Auto Body Repair Technician; Role, Qualifications & Job Responsibilities
auto body technicians works in auto repair shops. As an auto body repair technician, your duties involve; evaluation of the exterior car body damage, development of price estimates for customers, ordering the needed spare parts, reshaping panels with minor damages, and repainting the repaired car body. You may also be required to check for proper alignment and adjust as required.
Depending on the shop in which you work and the flow rate of customers, you may have a high rate of customer contact, so having excellent customer service skills and an ability to explain complex repairs is quite crucial.
Auto Body Technician Qualifications
A successful auto body technician must be able to perform each necessary function with the most satisfactory level for the customers.
The below listed needs represent the knowledge, skills and/or the abilities an auto body technician should have.
Some employers may provide reasonable lodging to enable individuals with certain disabilities to undergo the mandatory functions.
Auto Body Technician – Education and/or Experience
The educational background of an auto body technician requires the following items or or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED
- One-year certificate from college or technical school
- Associate degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school
- Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university
- Two to four years related experience and/or training
Auto Body Technician – Language Skills
An auto body technicians should have a minimum level of language skills such as;
- Reading and interpretIng; the documents of safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions,procedure manuals, general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, financial reports or governmental and legal.
- Writing; routine reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals, in addition to speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
- Speaking effectively; to present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community and the general public.
Auto Body Technician – Mathematical Skills
These skills include;
- Adding, subtractIng, multiplyIng and dividIng in all measurement units, using numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
- Computing rate, ratio and percent and drawIng and interpreting bar graphs.
- Calculating figures and amounts and applying concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
- Working with mathematical concepts of probability and statistical inference, as well as fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry.
Auto Body Technician – Reasoning Ability
The reasoning ability requires that the technician can;
- Find solutions for practical problems and can interpret instructions in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
- Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to solve intellectual and practical problems sometimes by using formulas, equations, graphs.
Auto Body Technician – Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Auto body technicians must be well trained on the most recent tools and techniques for auto body repairs and replacement jobs. The followings are some of the required certifications an auto body technician should have in order to be eligible to perform;
- Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
- Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning & Electrical/Electronic Systems
- Engine Performance and repair
- Manual DriveTrain and Axle and Suspension & Steering
- Damage Analysis and Estimation of Mechanical and Electrical Components
- Body Systems and Special Equipment
- Preventive Maintenance Inspection
I-CAR Certificate of Advanced Training
This certification includes;
- Advanced Vehicle Systems inspection and repair
- Aluminum Repair, Replacement, Welding & Detailing,
- Electronics for Collision Repair & Finish Matching
- Glass & Plastic Repair
- Paint and external body Manufacturer Training
- State Emission & Vehicle Inspector Certification
- Valid Driver’s License
Auto Body Technician – Physical Demands
These are the required physical qualities by the employee to be able to perform the necessary functions of this role.
Auto Body Technician – Work Environment
It refers to the features of the environment an employee confronts while fulfilling the required job. Additional Reading;
Auto Body Technician Job Description
Usually, various employers are looking for different specific qualities when they hire for an auto body technician role. In all cases, such a position requires someone who is capable of repairing damages that happened to car bodies resulting from collisions, or tough weather circumstances.
Since most of the duties are concerned with vehicles’ bodies themselves. Then, the best candidate should have experience working with all the systems in a vehicle. It is preferable that the candidate has an associate degree in automotive technology, and is ready to work with technicians with a vocational certificate and several years of experience. You need good manual ability and physical strength for this job in order to enable them to;
- Inspect internal or external damages in vehicles
- Repair car parts to factory or customer specifications
- Remove and replace damaged parts with power and hand tools
- Fill cracks and depressions
- Perform cosmetic repairs
What is an auto body shop?
It is a shop that specializes in external car repairs. It replenishes vehicles after collisions and repairs dents in the external body metals. It also renews paints, to match manufacturer colors, replaces bumpers, damages body panels and other components apart from the car engine.
How important is auto body repair?
The first importance is that they preserve your safety on the road. As structural damages to cars’ bodies may expose them to serious injuries especially if facing collisions.
What are major body repairs?
These include either panel replacement which means replacing major parts of the car’s body that can’t be repaired, or extensive painting for large areas of the vehicle after significant body work.
Auto body repair technician role, qualifications and job responsibilities are quite crucial in auto shops. Therefore, one has to have a high school degree or GED certification. According to the role of an auto body technician. Some roles require an associate degree in automotive technology, while others need only a vocational school certificate. In vocational school, you learn the basics of auto body repair to acquire the skills needed to fulfill your responsibilities in this career. For having certifications, all types of certificates are available in the Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
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