How to become an auto body collision, refinishing and glass technician or damage repair estimator
Official title: Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
Also called: Auto body worker, Auto body mechanic, Auto body repairer, Auto body appraiser, Auto body estimator, Auto body technician, Auto glass installer, Automotive body painter, Auto body repair planner, Automotive body mechanic, Automotive body repairer, Antique car body restorer
Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians repair and restore damaged motor vehicle body parts and interior finishing; repaint body surfaces; repair and/or replace automotive glass and repair defective automobile body parts and damage to the bodies of newly assembled cars. Damage repair estimators assess the degree of damage to a vehicle and estimate the cost of parts and labour. They are employed by automobile dealerships, automobile body repair shops, automobile appraisal centres and by motor vehicle manufacturers. This unit group also includes metal repairers. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.
Main tasks
- Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians
- Review damage report and estimates of repair cost and plan work to be performed
- Repair and replace front end components, body components, doors and frame and underbody components
- Hammer out dents, buckles and other defects using blocks and hammers
- Operate soldering equipment or use plastic filler to fill holes, dents and seams
- Remove damaged fenders, panels and grills using wrenches and cutting torch and bolt or weld replacement parts into place
- Straighten bent frames using frame and underbody pulling and anchoring equipment
- File, grind and sand repaired body surfaces using hand and power tools
How to become one
Auto body and collision technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year auto body and collision damage technician apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the auto body and collision technician trade and completion of a professional or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification for auto body and collision technician is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Auto body repairer certification is compulsory in Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified auto body and collision technician upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination. Automotive refinishing technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or a combination of one year of work experience in the automotive refinishing technicians trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technicians trade certification. Automotive refinishing technicians certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified automotive refinishing technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination. Automotive glass technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Auto glass industry certification is usually required. Apprenticeship training and trade certification for automotive glass technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. Automobile damage repair estimator Completion of secondary school is usually required. A combination of two- to three-year of relevant automotive experience and education is usually required. Metal repairers, motor vehicle manufacturing Completion of secondary school is usually required. One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Red Seal trade. Completion of a three- to four-year auto body and collision damage technician apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the auto body and collision technician trade and completion of a professional or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or a combination of one year of work experience in the automotive refinishing technicians trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technicians trade certification. Apprenticeship training and trade certification for automotive glass technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. Red Seal endorsement is available. Apprenticeships are run by each province and
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $52,650 a year The middle half earn $40,950 to $64,350.
- About 29,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 31,400 are projected by 2033. (+5.7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an auto body collision, refinishing and glass technician or damage repair estimator?
Auto body and collision technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a three- to four-year auto body and collision damage technician apprenticeship program or a combination of over three years of work experience in the auto body and collision technician trade and completion of a professional or college automotive body repair program is usually required to be eligible for trade certification. Trade certification for auto body and collision technician is compulsory in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Auto body repairer certification is compulsory in Ontario and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified auto body and collision technician upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination. Automotive refinishing technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Completion of a two- to three-year automotive painter apprenticeship program or a combination of one year of work experience in the automotive refinishing technicians trade and completion of a high school or college automotive painting program is usually required for automotive refinishing technicians trade certification. Automotive refinishing technicians certification is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified automotive refinishing technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination. Automotive glass technicians Completion of secondary school is usually required. Auto glass industry certification is usually required. Apprenticeship training and trade certification for automotive glass technicians is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia, Ontario and British Columbia. Automobile damage repair estimator Completion of secondary school is usually required. A combination of two- to three-year of relevant automotive experience and education is usually required. Metal repairers, motor vehicle manufacturing Completion of secondary school is usually required. One to two years of on-the-job training are provided.
How much does an auto body collision, refinishing and glass technician or damage repair estimator earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $52,650 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $40,950 to $64,350.
Is an auto body collision, refinishing and glass technician or damage repair estimator a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2033, from about 29,700 to about 31,400 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an auto body collision, refinishing and glass technician or damage repair estimator?
Usually not. Only 3% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Red Seal trade.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03