Occupational Profiles

Workers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

• 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 colors
• 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.

Motor vehicle body repairers

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to four-year motor vehicle body repair apprenticeship program or A combination of over three years of work experience in the motor vehicle body repair trade and completion of a high school or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for motor vehicle body repairer (metal and paint) 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.
• 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 motor vehicle body repairers (metal and paint) upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Automotive painters

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or A combination of one year of work experience in the automotive painter trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive painter trade certification.
• Automotive painter certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified automotive painters upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Automotive glass installers and repairers

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Auto glass industry certification is usually required.
• Apprenticeship training and trade certification for automotive glass technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Metal repairers, motor vehicle manufacturing

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.