Careers in the automotive field are very competitive, and Auto Body Repair is no exception. You may hear from people who claim to be "in the know" that you do not need further education after high school to excel in this field, but they are wrong. If cleaning floors and running errands is your idea of a great job, listen to those people. If you are looking to land the highest paying jobs in Auto Body Repair, then you need experience. The only way to gain experience with no prior work in this field is with a Auto Body Repair School.
Lucky for us auto body repair schools can be found nationwide with little effort. They range from 2 year programs at community colleges that incorporate a traditional college curriculum into the trade to dedicated trade schools that teach only auto body repair. My personal preference is the dedicated trade school route. Most schools will divide time equally between theory in the classroom and hands on training in the shop. Some people may argue that hands on training is the only training needed, but that is simply not true anymore. In fact not learning the theory behind some of today's complex automobile systems can be downright dangerous! Complex circuits, high voltage hybrids, and air bag components are just some of the systems that a auto technician will have to encounter in the field that the old "learn from your mistakes" mentality will NOT help you with! The solution to this is simple, learn the information in books first, then apply the new found knowledge in the shop. Here are a few options for you to consider in choosing a Auto Body Repair School.
Lincoln Technical Institute: Lincoln Tech is my first choice for a school, and I am biased because I am a LTI Alumni. Lincoln Tech is a nationwide school with a excellent collision repair program. They teach a systems approach breaking down different parts of repair and then apply the book knowledge in the shop. They are a affiliated with many major auto manufacturers and can provide training specific to a given make or model. They also have promotions with major tool companies to provide tools to students at a discounted rate. They also go by Lincoln College of Technology, and Nashville Auto-Diesel College.
Wyotech: Wyotech's Collision refinishing technology program is also widely known. Branded as the official school tech school of the NHRA this school has no shortages in ties to the motor sports industry. Among others former Xtreme 4x4 host Jessi Combs was a Wyotech grad in their collision repair program. In addition to taking the core curriculum students are allowed to major in specialty areas including trim and upholstery, applied service management, motor sports chassis fabrication, and street rod and custom fabrication.
If you are looking for more then just a focus on auto body repair, then you should look into community colleges offering courses in auto body repair or collision repair.