repair job?

As an auto body mechanic or technician, you’ll be working with tools all day. Many of these tools, especially large equipment, gear in prep decks and computer systems, will be provided by your auto body shop. However, it’s a safe assumption that most collision repair jobs will require you to have your own set of tools.

Unfortunately for new and aspiring automotive body technicians, these tools can cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. This can certainly make an auto body repair career difficult to get into.

Many hiring auto body shops have special programs to either help their techs acquire affordable tools or provide them with tools for free. Something like our Tool Retention program is perfect for new auto body technicians and automotive service technicians alike. Simply put, when we hire an employee, we provide them with all the tools they require to perform their duties. After one year of employment, those tools are theirs to keep, regardless of their future career path.

How do I find auto body jobs near me?

Searching job postings online is one option, though it’s hardly the only (or best) way to start your career. We recommend growing relationships with professionals in the field, through your trade school or by cozying up with A-techs and paint technicians at a body shop near you. You’ll find that even the best body shops hire fresh blood constantly!

Pursuing a career in the automotive service field? Hey, everyone’s gotta start somewhere. If you happen to be looking for body shop technician jobs in Kansas City, click here to see our current openings, which include auto body techs, parts specialists, collision estimators, porters, and many more roles.

Have any questions about how McCarthy Collision Centers hire, maintain and educate our body shop employees? Feel free to give us a call at 1-800-NEW-AGAIN, or visit any of our collision center locations in Olathe, Blue Springs, Overland Park or Lee’s Summit to submit a job application.

Posted in Car Tips, McCarthy Collision Center News | Comments Off on How to Become an Auto Body Technician

Connect with us