Employment Potential
A graduate of the program will have the potential for employment in the following areas:
Auto Collision Repair Technician: Repairs damaged bodies of cars and light trucks; removes damaged panels and welds in new ones; removes and replaces accessories, glass, electrical parts, and interior trim; repairs or replaces plastic or composite parts; and straightens dents in sheet metal panels to restore the vehicle to pre-accident condition.
Auto Collision Refinishing Technician: Completes the refinishing phase of all repairs on cars, trucks, and fleet vehicles; does all stages of priming, sanding and sealing prior to the paint application; determines the type and color of paint to do the refinishing; is familiar with mixing, tinting, and shading; as well as the application of color for matching; and buffs, polishes, stripes, and details vehicle to complete the repair job.
Frame and Alignment Technician: Straightens, welds, replaces, and aligns all types of frames and suspensions of cars and trucks to restore them to factory specifications.
Unibody Repair Specialist: Repairs unitized vehicles by analyzing, measuring, and pulling the unibody structure to the proper dimensions; and replaces structural parts that are not repairable using proper structural parts-sectioning techniques to return the vehicle to factory specifications.
Trim and Glass Installer: Removes, replaces, or repairs all types of glass or glass-related problems on vehicles.
Accreditation
. NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation) Certified Program
. I-CAR Automotive Steel GMA (MIG) Welding Qualification Test Administrators.
. I-CAR Industry Training Alliance Member
. National Glass Association (NGA) continuing education provider.
Credentials
All NWTC Auto Collision programs are ASE Certified to NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation) Standards. Additionally, all instructional staff in the NWTC Auto Collision programs are at a minimum, Master, ASE Certified Technicians.
NWTC Auto Collision Program National Award: The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Program received a National Award of Excellence from the Auto Industry Planning Council (AIPC) in 2006.
Associations
. National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence
. Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association
. Bay Auto Body Association
. National Auto Body Congress
. Collision Repair Instructors Network
Curriculum
The Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician Technical Diploma is a two-year program. Upon graduation, a student will have completed 59 credits. The two NWTC Auto Collision, Repair and Refinishing programs are organized in a "series" of courses. The two series are: Repair and Refinishing. Both series of courses must be completed in whichever program (associate degree or technical diploma) the student elects to pursue. A student can start in either program (associate degree or technical diploma) at the beginning of either series of classes or when prerequisites are fulfilled.
AUTO COLLISION REFINISHING FIRST SERIES
10-405-101 Intro to Auto Refinishing
2
10-405-106 Plastics and Composites
1
10-405-107 Coll Refinish Surface Prep
2
10-405-108 Coll Refinish Topcoat Appl
3
10-804-107 College Mathematics
3
31-801-386 Communicating Effectively
1
AUTO COLLISION REFINISHING SECOND SERIES
10-405-109 Coll Refinish Tint and Blend
2
10-405-110 Coll Refinishing Advanced
3
10-405-147 Auto Refinish Prod Emmissions
1
10-809-166 Intro to Ethics: Theory & App
3
10-809-197 Contemporary Amer Society
3
31-801-385 Communicating-Writing
1
32-405-320 Auto Collision Ind Shadow
1
AUTO COLLISION REPAIR FIRST SERIES
10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair
2
10-405-102 Coll Repair Non Structural 1
2
10-405-103 Coll Repair Non Structural 2
2
10-405-104 Coll Repair Non Structual 3
2
10-405-105 Coll Repair Non Structural 4
2
10-405-114 Coll Repair Estimating
1
10-405-120 Coll Repair Mech HVAC
2
10-405-128 Coll Repair Electrical Sys SRS
1
10-405-144 Collision Repair Welding 1
2
10-602-125 Electrical and Electronic Syst
2
AUTO COLLISION REPAIR SECOND SERIES
10-405-111 Coll Repair Structural 1
3
10-405-112 Coll Repair Structural 2
3
10-405-113 Coll Repair Structural 3
2
10-405-122 Coll Rep Brakes, Drive Train
2
10-405-146 Coll Repair Welding 2
2
10-602-124 Steering and Suspension System
3
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for employment in this field.
10-405-100 INTRODUCTION TO COLLISION REPAIR ...industry professionalism, career opportunities and certifications, personal and shop safety, collision repair industry terms and definitions, sheet metal characteristics and analysis use of basic hand and power tools, identifying and using collision repair information and procedures, and basic repair procedures for minor collision damage.
