Mission Statement
The mission of the Automotive Collision & Repair program is to provide quality education and training in minor and major collision repair and automotive refinishing with opportunities to specialize in either Paint and Refinishing or Major Collision Repair.
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Work Environment
Repairers work indoors in body shops where noise from the clatter of hammers against metal and the whine of power tools is prevalent. Most shops are well ventilated to disperse dust and paint fumes. Body repairers may also be required to work in awkward or cramped positions, and much of their work can be physically challenging. Hazards include cuts from sharp metal edges, burns from torches and heated metal, and injuries from power tools. However, serious accidents usually are avoided when the shop is kept clean and orderly and safety practices are observed. Most automotive body repairers work a standard 40-hour week. More than 40 hours a week may be required when there is a backlog of repair work to be completed. This may include working on weekends.
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Nature of the Work
Automotive body and related repairers, often called collision repair technicians, straighten bent bodies, remove dents, and replace crumpled parts that are beyond repair. They repair all types of vehicles. Each damaged vehicle presents different challenges for repairers. Using their broad knowledge of automotive construction and repair techniques, automotive body repairers must decide how to handle each job based on what the vehicle is made of and what needs to be repaired. They must first determine the extent of the damage and decide which parts are repairable and which parts they will need to replace.
For heavily damaged cars, an automotive body repairer might start by measuring the vehicle's frame to determine if there has been structural damage. The technician would then attach or clamp the vehicle to a structural repair machine that uses hydraulic pressure to align damaged components. They must restore "unibody" vehicles (designs built without detachable frames) as well as "full frame" vehicles (designs built with a detachable frame under the body), to precise factory specifications for the vehicle to operate correctly.
Once they align the vehicle properly, repairers begin to fix or replace other damaged body parts. If the vehicle or part is made of metal, body repairers use a pneumatic metal-cutting gun or a plasma cutter to remove badly damaged sections of welded body panels and then weld or otherwise attach replacement sections. Mechanically attached panels are removed with pneumatic and hand tools. Panels with less serious damage are repaired with stud welders, various hand tools, and fillers to restore panel shape. If a repairable part is plastic or composite, industry approved techniques and materials are used.
Refinish technicians prepare the vehicle for refinishing by applying corrosion protection materials and various body repair materials. The body repair materials require power and hand tools to sand and shape the damaged panels for preparation of topcoats. The repairer then uses vehicle-specific colors mixed at their shop or by a local vendor. These colors are used with special techniques to ensure the color matches the existing finish. Usually the final top coat will be a protective clear finish to protect the color and optimize appearance. Technicians use paint spray guns to apply primers and topcoats in a ventilated paint booth. The technicians use hand tools and electric buffers to remove any minor surface imperfections such as dust nibs after the spraying process is completed. Technicians then clean and reassemble the vehicle for delivery back to the customer.
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Employment
Automotive body and related repairers held about 185,900 jobs nationally in 2008; about 10 percent specialized in automotive glass installation and repair. Around 62 percent of repairers worked for automotive repair and maintenance shops, while 17 percent worked for automobile dealers. A small number worked for wholesalers of motor vehicles, parts, and supplies. About 12 percent of automotive body repairers were self-employed.
Employment of automotive body repairers nationally is expected to grow steadily over the 2008-2018 decade. The number of vehicles on the road is expected to continue increasing over the next decade. This will lead to overall growth in the demand for collision repair services. The increasing role of technology in vehicles also will mean new opportunities for workers with expertise or training in repairing particular makes and models of cars or working with specific materials.
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Earnings
Median hourly wages nationally of automotive body and related repairers, including incentive pay, were $17.81 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $13.74 and $23.57 an hour. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.75, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $30.17 an hour. Median hourly wages of automotive body and related repairers were $18.95 in automobile dealerships and $17.40 in automotive repair and maintenance.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
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Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Refinishing Specialization will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary mechanical and body repair tasks to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Display the ability to refinish a vehicle in compliance with current refinishing standards
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the Major Collision Repair Specialization will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose and estimate damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary mechanical and body repair tasks to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Display the ability to use measurement equipment to diagnose the structural and suspension damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to repair the damage with current frame repair and panel replacement equipment
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Automotive Collision Repair Assistant I will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary mechanical tasks, welding, and bolt-on part replacement to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Automotive Collision Repair Assistant II will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose and estimate damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary mechanical tasks, welding, and bolt-on part replacement to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Display competence in the necessary structural repairs to a vehicle in a collision repair shop
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Automotive Refinishing Assistant I will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary minor body repair tasks to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Automotive Refinishing Assistant II will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Diagnose damage to a vehicle
- Display the ability to understand and use technical information during the repair process
- Display the ability to perform the necessary minor body repair tasks to prepare a vehicle for refinishing
- Display competence in vehicle refinishing tasks
- Communicate knowledgeably and professionally with peers and customers regarding all repairs
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
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Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
For students to be successful in the Automotive Collision Repair programs, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Ability to Use Senses
- Visual: Acuity to identify different problems, small and large, on vehicle body and mechanical parts, as well as read fine print on equipment service manuals
- Hearing: Ability to hear sounds and emergency signals (with auditory aids or full-time interpreter for the hearing impaired) and to understand a normal speaking voice without direct access to the speaker's face
- Smell: Ability to evaluate possible dangers involved in working with automotive paint products, refinishing equipment, and welding equipment
- Tactile: Ability to feel heat/cold or pain and evaluate the possible danger of extreme temperatures and the ability to differentiate different contours and shapes
- Motor Ability
- Physical ability to walk long distances and stand for long periods of time; to lift, move, and transfer equipment of at least 50 pounds; and to maneuver in limited space
- Ability to work while in hot/humid and/or cold conditions
- Ability to have manual dexterity to efficiently and safely use equipment, power tools and hand tools, and other small and large equipment while wearing essential safety glasses and/or gloves and/or other necessary required safety gear
- Ability to Understand Need for a Safe Work Environment
- Practical awareness of potential dangers while working with automobiles and automotive equipment
- Ability to wear necessary safety gear, i.e., safety glasses, gloves, head covering, etc.
- Ability to maintain a safe environment at all times
- Ability to Communicate
- Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to class partners and/or team and to instructor
- Ability to write and perform routine mathematical calculations clearly and correctly within the automotive collision industry standards
- Basic proficiency in technology (computers and peripheral components) as industry requires.
- Ability to Problem Solve
- Intellectual and conceptual ability for measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, and prioritizing daily functions in today's automotive collision industry
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency without jeopardizing safety
- Ability to react and adjust as instructed by the instructor(s) during lab or shop instruction or based on a customer's needs
- Ability to Maintain Emotional Stability
- Ability to function safely under stress in today's workplace and adapt to changing staff and client/customer situations
- Ability to maintain composure and professionalism at all times in labs and work and shop or lab environment
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Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Textbooks (Approximately $650 for the diploma program and $254 for the Automotive Collision Repair Assistant I, Automotive Collision Repair Assistant II, Automotive Refinishing Assistant I, and Automotive Refinishing Assistant II technical certificates)
- Tools (Approximately $1,200 for the diploma program, $800 for the Automotive Collision Repair and Automotive Collision Repair Assistant II technical certificates, and $500 for the Automotive Refinishing Assistant I and Automotive Refinishing Assistant II technical certificates)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
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Gainful Employment
Information on graduation rates, job placement rates, median loan debt incurred by students and other gainful employment information is available on the college website.
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
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