Available Intakes
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 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.
To work in this trade, certification is required. This means that you must either be a registered apprentice who is working under the guidance of a certified journeyperson, or you must be a certified journeyperson yourself.
Is this the right fit for me?
Auto Body Technicians are skilled tradespeople who are self-motivated, driven to provide good customer service and can find unique solutions to problems. This line of work is most fulfilling for those who enjoy creative work, working with their hands and have an eye for detail.
To thrive in this career, it is important to have the following traits:
- good customer service and communication skills
- creative problem solvers, able to find unique solutions
- patient and detail-oriented, with an eye for detail
- strong physical abilities, including the strength and stamina to handle heavy tools and parts
- manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude
- good color vision
- willingness to keep learning as manufacturers make changes in plastics, electronics, metals, supplemental restraints, and paints
- 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
Auto Body Technicians are employed by auto body repair shops, automobile and truck dealerships, custom shops and by companies that have fleet vehicles. You will work with power tools in a shop with automotive bays, often found in industrial settings. Your career will be dynamic and you will be constantly adapting to industry changes and 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.
2023/24 intakes
Registration for the 2023/24 academic year opens May 9, 2023.
Auto Body Technician
| Period | Start date | End date | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | May 8, 2023 | June 23, 2023 | Main Campus |
| 1 or 3 | Aug. 28, 2023 | Oct. 6, 2023 | N.R. Buck Crump |
| 4 | Oct. 23, 2023 | Dec. 8, 2023 | Main Campus |
| 2 | Nov. 6, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 | Main Campus |
| 3 | Feb. 26, 2024 | April 12, 2024 | Main Campus |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Prepper
| Period | Start date | End date | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 28, 2023 | Oct. 6, 2023 | N.R. Buck Crump |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Refinisher
| Period | Start date | End date | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 28, 2023 | Oct. 6, 2023 | N.R. Buck Crump |
| 2 | Nov. 6, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 | Main Campus |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Repairer
| Period | Start date | End date | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | May 8, 2023 | June 23, 2023 | Main Campus |
| 1 | Aug. 28, 2023 | Oct. 6, 2023 | N.R. Buck Crump |
| 2 | Aug. 28, 2023 | Oct. 13, 2023 | N.R. Buck Crump |
| 3 | Oct. 23, 2023 | Dec. 8, 2023 | Main Campus |
| 2 | Feb. 26, 2024 | April 12, 2024 | Main Campus |
Electric Vehicles spark transformation in collision repair
With demand for Electric Vehicles (EV) booming, the automotive repair industry is evolving to keep up with rapidly changing technology.
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.
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 classroom instruction in the first year and 1800 hours of on-the-job training in the second year.
You will start by learning workplace safety, industry overview, regulations and administration. You will then learn component removal, installation, final detail as well as substrate preparation.
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 classroom instruction in the first year, and 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of classroom instruction in the second year.
You will start by learning workplace safety, industry overview, regulations and administration. You will then learn component removal, installation, final detail as well as substrate preparation.
You will learn shop practices and procedures, product preparation as well as topcoat application.
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 classroom instruction in the first year, 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of classroom instruction in each of the second and third years.
You will start by learning workplace safety, industry overview, regulations and administration. You will then learn component removal, installation, final detail as well as substrate preparation.
You will learn heating, cutting and welding, repair planning for non-structural damage, non-structural repair as well as vehicle support systems.
You will learn repair planning for structural repair, structural components, mechanical as well as safety systems and final assembly.
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 classroom instruction in the first year; 1620 hours of on-the-job training and 6 weeks of classroom instruction in the second year; 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of classroom instruction in the third years; and 1590 hours of on-the-job training and 7 weeks of classroom instruction in the fourth year.
You will start by learning workplace safety, industry overview, regulations and administration. You will then learn component removal, installation, final detail as well as substrate preparation.
You will learn shop practices and procedures, product preparation as well as topcoat application.
You will learn heating, cutting and welding, repair planning for non-structural damage, non-structural repair as well as vehicle support systems.
You will learn repair planning for structural repair, structural components, mechanical as well as safety systems and final assembly.
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 and the interprovincial qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2023/24
Tuition and fees*
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023.
Auto Body Technician
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 2 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 3 | 7 | $924 | $247 | $63 | $1,234 |
| 4 | 7 | $924 | $247 | $63 | $1,234 |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Prepper
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Refinisher
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 2 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Repairer
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | $792 | $247 | $54 | $1,093 |
| 2 | 7 | $924 | $247 | $63 | $1,234 |
| 3 | 7 | $924 | $247 | $63 | $1,234 |
| 4 | 7 | $924 | $247 | $63 | $1,234 |
Fees breakdown
| SAIT fees | Cost per period |
|---|---|
| Lab and materials fee | $90 |
| Student support fee | $52.75 |
| Student technology fee | $52.75 |
| Campus recreation fee | $51.50 |
| Total | $247 |
Saitsa fee per week: $9
Learn more about what your fees are for
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.