10-405-101 INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING ...industry career opportunities and certifications, refinishing safety and environmental regulations, automotive paints, and paint application equipment.
10-405-102 COLLISION REPAIR NON STRUCTURAL 1 ...removal, replacement, and storage of interior and exterior trim, disarming.arming restraint systems, adjustment to movable glass, lamps, bumpers and moveable tops, and wind noise/water leak diagnosis and repair. (Prerequisite: 10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair)
10-405-103 COLLISION REPAIR NON STRUCTURAL 2 ...identifying different types of vehicle construction, non structural part identification, damage analysis and developing a repair plan, time management, and replacing and aligning bolted and moveable exterior panels utilizing the appropriate tools. (Corequisites: 10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair; 10-405-102 Coll Repair Non Structural 1)
10-405-104 COLLISION REPAIR NON STRUCTURAL 3 ...repair sequences and processes for straightening more complex types of collision damage to nonstructural vehicle panels utilizing the appropriate tools. (Corequisites: 10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair; 10-405-102 Coll Repair Non Structural 1; 10-405-103 Collision Repair Non Structural 2)
10-405-105 COLLISION REPAIR NON STRUCTURAL 4 ...removal and application of sealers, undercoats, corrosion protection and various types of foams, replacing non structural vehicle panels using panel bonding and welding, and repairing aluminum exterior panels. (Corequisites: 10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair; 10-405-102 Coll Repair Non Structural 1; 10-405-103 Collision Repair Non Structural 2; 10-405-104 Collision Repair Non Structual 3)
10-405-106 PLASTICS AND COMPOSITES ...identifying types of plastic used on vehicles, making repair or replace decisions, repair techniques using plastic welding equipment and adhesives, and refinishing techniques and materials (Corequisite: 10-405-101 Introduction to Automotive Refinishing)
10-405-107 COLLISION REFINISHING SURFACE PREPARATIONS ...planning the refinishing process including substrate identification, paint and rust removal, panel cleaning, selecting proper sandpaper, sanding techniques, vehicle protection, masking techniques, selecting and applying the correct undercoats, and corrosion protection products and usage. (Corequisite: 10-405-101 Introduction to Automotive Refinishing )
10-405-108 COLLISION REFINISHING TOPCOAT APPLICATION ...locating and mixing automotive color formulas, applying sealers, single-stage, and basecoat/clearcoat finishes, optimizing transfer efficiency, and blending adjacent vehicle panels. (Prerequisites: 10-405-101 Intro to Auto Refinishing; 10-405-107 Coll Refinish Surface Prep)
10-405-109 COLLISION REFINISHING TINTING AND BLENDING ...advanced spray gun setup considerations & techniques, using blending additives. Also included is an in-depth study of color theory, color movement, color evaluation, and color adjustment tools and techniques. (Prerequisites: 10-405-101 Intro to Auto Refinishing; 10-405-106 Plastics and Composites; 10-405-107 Coll Refinish Surface Prep; 10-405-108 Coll Refinish Topcoat Appl)
10-405-110 COLLISION REFINISHING ADVANCED ...application and blending of automotive multistage finishes, and use of waterborne refinishing materials. Refinishing defect identification, diagnosis, and repair is also covered with emphasis placed on learning how to avoid defects while refinishing.(Prerequisites: 10-405-101 Intro to Auto Refinishing; 10-405-107 Coll Refinish Surface Prep; 10-405-108 Coll Refinish Topcoat Appl; 10-405-109 Coll Refinish Tint and Blend)
10-405-111 COLLISION REPAIR STRUCTURAL 1 ...understanding collision forces, performing inspections of automotive structural components, and determine the extent of structural damage using measuring equipment.(Prerequisites: 10-405-100 Intro to Collision Repair; 10-405-102 Collision Repair Non Structural 1; 10-405-103 Collision Repair Non Structural 2; 10-405-104 Collision Repair Non Structural 3; 10-405-105 Collision Repair Non Structural 4)
10-405-112 COLLISION REPAIR STRUCTURAL 2 ...utilizing anchoring and pulling equipment for straightening, realigning, replacing and sectioning unibody structural components, sections, and other vehicle outer panels. Additionally students will utilize power and hand tools for cutting, welding, stress relieving, replacing corrosion protection, and stationary glass replacement. (Prerequisites: Completion of 1st semester courses; Corequisite: 10-405-146 Collision Repair Welding 2; 10-405-111 Collision Repair Structual 1)
10-405-113 COLLISION REPAIR STRUCTURAL 3 ...utilizing, anchoring and pulling equipment for straightening, realigning, replacing and sectioning full-frame structural components. Additionally students will utilize power and hand tools for cutting, welding, stress relieving, corrosion protection, and stationary glass replacement. (Prerequisites: Completion of 1st semester courses; Corequisite: 10-405-146 Collision Repair Welding 2; 10-405-111 Collision Repair Structual 1; 10-405-112 Coll Repair Structural 2)
10-405-114 COLLISION REPAIR ESTIMATING ...vehicle construction, model identification, damage analysis, parts sources, handwritten damage reports, computerized damage reports, and shop management.
