| Careers in the automotive field are very competitive, | | | | options for you to consider in choosing a Auto Body |
| and Auto Body Repair is no exception. You may hear | | | | Repair School. |
| from people who claim to be "in the know" that you do | | | | Lincoln Technical Institute: Lincoln Tech is my first |
| not need further education after high school to excel in | | | | choice for a school, and I am biased because I am a |
| this field, but they are wrong. If cleaning floors and | | | | LTI Alumni. Lincoln Tech is a nationwide school with a |
| running errands is your idea of a great job, listen to | | | | excellent collision repair program. They teach a |
| those people. If you are looking to land the highest | | | | systems approach breaking down different parts of |
| paying jobs in Auto Body Repair, then you need | | | | repair and then apply the book knowledge in the shop. |
| experience. The only way to gain experience with no | | | | They are a affiliated with many major auto |
| prior work in this field is with a Auto Body Repair | | | | manufacturers and can provide training specific to a |
| School. | | | | given make or model. They also have promotions with |
| Lucky for us auto body repair schools can be found | | | | major tool companies to provide tools to students at a |
| nationwide with little effort. They range from 2 year | | | | discounted rate. They also go by Lincoln College of |
| programs at community colleges that incorporate a | | | | Technology, and Nashville Auto-Diesel College. |
| traditional college curriculum into the trade to dedicated | | | | Wyotech: Wyotech's Collision refinishing technology |
| trade schools that teach only auto body repair. My | | | | program is also widely known. Branded as the official |
| personal preference is the dedicated trade school | | | | school tech school of the NHRA this school has no |
| route. Most schools will divide time equally between | | | | shortages in ties to the motor sports industry. Among |
| theory in the classroom and hands on training in the | | | | others former Xtreme 4x4 host Jessi Combs was a |
| shop. Some people may argue that hands on training is | | | | Wyotech grad in their collision repair program. In |
| the only training needed, but that is simply not true | | | | addition to taking the core curriculum students are |
| anymore. In fact not learning the theory behind some | | | | allowed to major in specialty areas including trim and |
| of today's complex automobile systems can be | | | | upholstery, applied service management, motor sports |
| downright dangerous! Complex circuits, high voltage | | | | chassis fabrication, and street rod and custom |
| hybrids, and air bag components are just some of the | | | | fabrication. |
| systems that a auto technician will have to encounter | | | | If you are looking for more then just a focus on auto |
| in the field that the old "learn from your mistakes" | | | | body repair, then you should look into community |
| mentality will NOT help you with! The solution to this is | | | | colleges offering courses in auto body repair or collision |
| simple, learn the information in books first, then apply | | | | repair. |
| the new found knowledge in the shop. Here are a few | | | | |