Apprenticeship

Auto Body Technician

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The Auto Body trade is an enjoyable career path for individuals who are creative, technical and hands-on. Auto Body Technicians repair and restore damaged motor vehicle structures and finishes.

The Auto Body trade in Alberta is split into four segments. Prepper, Refinisher, Repairer, and Technician.

-Preppers are involved in the entire repair process but specialize in the restoration of vehicle surfaces and corrosion protection. Auto Body Preppers will identify substrates, prepare surfaces, mix and apply undercoats, apply or install corrosion protection. They will also remove and install bolt on exterior and interior components.

-Refinishers will perform the duties of the prepper as well as restore the vehicles finish and perform damage appraisals. The refinisher specific tasks will be accurate colour matching, applying refinish products and removing defects in painted surfaces.

-Repairers will perform the duties of the prepper as well as perform damage appraisals and structural repairs. The repairer specific tasks will be structural repairs, body sheet metal work, plastic repairs, component replacement and alignment, restraint system repairs, and repair verification.

-Technicians will perform the duties of the preppers, refinishers and repairers although they may specialize in damage appraisal, frame straightening, surface preparation, sheet metal work, or refinishing.

Quick Facts

Credential: Journeyman Certificate

Hands-on and expert-led apprenticeship and industry training for skilled trades and technology professionals.

Campus: Patricia

Any in-person components of your courses will be delivered at NAIT's Patricia Campus in Edmonton. View map

Delivery Options:

  • On-Campus Day - Your course activity is done in-person Monday - Friday in the daytime.

Periods: 4

Apprenticeship is a method of gaining the expertise needed to become a skilled tradesperson. This is done through a combination of on-the-job experience and classroom training.

Most apprenticeship programs are 3-4 periods in length, with an average of 8 weeks for each training period. In addition, there are specific allotments of on-the-job training hours associated with each period, so most apprentices complete 1 period per calendar year.

Hands-on, industry-relevant skills

If you are a creative decision-maker who performs expert and very precise work, then you will enjoy working as an auto body technician.

As an auto body technician, you will have steady employment working indoors in a noisy, sometimes dusty or fume-filled environment. You will work with sharp metals and power tools, so safety awareness is important.

Auto Body Technician Student and Teacher

Training at NAIT

The Auto Body Technician apprenticeship term is:

  • 4 years (four 12-month periods)
  • minimum of 1600 hours on-the-job training in period 1 and 2
  • minimum of 1500 hours on-the-job training in period 3 and 4
  • 4 weeks of technical training in period 1
  • 6 weeks of technical training in period 2
  • 7 weeks of technical training in period 3 and 4

Auto body technicians train at the Suncor Energy Centre for Piping Systems Technology at Patricia Campus.

Patricia Campus

In the northwest part of Edmonton, Patricia Campus houses a number of mechanical, industrial and trades training programs.

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Enter the workforce with confidence

As an auto body technician, you will be employed by auto body repair shops, car dealerships, custom shops or companies with vehicle fleets. Experienced auto body technicians can advance to supervisory positions, start their own businesses or become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies.

Resources

Auto Body Technician

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Periods

Select a branch to view the period overviews.

All 4 periods of training are required.( Interprovincial Red Seal Auto Body Technician)

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the restoration of a vehicle’s surface and corrosion protection. Students will identify substrates, prepare surfaces, mix and apply undercoats, as well as apply or install corrosion protection. They will also remove and install bolt on exterior and interior components.

Year 2
Year 2 - Period 2

The second period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the vehicle's topcoat. The topcoat has a role of both being decorative and protective. Students will mix an apply various topcoats, adjust the color as needed, as well as finesse finishes when applicable.

Year 3
Year 3 - Period 3

The third period of technical training is 7 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the various types of welding needed to repair today's vehicles as well as non-structural repairs. Students will be able to weld various gauge's of metal, as well as identify and repair non-structural damage on a wide range of substrates used in the construction of today's vehicles.