10-405-120 COLLISION REPAIR MECHANICAL HVAC ...locating, identifying, inspecting, testing and repairing or replacing both heating and cooling system components. Students also diagnose both heating and cooling systems for leaks, belt and pulley alignment and safely identify, label, store, evacuate, recharge, replace and recycle coolants and refrigerants in accordance with EPA regulations.
10-405-122 COLLISION REPAIR BRAKES, DRIVE TRAIN AND FUEL ...locating, identifying, inspecting, diagnosing, repairing or replacing collision damaged brake system, drive train, fuel, and emission system components.
10-405-128 COLLISION REPAIR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SRS ...operation, troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair of restraint and supplemental restraint systems. (Corequisite: 10-602-125 Electrical and Electronic Systems)
10-405-144 COLLISION REPAIR WELDING 1 ...welding safety; introduction to the GMAW (MIG) welding process and equipment; and skills training in GMAW (MIG) welding on light gauge automotive steels.
10-405-146 COLLISION REPAIR WELDING 2 ...oxy acetylene and plasma arc cutting, GMAW (MIG) welding on structural grade automotive steels. Squeeze type resistance spot welding (STRSW), welding aluminum, and silicone bronze is also introduced to students in this course. (Prerequisite: 10-405-144 Collision Repair Welding 1)
10-405-147 AUTO REFINISHING, PRODUCTIVITY & EMISSIONS..confined damage repair techniques, improving cycle time during refinishing, EPA requirements for refinishing technicians, and reducing VOC emissions during the refinishing process. (Corequisites: 10-405-109 Coll Refinish Tint and Blend; 10-405-110 Coll Refinishing Advanced)
10-602-124 STEERING AND SUSPENSION SYSTEMS ...developing the skills needed to diagnose, service and repair steering and suspension systems including wheel alignment procedures. (Corequisite: 10-602-107 Automotive Service Fundamentals or 10-405-100 Introduction to Collision Repair)
10-602-125 ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS ...develop the skills needed to diagnose, service and repair electrical and electronic systems. Learners apply Ohm's Law to basic electrical circuit diagnosis. (Corequisite: 10-602-107 Automotive Service Fundamentals or 10-405-100 Introduction to Collision Repair)
32-405-320 AUTO COLLISION INDUSTRY SHADOWING ...an opportunity to experience the auto collision industry working environment. Course will facilitate student's opportunities to meet technicians and shop owners, and to observe all facets of the industry.
10-804-107 COLLEGE MATHEMATHICS ...an introductory level course designed to review and develop fundamental concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and statistics. Emphasis will be placed on computational skills and applications of rational numbers; problem solving skills with ratios, proportions, and percent; basic principles and application of algebra, geometry, graphing, and statistics; measurement skills in U.S. Customary and Metric Systems; and the use of calculators as a tool. (Prerequisite: Recommendation: Accuplacer Arithmetic Test = 65) 3 cr.
31-801-386 COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY ...interpersonal communication, including the function of interpersonal communication, listening techniques, perception, non-verbal communication, language, self-concept, conflict resolution and customer service. 1 cr.
10-809-166 INTRO TO ETHICS: THEORY & APP ...basic understanding of theoretical foundations of ethical thought; analyze/compare relevant issues using diverse ethical perspectives; critically evaluate individual, social/professional standards of behavior--applying a systematic decision-making process. 3 cr.
10-809-197 CONTEMPORARY AMER SOCIETY...the major social institutions within the American society: government, family, education, religion, and economic system. 3 cr.
31-801-385 COMMUNICATING-WRITING ...writing techniques, memos, letters, descriptions, instructions, and the job-seeking process. 1 cr.