CAREER GUIDE FOR AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIRERSOC Code: 49-3021 Pay Band(s): 3 (Salary Structure) Standard Occupational Description: Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames. Automotive Body Repairer positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Roles in the Equipment Service and Repair Career Group: Equipment Service and Repair Technician I While Automotive Body Repairers within the Commonwealth are all located within the Equipment Service and Repair Career Group, individuals may want to pursue other opportunities within the Commonwealth depending upon individual training, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, and interests. Other Career Group(s) that may be of interest are: SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS(Technical and Functional Expertise) Skills Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Automotive Body Repairers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
KnowledgeNote: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Automotive Body Repairers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile. The Knowledge of:
Abilities Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Automotive Body Repairers commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile. The Ability to:
Tasks Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Automotive Body Repairers. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.
INTERESTED?Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career. The occupation of Automotive Body Repairers has Realistic characteristics as described below: Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTSGenerally this is not required for Automotive Body Repairers positions in state government. Certification by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), although voluntary, is the recognized standard of achievement for automotive body repairers. ASE offers a series of four exams for collision repair professionals twice a year. Repairers may take from one to four ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Exams. Repairers who pass at least one exam and have 2 years of hands-on work experience earn ASE certification. The completion of a postsecondary program in automotive body repair may be substituted for 1 year of work experience. Those who pass all four exams become ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technicians. Automotive body repairers must retake the examination at least every 5 years to retain their certification. Certification enhances career progression. EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESThe Department of Labor provides the following information: Thousands of motor vehicles are damaged in traffic accidents every day. Although some of these vehicles are beyond repair, others can be made to look and drive like new. Automotive body repairers straighten bent bodies, remove dents, and replace crumpled parts that cannot be fixed. They repair all types of vehicles, but work mostly on cars and small trucks, although some work on large trucks, buses, or tractor-trailers. Most employers prefer to hire persons who have completed formal training programs in automotive body repair, but these programs supply only a portion of employers' needs. Therefore, most new repairers receive primarily on-the-job training, supplemented, when available, with short-term training sessions given by vehicle, parts, and equipment manufacturers. Some degree of training is necessary because advances in technology have greatly changed the structure, components, and materials used in automobiles. As a result, proficiency in new repair techniques is necessary. For example, bodies of many newer automobiles are a combination of materials—traditional steel, aluminum, and a growing variety of metal alloys and plastics. Each of these materials or composites requires the use of somewhat different techniques to reshape parts and smooth out dents and small pits. Many high schools, vocational schools, private trade schools, and community colleges offer automotive body repair training as part of their automotive service programs. Continuing education is required throughout a career in automotive body repair. Automotive parts, body materials, and electronics continue to change and to become more complex and technologically advanced. To keep up with the technological advances, repairers must continue to gain new skills, read technical manuals, and attend seminars and classes. There are 3 recognized apprentice specialties associated with this occupation: The Virginia Department of Labor provides more information about apprenticeships on their web site: http://www.dli.state.va.us/ . COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIESCompetencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development. The Commonwealth Competencies are:
The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences. Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career! For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.state.va.us/cc_planningctr.htm. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like. COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATHCareer opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure) For example: Automotive Body Repairer
Sample Career Path Equipment Service and Repair Technician I The Equipment Service and Repair Technician I role provides a career path for service and repair technicians performing entry level responsibilities to first line working supervisory responsibilities. Duties include manually labor intensive work that involves the service and repair of mechanical, electronic, and other equipment requiring technical knowledge and expertise, effective diagnostic and repair techniques and procedures related to a wide variety of equipment. Equipment Service and Repair Manager I The Equipment Service and Repair Manager I role is for managers responsible for supervising and managing work in the field of equipment repair. Employees provide the full range of supervision to work crews, plan and prioritize work, and maintain appropriate records. Equipment Service and Repair Manager II The Equipment Service and Repair Manager II role provides a career track for managers responsible for performing, supervising, and managing maintenance and repair work of unusual technical difficulty. Employees provide the full range of supervision to technicians or contractual service providers, plan, prioritize work and evaluate, may conduct pre-flight inspections, and maintain appropriate records. ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:O*NET (Occupational Information Network) http://online.onetcenter.org/gen_search_page Virginia Employment Commission http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/ Career One Stop Virginia Career Resource Network National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology SkillsUSA-VICA, P.O. National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) National Automobile Dealers Association
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