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Drew Ayres competes in the SkillsUSA Regional Competition at the Automotive & Technology Center on the Windsor Campus.

Automotive Collision Repair TechnologyCertificates

Gain Essential Industry Skills With a Collision Repair Certificate at Aims

Certificates are an alternative to degree programs that allow you to explore a subject or build new career skills. Aims offers six auto body certificates covering various collision repair skills to prepare you for employment in a particular area of automotive collision repair, such as upholstery, plastics repair or refinishing.

The course credits from three of these certificates (non-structural, structural and plastics repair) can also apply toward earning a collision repair degree at Aims. 

Basic Non-Structural Repair Assistant

This 1-semester auto body certificate program teaches you the core skills needed to become a non-structural repair technician. Learn outer body panel repair preparation, repair for rigid and flexible plastic components and choosing adhesives, metal finishing and body filling, movable glass and hardware work, and automotive metal welding and cutting.

Non-Structural Repair Technician Certificate

This auto body certificate program teaches you the core skills needed to become a non-structural repair technician or work in related fields of analysis and damage repair of automotive body components. Learn outer body panel repairs, replacement, adjustments, metal finishing and body filling, movable glass and hardware work, and automotive metal welding and cutting.

Structural Repair Technician Certificate

Learn the basics to begin a career as a structural repair technician or work in related fields, including vehicle structural analysis and damage repair. Learn structural frame inspection and repair, unibody and unitized structure inspection, measurement and repair, fixed glass removal and installation, and metal welding and cutting.

Plastics Repair Technician Certificate

Learn the fundamentals of plastics analysis related to automotive damage repair. Learn inspection and repair of plastic body components and other plastic items found in today’s vehicles.

Basic Refinishing Assistant

In one semester you will learn the fundamentals of refinishing for the automotive collision repair industry. Learn surface preparation techniques including cleaning, sanding and priming. Gain practice using spray equipment and learning refinishing techniques for applying and using automotive paint systems. A customer service and sales course helps you effectively engage with customers to successfully sell service and repairs.

Refinish Technician Certificate

In this standalone certificate that does not apply toward the automotive collision repair degree, you’ll learn the skills required to become an automotive refinishing technician. Gain automotive refinishing skills in surface preparation, spray equipment operation, and identifying and addressing paint defects.

Damage Appraisal Estimating Certificate

In this certificate that does not apply toward the automotive collision repair degree, you’ll learn the skills required to perform automotive damage appraisal estimates. Gain skills in automotive collision technology, estimating, and auto body shop management, customer relations and sales.

Upholstery Certificate

In this certificate that does not apply toward the automotive collision repair associate degree program, you’ll learn the skills required to repair and replace automotive upholstery. Gain skills in upholstery and carpeting removal and replacement, correct use of materials, and cutting and stretching.

Collision Shop Support Personnel

Get the training and skills you need to work as support staff in an automotive collision repair shop, including customer service, sales and repair preparation. In one-semester you’ll also study shop safety procedures, damage analysis, and metal finishing and body filling.