Year 4
Year 4 - Period 4

The fourth period of technical training is 7 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on Structural repairs. Students will be able to estimate and complete structural repairs to vehicles using frame pulling equipment, welders, and various hand and air tools.

Red Seal Approved

The Interprovincial Red Seal Program was developed to provide journeypersons with the ability to work anywhere in Canada.

Learn more

1st period is required .

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the restoration of a vehicle’s surface and corrosion protection. Students will identify substrates, prepare surfaces, mix and apply undercoats, as well as apply or install corrosion protection. They will also remove and install bolt on exterior and interior components.

1st and 2nd Periods of training are required. Interprovincial Red Seal Automotive Painter.

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the restoration of a vehicle’s surface and corrosion protection. Students will identify substrates, prepare surfaces, mix and apply undercoats, as well as apply or install corrosion protection. They will also remove and install bolt on exterior and interior components.

Year 2
Year 2 - Period 2

The second period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the vehicle's topcoat. The topcoat has a role of both being decorative and protective. Students will mix an apply various topcoats, adjust the color as needed, as well as finesse finishes when applicable.

Red Seal Approved

The Interprovincial Red Seal Program was developed to provide journeypersons with the ability to work anywhere in Canada.

Learn more

1st, 3rd and 4th periods of training are required.

Year 1
Year 1 - Period 1

The first period of technical training is 6 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the restoration of a vehicle’s surface and corrosion protection. Students will identify substrates, prepare surfaces, mix and apply undercoats, as well as apply or install corrosion protection. They will also remove and install bolt on exterior and interior components.

Year 2
Year 2 - Period 3

The third period of technical training is 7 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on the various types of welding needed to repair today's vehicles as well as non-structural repairs. Students will be able to weld various gauge's of metal, as well as identify and repair non-structural damage on a wide range of substrates used in the construction of today's vehicles.

Year 3
Year 3 - Period 4

The fourth period of technical training is 7 weeks in length. Apprentices are trained on Structural repairs. Students will be able to estimate and complete structural repairs to vehicles using frame pulling equipment, welders, and various hand and air tools.

Tuition & Fees

The tuition and fee amounts below are estimates based on current academic year’s rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Students who take all of their courses online are exempt from U-Pass, Health & Dental, and Recreation & Athletics fees. All fees are subject to change. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.

View the technical equipment requirements (PDF)

Period 1

Tuition: $804.00
Books & Supplies: $245.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Period 2

Tuition: $804.00
Books & Supplies: $195.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Period 3

Tuition: $938.00
Books & Supplies: $225.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Period 4

Tuition: $938.00
Books & Supplies: $240.00
Materials Fee: $84.00
Additional mandatory fees: View fee breakdown

Scholarships & Awards

How to Apply

Complete an apprenticeship application & contract form

Effective November 1, 2014, you must fillout the application located on the MyTradesecrets website for Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board staff to determine if you are eligible for status as an indentured apprentice.

Dates & Deadlines

Once you are an indentured apprentice, you can review the availability and start and end dates of the program you are interested in. Log into your MyTradesecrets profile and do a search under the Class Registration section. Then you can determine the schedule that best fits your needs.

We recommend submitting your program application at least 90 days before the application deadline.

Apply to Program

Apply to the program with step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application process. Please note, processing time may vary for applicants, so we recommend starting early.

Apply nowHow to apply checklist

Want to learn more about this program?

Thank you for your interest! We want to get you in contact with the right person to answer your questions.

Please contact the Student Service Centre for general inquiries such as:

  • Student application support
  • Program entrance requirements, tuition & fees, and how to apply
  • Program admissions process
  • Enrolment support
  • Student funding options
  • Fee and refund inquiries
  • General program and course withdrawal procedures
  • Navigating nait.ca and MyNAITPortal

Contact Student Service Centre

Please fill out the form below if you have any program-specific questions relating to:

  • Program details
  • Work-integrated learning and cooperative education
  • Advance credit and Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
  • Program and course withdrawal

Apply for Apprenticeship and Industry Training

Begin the application process through MyTradesecrets.

Apply Now How to Apply

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