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Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

OaSIS code 72411.00

Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians repair and restore damaged motor vehicle body parts and interior finishing; repaint body surfaces; repair and/or replace automotive glass and repair defective automobile body parts and damage to the bodies of newly assembled cars. Damage repair estimators assess the degree of damage to a vehicle and estimate the cost of parts and labour. This unit group also includes metal repairers. Apprentices are also included in this unit group

Overview

Also known as

  • Auto body and collision technician
  • Auto body repairer
  • Automobile damage repair estimator
  • Automotive body mechanic
  • Automotive glass technician
  • Automotive painter - motor vehicle repair
  • Automotive painter apprentice
  • Metal finisher - motor vehicle manufacturing
  • Metal repairer - motor vehicle manufacturing
  • Motor vehicle body technician - truck
  • Painter - motor vehicle repair

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Inspect vehicle and estimate the costs and times for the repair and restoration of the vehicle
  • Write report on damage and cost estimate
  • Plan and coordinate work processes with the technicians
  • Follow automobile industry safety norms and standards
  • Provide customer service, such as answering all customer inquiries and explaining the complete repair process
  • Follow up with insurance companies for claim related correspondence
  • Order parts and material
  • Maintain accurate documentation and obtain customer signatures
  • Oversee final repairs for appearance and quality of work.
  • Review damage report and estimates of repair cost and plan work to be performed
  • Repair and replace front end components, body components, doors and frame and underbody components
  • Hammer out dents, buckles and other defects using blocks and hammers
  • Operate soldering equipment or use plastic filler to fill holes, dents and seams
  • Remove damaged fenders, panels and grills using wrenches and cutting torch and bolt or weld replacement parts into place
  • Straighten bent frames using frame and underbody pulling and anchoring equipment
  • File, grind and sand repaired body surfaces using hand and power tools
  • Mask and tape auto body surfaces in preparation for painting
  • Mix paint, blend and match colours
  • Apply primers and repaint surfaces using brush or spray guns
  • Repair and replace glass components such as windshields, windows and sunroofs
  • Repair or replace interior components, such as seat frame assembly, carpets and floorboard insulation
  • Inspect repaired vehicles and test drive vehicles for proper handling.

Additional information

  • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
  • With experience, auto body, collision and refinishing technicians tradespersons and automobile damage repair estimators may progress to supervisory positions.
  • Metal repairers employed in motor vehicle manufacturing may progress to motor vehicle repairer positions through an apprenticeship program, or, with experience, they may progress to supervisory positions in motor vehicle manufacturing.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (72410)
  • Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling (92020)

Skills match:

View occupations with similar skills and abilities requirements

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

72 – Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers

Sub-major group

724 – Technical maintenance trades

Minor group

7241 – Automotive service technicians

Unit group

72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

Occupational profile

72411.00 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance
4 - High Level
Mechanical Maintenance
4 - High Level
Performing General Physical Activities
4 - High Level
Applying New Knowledge
3 - Moderate Level
Communicating with Coworkers
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
3 - Moderate amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
3 - More than 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
1 - Very little time
Standing
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
4 - More than half the time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
2 - Somewhat important
Frequency
3 - Once a week or more but not every day

Workplaces/employers

  • Automobile appraisal centres
  • Automobile body repair companies
  • Automobile dealerships
  • Motor vehicle manufacturers

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Colour Perception
5 - Highest Level
Body Flexibility
4 - High Level
Stamina
4 - High Level
Trunk Strength
4 - High Level
Arm-Hand Steadiness
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Repairing
4 - High Level
Equipment and Tool Selection
3 - Moderate Level
Operation and Control
3 - Moderate Level
Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
3 - Moderate Level
Quality Control Testing
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Adaptability
4 - Highly important
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: RCI

Realistic (R)

Realistic occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the explicit, ordered or systematic manipulation of objects, tools, machines and animals. Many of these occupations do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Auto body repairer certification is compulsory in Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified automotive refinishing technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Auto glass industry certification is usually required.
  • A combination of two- to three-year of relevant automotive experience and education is usually required.
  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.
  • Completion of a three- to four-year auto body and collision damage technician apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the auto body and collision technician trade and completion of a professional or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
  • Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or a combination of one year of work experience in the automotive refinishing technicians trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technicians trade certification.
  • Trade certification for auto body and collision technician is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Business Management
1 - Basic Level
Clerical
1 - Basic Level
Client Service
1 - Basic Level
Languages
1 - Basic Level
Manufacturing, Processing and Production
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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