Automotive Body Technician Apprentice

Crash Champions•Charleston, SC

About The Position

Crash Champions’ Skills Training Education Program (STEP) is a paid, hands-on apprenticeship that pairs trainees with experienced professionals and prepares them for a career as a collision repair technician. No prior collision experience or training is required. The program includes a mobile app and structured curriculum for tracking progress and interactive learning, daily instruction, and guidance from an experienced Champion Mentor. Trainees can earn points while learning and build their own tools valued at $8,000. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, and includes benefits, paid time off, and sick leave effective on the start date. The role offers potential earnings up to and beyond six figures as a collision repair technician. The apprentice learns manufacturer-standard repair practices and progresses from repair planning, vehicle disassembly and reassembly, plastic bumper repair, and minor dent repair to more complex metal and structural repairs. Training includes vehicle measurement, welding and joining methods, repair tools and techniques, and MIG welding on steel vehicles to complete I-CAR Weld Certification.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
Ability to work full-time, 40 hours per week.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to stand for long periods.
Ability to regularly position or move oneself to repair vehicles over and under them.
Ability to communicate effectively and take direction from superiors.
Ability to read and understand a work order.
A valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED preferred.
Collision experience or training is a bonus but is not required.

Responsibilities

Learn manufacturer-original specifications and industry-standard quality controls.
Create complete repair plans and learn vehicle disassembly and reassembly, plastic bumper repair, and minor panel dent repair.
Learn to repair more complex dents by reshaping sheet metal, applying body filler, and progressing to two-sided plastic repair and larger panel damage.
Learn the basics of identifying structural damage and accessing repair procedures.
Learn to set up and anchor structural repairs and perform three-dimensional measurements of vehicle structures.
Learn methods and tools for welding and joining materials.
Fine-tune body filler and metal repairs using stud guns and other metal-straightening tools and techniques.
Learn to cut and replace small structural components.
Learn proper setup and techniques for MIG welding on steel vehicles to complete I-CAR Weld Certification.