What an auto body technician does
Auto body technicians repair vehicles after collisions. They assess damage, remove and replace panels, straighten frames and unibody structures on measuring and pulling systems, repair plastics and composites, and use welding and bonding methods suited to modern steels and aluminium. In many shops they also prepare vehicles for paint and reassemble trim, lighting and glass. Their work affects how a vehicle performs in a future collision, not just how it looks.
In Ontario, auto body and collision damage repairer (310B) is a compulsory trade, so you need certified technicians or registered apprentices on the floor. Repair methods change with every model year, and many insurers and manufacturers expect documented training. Finch looks beyond the certificate to the work a technician actually does well, whether that is structural repair, aluminium, plastics or production work, and checks the quality of that work with the people who supervised it.
Typical responsibilities
- Inspecting collision damage and helping estimators build accurate repair plans
- Measuring and straightening frames and unibody structures with electronic measuring and pulling equipment
- Removing, repairing and replacing panels, bumpers and structural components following manufacturer repair procedures
- Welding, riveting and bonding steel and aluminium parts with the correct equipment and methods
- Preparing repaired areas for refinishing and reassembling trim, lighting and glass
- Checking final fit, gaps and function before the vehicle goes to paint or delivery
Qualifications and credentials
- Skilled Trades Ontario certificate of qualification as an auto body and collision damage repairer (310B), or a registered apprenticeship
- Red Seal endorsement in the auto body and collision technician trade, valued by many employers
- Ongoing collision repair training such as I-CAR courses, which many shops and insurer programs expect
- Experience with manufacturer repair procedures and brand-certified collision repair programs
- WHMIS training and safe use of respirators and personal protective equipment
Who hires an auto body technician
- Independent collision repair centres
- Dealership body shops
- Collision repair franchises and multi-location groups
- Fleet and rental company repair facilities
Where we recruit auto body technician candidates
We fill auto body technician roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- 310B certificate status, confirmed on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register
- Structural, aluminium and plastics repair experience compared with your typical jobs
- Familiarity with the measuring systems, welders and repair information your shop uses
- Quality and comeback history, discussed with past shop foremen or managers
- Comfort working to flat-rate or production targets, if that is how your shop pays
Interview questions to ask
- Describe the last structural repair you did and how you confirmed the vehicle was back to specification.
- How do you find and follow the manufacturer’s repair procedure for a model you have not worked on before?
- What do you do when the estimate does not match the damage you find after teardown?