Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Typical job duties performed with this occupation include:

TASK DUTIES
Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.
File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
Measure and mark vinyl material and cut material to size for roof installation, using rules, straightedges, and hand shears.
Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.
Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.
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*Note: Not all occupations will have a full list of Task Duties or associated programs

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Training for this occupational program or those in a similar family of programs can be located at the following postsecondary institutions in the State of Kansas. Please check with a program advisor at the postsecondary institution for more information on the particular focus of each program listed. Programs nearest the local area appear first. Click on the program to find more information.

INSTITUTION NAME	CITY	INSTITUTION TYPE	PROGRAM TITLE	AWARDS	HOURS
North Central Kansas Technical College	Beloit	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION TECHNOLOGY	Associate Degree - AAS	68
Salina Area Technical College	Salina	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR	One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	40
Salina Area Technical College	Salina	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR	Associate Degree - AAS	60
Hutchinson Community College	Hutchinson	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY	One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	43
Hutchinson Community College	Hutchinson	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION & REPAIR	Associate Degree - AAS	64
Northwest Kansas Technical College	Goodland	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION	Associate Degree - AAS	68
Northwest Kansas Technical College	Goodland	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	55
Manhattan Area Technical College	Manhattan	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISON REPAIR	Associate Degree - AAS	65
Seward County Community College	Liberal	Public	AUTO BODY/COLLISION REPAIR	Associate Degree - AAS	60
Seward County Community College	Liberal	Public	AUTO BODY/COLLISION REPAIR	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	45
Washburn Institute of Technology	Topeka	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION & REPAIR	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	51
Highland Community College	Highland	Public	AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION REPAIR	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	52
Coffeyville Community College	Coffeyville	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY	Associate Degree - AAS	66
Coffeyville Community College	Coffeyville	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR TECHNOLOGY	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	48
Kansas City Kansas Community College	Kansas City	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR	Less Than One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	17
Kansas City Kansas Community College	Kansas City	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR	One-year Technical Certificate - CERT	43
Kansas City Kansas Community College	Kansas City	Public	AUTO COLLISION REPAIR	Two-year Technical Certificate - CERT	52

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