Do you want to find a career as a mechanic? Maybe you’re good with your hands, interested in cars, and heard this could be a good next step.
Either way, it can be difficult to demystify what becoming a trained auto body specialist actually entails. That’s why we’re providing the core steps required to work on cars professionally.
The Educational Requirements
The first, and arguably most important, is education. To become an auto body technician, you must have a high school diploma or GED. Some get an associate’s degree after high school, but almost all technicians get a certification.
Others go straight into the workforce and get on-the-job training or certifications through their employer.
Certifications
If you want to get certified without a job, go to body shop schools offered by community colleges or nonprofits or obtain a certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
An ASE certificate has to be renewed every five years and includes specialization tests that would be considered valuable in any body shop.
Once you have the required education and certification, you can get a job!
Making Connections and Finding Jobs
Aside from applying for jobs normally, making connections in the automotive industry can help you find work in unexpected places.
Your body shop school’s college professor or certification instructor can help with job connections and offer recommendations.
Or you can look for work with parts suppliers, dealerships, and local government before moving into auto body repair services. This way, you can specialize and get training directly from your job.
Specialization and On-The-Job Training
An ASE certification lets you specialize in painting, structural analysis, electrical components, and more to become a Master Collision Repair Technician.
But if you aren’t sure yet what aspect of auto body work is most interesting, you can use on-the-job training to find your calling. Do everything from oil changes to painting to part purchasing to find what suits you best and get experience along the way.
Staying Relevant in the Workforce
After getting an education and a position related to auto body work, the most important thing is to stay relevant in the field.
Use your recertification to learn new techniques and expand your training. Take on new positions or duties regularly or go back to school. You could even become an instructor at an auto body school yourself.
Keep an ear out for automotive news and the new needs of the workforce – especially in terms of technology, considering how many manufacturers are working on electric vehicles that could show up in your repair shop at any time.
Make Your Auto Body Specialist Dreams Into a Reality Today
Now that you know what steps to take, it’s time to get started on them.
Visit ASE’s official website or check out a nonprofit auto body school for certification and begin making crucial industry connections today to become a professional auto body specialist!
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