Is Being an Auto Body Technician a Good Career?

There’s a lot of work available in the collision repair field, from repairing vehicles to enforcing safety compliance at the worksite.

But if you don't know anything about the field, it can be difficult to judge whether you want to become an auto body tech.

Want to find out? See if you meet this criteria:

• Hands-on learner
• Passionate about cars
• Passionate about automotive restoration
• Enjoy learning new skills
• Excited about diverse career opportunities

If you relate to any of these, keep reading to explore the possibilities of an auto body technician career, how to become one and how UTI can help you develop the skills needed to pursue a job in the trade.¹

What is an Auto Body Technician?

Auto body technicians are also known as auto body repair technicians. They’re responsible for maintaining the exterior of vehicles like cars and trucks. They often work in auto body shops, dealerships and fleet workshops, all of which are automotive-focused settings that need their assets and products repaired on a regular basis.

Read: How to Become an Auto Body Shop Manager

If you think this career path is right for you, enroll in a trade school to learn the right skills! When you’re ready to train, you can apply to Universal Technical Institute’s Collision Repair & Refinish Technology (CRRT) program, which lasts 51-54 weeks and teaches students how to reshape and restore different types of vehicles. UTI’s automotive collision technology training courses are taught in state-of-the-industry classrooms and labs, allowing students to get hands-on education throughout the program.

How To Become an Auto Body Technician

1. Get a high school diploma/GED

Most job openings for collision repair techs require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED. The same is true for trade schools, such as UTI, so that trade students can confirm that they also have completed a formal curriculum of collision repair courses.

2. Enroll in a CRRT program

The next step is to enroll in a vocational training program, such as UTI's CRRT program. This can teach you important trade skills needed by trained technicians.

3. Get certified and licensed (if needed)

Federal law doesn’t require collisions repair employers to ask their techs to hold certification or licensing for collision repair. However, extra qualification requirements may exist in some states and cities, at least for more specialized/advanced roles in the industry. Formal training can help demonstrate to employers that a third party has determined that an applicant can perform the tasks required for the role they’re pursuing.

4. Pursue collision repair work

After graduates finish training and earn official credentials as proof, it’s time for them to start applying for entry-level roles. UTI’s technical training graduates can always contact their campus’ Career Services team to find local employment opportunities!

Read: Collision Repair Technician Resume & Interview Tips

Collision Repair & Refinish Careers

There are some opportunities for auto body technicians to advance their careers, especially with the right amount of education, hard work and experience.⁷⁷ But first, they have to get their foot in the door in entry-level roles, such as:⁵

• Collision repair technician
• Appraiser
• Estimator
• Inspector

Here are some of the many roles technicians have advanced to after completing entry-level work:

• Non-structural technician
• Steel structural technician
• Aluminum structural technician
• Auto physical damage appraiser
• Electrical/mechanical technician
• Production manager
• Shop manager
• Shop owner

Read: What is a Refinish Technician?

FAQs

1. Is collision repair a good career?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 13,000+ average annual collision repair job openings in the U.S.⁴⁴ The BLS also reported that the median annual wage for collision repair technicians in the United States was $48,740 in May 2023.²⁸ This means that half earned more and the other half earned less. Remember that salary is affected by a variety of factors, including experience, employer, demand and the cost of living in the area.

2. What skills do auto body technicians need?

For auto body technicians, traits like creative problem-solving are key. This way, they can come up with solutions to repair a vehicle, which is central to their job description. They must also be detail-oriented to ensure that quality repairs are being completed.

Collision repair technicians must also be hardworking to complete projects on time and maintain the job site’s productivity. It's also crucial that they have good customer service skills so that they can keep clients up to date on the status of their vehicles.

Read: Auto Damage Appraiser Job Description & Career Information

Learn Key Auto Body Technician Skills at UTI!

Becoming an auto body technician could be a good career option for people who like hands-on activities and want opportunities to work on cars every day. This is an industry that lets technicians keep learning and making a difference.

Can't wait to start your educational path? Visit our website or call an Admissions Representative at 1-800-834-7308 to request more information. When you’re ready, apply to collision repair school today!