Overview
Begin your career as an Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technician! Upon completion of this program, you will have the knowledge skills and abilities to repair, adjust, and replace sheet metal and allied parts of automobiles, trucks, and buses. Upon successful completion of the foundation program, students will receive a certificate.
Careers
Upon graduation, you’ll have a Level One technical training credit and 625 work-based credit hours toward the completion of the Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technician apprenticeship program. As an Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technician, you will be highly employable in many accredited autobody shops.
What you will learn
In this program, you will work in a supervised environment and perform hands-on basic auto-collision repairs. You will be given the tools and resources to utilize proper safety techniques, correct terminology, and a variety of vehicle repair methods which are industry standard within in the auto-collision industry:
- Preparing estimate reports
- Removing dents from sheet metal
- Removing damaged fenders, panels and grills
- Straightening bent frames
- Repairing and replacing doors
- Repairing and replacing main body components and interior components
- Properly preparing repaired parts for filing, grinding, sanding, and painting
Training dates & how to apply
For up-to-date technical training dates at CNC visit the Trades Training BC website.
To apply for any level of technical training at CNC visit EducationPlannerBC.
Governing bodies
Provincial apprenticeship programs
An apprenticeship is a formal written agreement between an employer, an employee and SkilledTradesBC (STBC). Typically, 80–85% of an apprenticeship is work-based training; the rest is technical training in the classroom/shop.
Most apprenticeships take four years. To earn a certificate or ticket, apprentices must complete both work-based training and technical training, including examinations. After working as apprentices for the period specified by SkilledTradesBC, graduates can write the Interprovincial Red Seal Examination.
Graduates of the Automotive Collision and Refinishing Technician Foundation program (Entry Level Trades Training) at CNC receive an SkilledTradesBC Certification of Completion and credit for level one technical training of their apprenticeship. Apprentices and employers must register apprenticeships with SkilledTradesBC. For application forms or more information, visit skilledtradesbc.ca or call 1-866-660-6011.
Note: For up-to-date information on dates for all apprenticeship training at CNC, visit tradestrainingbc.ca
Automotive Collision and Refinishing Foundation Courses
In the Automotive Collision and Refinishing Foundation program, students will learn the skills to perform safety related functions, use tools and equipment, use welding equipment, organize work and use documentation, use communication and mentoring techniques, remove and install vehicle components, prepare surfaces, use repair materials and equipment, apply refinishing materials, remove repair and install metal panels and components, remove repair and install plastic and composite panels and components, and detail exterior.
Locations & Dates
CNC programs have varying lengths and start dates to meet your needs, and are offered across multiple campuses where possible. Don’t see the campus you’re looking for? Check back with us soon as this page is updated throughout the school year.
| START DATE |
CAMPUS |
DELIVERY |
LENGTH |
| Fall 2025 |
Prince George |
In Class |
34 weeks |
Entry Requirements
- English Language Arts 10 (minimum “C”) or equivalent
- Workplace Mathematics 10 (minimum “C”) or equivalent
Limited admission
If there is room in the program, you will be accepted once you have met all the admission requirements. This is called “first qualified, first accepted.” If you qualify after the program is full, you will be put on a wait list.
Invest in your future
- Tuition: $4,283.64
- Student fees: $807
- Medical/Dental Fee (Fall semester only): $260
- Materials Fee: $405.36
These costs are an estimate and do not include books. Student fees vary by campus. Check the fee schedule for more details.
Books for this program can be purchased from the bookstore.