Overview
Learn to repair and replace damaged motor vehicle structures, body parts, interior and exterior finishes.
If you are creative and like being hands-on while performing precise work, you'll enjoy working in the auto body trade. In Alberta, auto body journeypersons may specialize as auto body preppers, repairers, refinishers or technicians.
- Auto body preppers are responsible for the restoration of anti-corrosion treatments, substrate identification, surface preparation, undercoat product mixing and application.
- Auto body refinishers do damage appraisals, surface preparation, minor damage repairs, masking, accurate colour matching and top coating. Refinishers may also do restoration of anti-corrosion treatments, substrate identification, product mixing and application.
- Auto body refinishers do damage appraisals, surface preparation, minor damage repairs, masking, accurate colour matching, priming and top coating. Refinishers may also do restoration of anti-corrosion treatments, substrate identification, product mixing and application.
- Auto body repairers do damage appraisals, frame and unibody structural repairs, body sheet metal work, plastic repairs, component replacement and alignment.
- Auto body technicians are trained to do all tasks in the auto body trade. They may specialize in damage appraisals, frame straightening, surface preparation, sheet metal work and refinishing.
This is a compulsory trade - to work in this trade you need to hold a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who have the following characteristics see greater success in the auto body trade:
- good customer service and communication skills
- creativity, patience and an eye for detail
- the strength and stamina required to handle heavy tools and parts
- manual dexterity
- good colour vision
- the willingness to keep learning as manufacturers make changes in plastics, electronics, metals, supplemental restraints and paints
- a commitment to safe work habits.
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Auto body technicians and auto body refinishers are Red Seal Endorsed trades –a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
Auto body prepper and auto body repairer are not a Red Seal Endorsed trade.
Career opportunities
Start your career by finding an employer who is willing to indenture you as an apprentice or gain experience with our Automotive Service Technology or Pre-Employment Automotive Service Technician programs.
Automotive service technicians are employed by automotive repair shops, specialty repair shops, service facilities, car and truck dealerships and by large organizations that own fleets of vehicles. You will work with power tools in a shop with automotive bays, often found in industrial settings, with exposure to noise from power tools and exhaust gases. Your career will be dynamic and you will be constantly adapting to industry changes and automotive design trends.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may advance to supervisory positions or take on new apprentices. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
Tuition and fees per year*
- Period 1: $1,005
- Period 2: $1,005
- Period 3: $1,134
- Period 4: $1,134
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Requirements
Entrance requirements for all apprenticeship programs are set by Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
When do classes start?
Registration for the 2022/23 academic year will open May 10, 2022.
| Period | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 or 3 | Sept. 19, 2022 | Oct. 28, 2022 |
| 2 | Nov. 7, 2022 | Dec. 16, 2022 |
| 4 | Jan. 3, 2023 | Feb. 17, 2023 |
| 3 | March 6, 2023 | April 21, 2023 |
| 4 | May 8, 2023 | June 23, 2023 |
SAIT programs benefit from apprenticeship funding
Trades cruise into the spotlight with an increase in apprenticeship opportunities and an annual day of celebration.
Admission requirements
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance Requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 10-2
- Math 10-3
- Science 10
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
How to register
Registration for apprenticeship education is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Training
Depending on the specialization, apprentices will spend two to four periods of apprenticeship education and work experience before becoming a journeyperson. See below for an outline of each period.
Auto body prepper
The term of apprenticeship for an auto body prepper is 2 years (two 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the first year and 1800 hours of on-the-job training in the second year.
Auto body refinisher
The term of apprenticeship for an auto body refinisher is 2 years (two 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the first year, and 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the second year.
Auto body repairers
The term of apprenticeship for an auto body repairer is 3 years (three 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the first year, 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of apprenticeship education in each of the second and third years.
Auto body technician
The term of apprenticeship for an auto body technician is 4 years (four 12 month periods). This includes 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the first year; 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of apprenticeship education in the second year; 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of apprenticeship education in the third years; and 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of apprenticeship education in the fourth year.
apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam Exam and the Interprovincial Qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 2 | $720 | $231 | $54 | $1,005 |
| 3 | $840 | $231 | $63 | $1,134 |
| 4 | $840 | $231 | $63 | $1,134 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
