Learning to create great auto bodies

Have you always loved good bodies — car bodies? Then doing auto body jobs for a living might be the right career path for you.

While traffic accidents can be headaches for thousands every day, they can also be opportunities for those doing auto bodywork repairs, including fixing dents, replacing broken parts, and straightening bent frames.

These kinds of tasks, of course, require training.

If you want to get accredited for auto body repair through an Ontario college, you have a variety of schools and programs to choose from. Ontario college auto body repair programs typically require an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent. Some or all of the credits earned here may be used toward an auto body apprenticeship, if you wish to continue your education after graduating.

Auto body repair programs are usually designed for people with limited experience working with cars. Part of the curriculum is devoted to learning about mechanical systems, automobile parts and functions, and workplace safety.

You will acquire theoretical knowledge and practical applications to complement on-the-job experience of this trade, as well as developing craftsmanship and problem-solving skills.

Much of the class time will also be spent in practical training, learning and practising techniques that include:

• Body and frame repair
• Refinishing procedures
• Welding
• Prepping for paint

You can be trained for jobs that include:

• Parts technicians
• Auto body apprentices
• Apprentice painters
• Service advisors
• Appraisal trainees
• Motor vehicle inspectors and testers

As a graduate, you’ll probably start by earning $25,000 to $30,000 a year. As you get experience, this can rise to $35,000 to $45,000 a year.

What you’ll earn will also depend on the part of the country you work in. The highest average wages, of about $24 an hour, can be found in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. The lowest average wages, $14 an hour, are offered in Montreal.

One bonus of the job, if you want to look at it that way, is that your training and supplemental courses will never end. As advances in automotive technology and materials continually keep coming, your knowledge base will need to keep evolving.

Keep in mind that as the country’s population grows, there will be more vehicles on the road, and accidents, so the demand for auto body repair professionals won’t drive away.