Automotive: Automotive Collision Repair

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(A NATEF Master Certified Program)

Location:

Windsor campus, Automotive & Technology Center

Administrative Support:

Margaret Carleton, 970.339.6286

 Program Director:

Fred Brown 970.339.6640

 Advisors and Faculty:

Kyle Cadarette, kyle.cadarette@aims.edu, 970.339.6475

Kara Tripician, kara.tripician@aims.edu, 970.339.6327

Degrees/Certificates Offered:

Automotive Collision Repair Technology (A.A.S. degree) 

Damage Appraisal and Estimating (certificate) 

Non-Structural Repair Technician (certificate) 

Plastics Repair Technician (certificate)  

Refinish Technician (certificate) 

Structural Repair Technician (certificate) 

Upholstery (certificate)
 

Automotive Collision Repair Technology, A.A.S.

Mission: The mission of the Aims Automotive Programs is to prepare students with the necessary professional and technical skills to succeed in the automotive industry upon completion of the program degree; or, in the case of certificate-seekers or special-interest students, that they have acquired the skill-set they came to obtain.

Potential Opportunities: Collision repair and refinishing on the high-tech automobiles of today is a challenging and rewarding career. The vast changes in the design, construction, and finish of today’s automobiles have created a shortage of top-notch technicians.

Not only does the collision repair offer outstanding opportunities, it offers the kind of career where you can see the results of your efforts while taking pride in your work on each and every job.

The job of collision repair technicians is to repair damaged vehicles to a pre-accident condition. This is done by replacing or repairing and realigning the exterior panels, which are made of sheet metal, plastic or fiberglass. In addition, the technician must replace/straighten and align the structural components to bring the vehicle back to factory specification.

To help technicians perform top quality repair, most shops today are equipped with modern equipment such as:

• Body and frame machines to hold the vehicle in place while pulling the damaged areas back to specifications.
• Measuring equipment to show the technician which part of the structure is bent, and to verify when it is back to factory specifications.
• Special welding equipment to weld structural components made up of high strength low alloy steel.
• Special equipment to repair plastic panels such as bumpers, interior panels, and on some newer vehicles, even fenders. 
 

Automobiles today come from the factory with glamour finishes, using layers of clear coats and pearl coats to give special effects and to provide extra durability. The refinish technician will be working with paint products far superior to those used just a few years ago. The technician must prepare the repaired areas of the vehicle, mask off adjacent panels, prime, sand, and spray the final finish.

Collision Program Requirements: All students entering the automotive programs are required to take college placement tests and meet the standards placed in accordance with these tests. Advisors will determine what additional preparatory needs may be necessary. All students entering automotive collision classes for the first time must successfully pass the Introduction to Automotive Collision Technology class. Safe clothing, shoes, and eye protection are mandatory in all automotive shop classes and are the student’s responsibility to provide. Additionally students are required to furnish their own text books. Consult advisors for a list of required basic hand tools and required texts. Students must complete all ACT subject courses and at least 15 credit hours of general education courses. Dexterity testing is required in degree program.

Registration Requirement: All students taking a course or courses must have an appropriate advisors signature on the course registration before registering.
 

Automotive Collision Repair Technology Advisory Committee

Kim Albreicht, Precision Auto Body

Alan Johnson, CRC Carstar

Doug Kaltenberger, CRC Carstar

Steve Peif, Hi-Tech Auto Body

Todd Pereira, State Farm Insurance

Scott Scherer, Hartford Insurance

Mike Thompson, Graduate

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