Auto Body Technician

Do you like working on cars? Want to get into the workforce quickly? Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Auto Body Technician program could be a great fit for you. The program prepares you for work in auto body shops, auto dealerships and private garages.

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The job involves bending, standing and lifting heavy equipment. But it’s also creative work—a good eye for colour and detail will ensure your skills are in demand.

Auto Body Technician is a one-year certificate program offered on campus in Saskatoon and in Regina.

The Regina and Saskatoon winter (January) deliveries of this program is marketed almost exclusively to international students with a study permit, although it may be available to domestic students as well.

The program gives you a solid foundation in the knowledge and skills you’ll need to work in motor vehicle body repair and refinishing. You’ll get practical training in:

basic and advanced metal work;
basic and advanced painting;
benchwork and safe working procedures;
door servicing, glass installation and electrical systems;
front sheet metal and plastic material repair;
industry communications and math;
welding.

Hands-on learning

You’ll learn from experienced instructors and get practical experience in Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s well-equipped auto body shops. You’ll hammer out dings, paint a vehicle, install a glass windshield, align a bumper and more. You’ll also spend one week in an auto body repair shop getting a first-hand taste of the job.

Trade to degree

The Bachelor of Applied Management (BAMgt) degree provides journeypersons the unique opportunity to leverage existing education and experience into a bachelor's degree with two years of additional study. Part-time and remote options are available.

Professional recognition

Sask Polytech's Auto Body shop is professionally recognized as the first auto body school shop in North America to receive a Certified Collision Care certification.

Career and salary information

Your career

When you graduate, you’ll be ready for entry-level positions in auto body repair shops, private garages, paint shops and large commercial fleets. Auto body techs are trained in a variety of tasks, but you could find yourself specializing in painting, frame and wheel alignment, glass installation or body repair.

Go for your journeyperson’s ticket as an auto body & collision technician and you’ll find opportunities for supervisory positions and with appraisal centres. You could also start your own auto body repair business.

For more information, contact Student Employment Services at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus nearest you.

Potential careers

Sample job title	NOC classification
Auto body technician	Auto body collision, refinishing & glass technicians & damage repair estimators (NOC 72411)
Automobile damage repair estimator	Auto body collision, refinishing & glass technicians & damage repair estimators (NOC 72411)
Automotive painting and refinishing technician	Auto body collision, refinishing & glass technicians & damage repair estimators (NOC 72411)
Automotive glass technician	Auto body collision, refinishing & glass technicians & damage repair estimators (NOC 72411)

Admissions

Admission requirements

Grade 10
English Language Requirement

Alternative admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

250 Arithmetic
243 Reading

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

Admission method

First Qualified/First Admitted

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake.

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year.

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

Tuition and fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2024-25 academic year

$9,170

Supplies needed:

Coveralls or shop coats (x2), safety boots, safety glasses, welding helmet, welding gloves, work gloves and respirator test fitting.

We will have you fitted for the following supplies which will be needed later in the program:

Respirator, paint suit, paint gloves and solvent-resistant gloves

International students

View tuition rates for international students.

Courses

Get credit for what you know

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.

See link(s) below to get more information about PLAR.

Transfer credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Student awards

Thanks to the generosity of donors and alumni, Saskatchewan Polytechnic gives away more than $2 million in student awards during the academic year.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic offers student awards for every certificate and diploma program at every campus. Not all student awards are based on marks - some are based on financial need or things like community or volunteer involvement.

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