The objective of this program is to prepare students for an entry-level position in the repair of collision damaged vehicles and their related trades.

A career that once was thought of as a blue collar, dirty environment that employed primarily men, who worked well with their hands, but didn't require a great deal of training or knowledge, has yielded to significant changes in recent years. Today's technical advances in automobile design, safety, performance and comfort that now require a "technician" where a "bodyman/painter" was the career title. Women are now entering this field which relies on attention to detail and the application of technical knowledge of various aspects of collision repair. Technicians now must possess a knowledge of math, simple physics, chemistry, art, the ability to communicate and computer skills in addition to welding, metal repair, mechanic skills, painting and estimating.

America's love affair with the automobile has brought about increased safety, glamour finishes, and comfort that require a higher skill to repair. With this increased competency level comes a growing demand for skilled technicians with higher pay and increased benefits with plenty of work as more and more vehicles on the road today guarantee job security.

This course is designed to balance hands-on shop experience with I-CAR based classroom instruction working with up-to-date equipment and techniques in refinishing, panel repair, structural repair, plastic repair, and typical non-structural repairs to name a few.

Fundamentals of quality body repair and refinishing are covered in this course. Graduates will become more proficient and better prepared for advancement with occupational experience, trade extension courses, and indentured apprenticeship or further on-the-job training. ASE certification is encouraged as instructional groundwork is laid for testing.

We recently installed 2 new SprayBake paint booths, a Chief EZ Liner 25 frame machine, 16 Mitchell and ADP Shoplink computerized estimating computers, and have new Chief frame measuring equipment for universal gauges, UMS mechanical and most recently the computerized laser of Chief Genesis Velocity. We have added the RM paint line for 2nd year students in addition to our DuPont paint line. Both paint lines are supported by computerized scales, electronic technical data and printed labels. We also teach computerized color matching with the spectrophotometer - ChromaVision by DuPont.

Collision Repair students can now pursue a degree here at Southwestern by attending a second year with the emphasis on Auto Mechanics taught by 2 ASE Master Certified Auto Mechanics instructors.

Program Length and Awards

10 months ... Diploma in Collision Repair
2 Year ... AAS Degree in Automotive Collision Repair Technology

Career Opportunities

A growing demand for skilled technicians who are needed to repair damage sustained on today's high-tech automobiles is evident. Quality workmanship is the focus of our program and the training will allow the students to become both A.S.E. and I-CAR certified. A unique feature of our program is the fact that after 2 years of Collision Repair you can return for 1 additional year of mechancical training and obtain a second AAS degree in Automotive Repair.

Career Opportunities:

• Collision Repair Technician
• Refinish Technician
• Painters Apprentice
• Physical Damage Appraiser