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AUTO BODY COLLISION REPAIR SCHOOL

Collision repair training that can help prepare students for careers

A NEW CAREER PATH STARTS HERE

Take 60 seconds and find out how you can get trained.

Collision Repair & Refinish Technology (CRRT) Program Overview

Accidents happen on the roadways and trained auto collision repair technicians are needed to fix the damage. Our certified instructors bring real-world industry experience to teach you the skills needed to reshape and restore a wide range of vehicles.1 Universal Technical Institute’s Collision Repair & Refinish Technology (CRRT) program was developed in close partnership with I-CAR, the provider of collision repair training standards as defined by the industry, including car manufacturers, insurance companies and employers.

51-54 weeks

From start to finish

2 campuses

Hosting the CRRT Program

5 brands

Relationships with leading brands

2 specialized

Training paths

5 Reasons to Choose Auto Body Repair Training at UTI

  1. Train and graduate in 51 to 54 weeks.
  2. Dedicated teams to help search for financial aid,10 housing and employment.1
  3. Earn I-CAR credentials preferred by employers.
  4. Train on current equipment.
  5. Program created with 3M, Axalta and other leading manufacturers.

AUTO BODY TECHNICIAN TRAINING

The Auto Body Repair program was developed in cooperation with leading industry brands. Our students train with the tools, equipment and technology used in collision repair centers across the country.

AUTO BODY PAINTING

Refinish technicians, also known as automotive painters or paint technicians, are trained to mix and apply paint to the surface of a vehicle and help restore it to pre-accident condition.

To learn how to paint cars, most automotive painters go through some sort of formal training and education to gain the skills they need. Attending a program at a trade school can be the best place to start for those interested in the career path.

Automotive Painting Courses

UTI’s CRRT program features several auto body classes, including ones that cover how to refinish and paint vehicles:

  • Introduction to Refinishing: Students are taught procedures for paint removal.
  • Vehicle Preparation for Painting: This course covers color characteristics, mixing paint from vehicle codes and obtaining blendable matches.
  • Finish Applications: In this course, the principles of blending are covered, as well as how to identify and solve paint application/finish problems.
  • Skills Application: Training from previous courses is applied; students apply paint to panels and final details to restore vehicles to like-new condition.
  • Custom Paint Fundamentals: Airbrush techniques and special-effect paint techniques are covered in this course.

While the CRRT program does not specifically teach car painting, students are taught fundamentals and gain knowledge that they could apply to a career as a paint technician once they graduate.

Auto Body Schools Near Me

Interested in the education and training UTI has to offer? There are two auto body and collision schools currently offering the CRRT program: Long Beach, California and Houston, Texas.

UTI offers a range of support services to make attending possible, including housing assistance for those who need to relocate. We know school is an investment in your future, and we want to make the process as easy as possible!

SPECIALIZED COLLISION REPAIR TRAINING

From the tools used in the shop to the materials used for refinishing, the CRRT program was created in conjunction with five industry-leading manufacturers, so you can train on the brands used in the workforce.

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I-CAR Certifications

UTI Collision Repair graduates earn recognition of their high level of training as I-CAR ProLevel individuals and receive I-CAR certificates for:

  • Non-Structural Technician Level 1
  • Steel Structural Technician Level 1
  • Aluminum Structural Technician Level 1
  • Estimating Level 1
  • Refinish Technician Level 2

Additional Auto Body Repair Certifications

  • Axalta Cromax Pro Certified Refinisher Safety & Pollution Prevention (S/P2)
  • 3M Plastics and Composite Repair Systems
  • Chief Velocity Certification
  • EPA 609 A/C Certification
  • Lean Efficiency Certificate

INTERESTED IN AUTO BODY REPAIR TRAINING?

The skills and knowledge gained in our Auto Body Repair training program can help prepare students for careers. Be proactive about your future and request info today.

UTI AUTO BODY SCHOOL LOCATIONS

The Collision Repair & Refinish Technology (CRRT) program is available at two Universal Technical Institute campuses: Long Beach, California, and Houston, Texas.

INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE

The collision repair industry demands more highly skilled workers as technology improves. Collision repair shops grew in size and number of employees between 2001 and 2016, according to the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

13,000+

Estimated average annual collision repair job openings in the U.S.44

$48,740

Median annual salary for collision repair technicians28
*Not entry-level and is dependent on factors like experience, location and employer compensation.

WHEN CAN I START?

There’s no waiting for the “next semester.” A new session of the Auto Body Repair Training program starts every six weeks, depending on the campus, so you’re able get going to prepare for your career.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.10) Financial aid, scholarships and grants are available to those who qualify. Awards vary due to specific conditions, criteria and state.28) UTI’s Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology (CRRT) Program prepares graduates for entry-level positions using the provided training, primarily as collision repair technicians. Estimated annual salary shown above is for Automotive Body and Related Repairers as published in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages. Entry-level salaries are lower for UTI graduates. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. UTI graduates’ achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on economic factors, personal credentials, work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer, and their compensation programs. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a collision repair technician, such as appraiser, estimator and inspector. Salary information for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: The average annual entry-level salary for persons employed as Automotive Body and Related Repairers (49-3021) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $40,530 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, May 2022 data https://lmi.dua.eol.mass.gov/lmi/OccupationalEmploymentAndWageAllIndustries/OEWResult?A=01&GA=000025&OG=493021&Dopt=TEXT#). Salary information for North Carolina: The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the hourly median wage for skilled collision repair technicians in North Carolina is $23.43 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wages, Automotive Body and Related Repairers). The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data. However, the 25th and 10th percentile of hourly earnings in North Carolina are $21.04 and $17.01, respectively.44) For Automotive Body and Related Repairers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an annual average of 13,900 job openings between 2023 and 2033. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2023–33, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 4, 2024. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.

Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

*Registration Fee Waiver will apply to any student who enrolls by July 31, 2025, with a start date between March 31, 2025, and September 25, 2025.

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