Overview
Delivery Mode: BLENDED
- This program will be delivered during COVID-19 as a combination of online and on-campus learning.
- Faculty will notify students of when their attendance on campus will be required.
- We are putting measures in place for your safety and well-being, ensuring that all safety protocols are addressed. Please see BCIT COVID-19 Return to Operations for details on the mandatory procedures that have been implemented.
- Your education is our priority and we will continue to deliver the applied instruction, collaborative experience, and industry connections that you expect from BCIT.
Motor vehicle collision repair technicians restore damage to exterior and interior of motor vehicles.
A motor vehicle body repair technician’s tasks include:
- examining vehicles to find out what needs to be replaced or repaired as per the damage appraisal form or shop work order.
- repairing and replacing doors, front-end body and under-body components.
- repairing dents, buckles and other defects, and removing damaged fenders, panels and grills.
- straightening bent frames, filing, grinding and sanding repaired body surfaces.
- replacing interior components, such as dash pads, seat belt assemblies, airbag components and interior trim.
- using a range of specialty and hand tools, such as aluminum dent pullers, pulse welders and specialty body hammers.
- inspecting the completed work to test that the vehicle’s performance meets required standards.
- communicating with customers about what has been done and why, and advising them on general vehicle conditions.
The program
The program consists of 32 weeks of full-time studies which includes theory and related information, along with hands-on shop assignments and practices. This program provides Foundation, or Level 1, apprentice training. The Motor Vehicle Body Repair Technician Foundation also includes a two-week work practicum at an auto body repair shop halfway through the program.
You must be in good physical condition, have good colour vision, be free from respiratory problems and be non-allergic to paint and thinners. If you have medical or physical difficulties, you should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview with the Institute’s rehabilitation specialist.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive full credit for Level 1 technical training requirements in the provincial Motor Vehicle Body Repair Apprenticeship.
You will be scheduled to write your foundation exam at the end of the program. The next step is to find employment as a motor vehicle body repair apprentice to complete the required workplace hours to enter Level 2 and Level 3 in-school apprenticeship training. Once you have all of the required hours, you will be scheduled to write the Inter-provincial Red Seal exam. Please visit the Industry Training Authority website for more information.
Entrance Requirements
COVID-19 Notice to Applicants
Application processing
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Entrance requirements
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains. When available intakes are full, qualified applicants are wait-listed.
Applicants must meet all entrance requirements prior to applying to this program. If you are uncertain or don’t meet the requirements we strongly recommend you complete any applicable Trades Entry Assessments before applying.
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (50%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (50%) from a recognized institution or
- BCIT English Trades Entry Assessment (for applicants who have two years of education in an English-speaking country only)
- Math: one of the following:
- Foundations of Math and Pre-Calculus 10 (50%) or
- Workplace Math 10 (50%) or
- Other acceptable BC and Yukon courses or
- BCIT Math Trades Entry Assessment
Recommended for success
A driver’s licence is strongly recommended in order to move vehicles in and out of the shops.
Potential applicants with medical or physical disabilities should contact Accessibility Services to arrange an interview with the institute's rehabilitation specialist at 604-451-6963 (telephone interview is acceptable for out of town applicants).
Trades Discovery
The Trades Discovery General and Trades Discovery for
Women are full-time programs
designed to prepare participants to successfully enter and complete a Trades Training
program.
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
September each year.
*Scheduled intakes are subject to change.
myCommunication
Within two business days of submitting your completed application, BCIT will send a message to your personal and myBCIT e-mail addresses. All correspondence regarding your application will be posted to your online myCommunication account at my.bcit.ca. We'll send you an e-mail when a new message is posted. It's important to watch for these e-mails or regularly check your account online.
You can expect to receive communication concerning the status of your application within four weeks.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Please see the Full-Time Studies Tuition & Fees page for full-time tuition fees.
Books & supplies
$590.00 (general estimated cost, subject to change)
CSA approved safety glasses and footwear required. Footwear must be steel-toed, leather, ankle covering boots.
Students are required to supply their own coveralls. A supply of coveralls are available through the BCIT Bookstore. Please check the uniform authorization voucher [PDF] to determine the type of coveralls required for your program.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
Courses
Class hours
0630–1430, Monday to Thursday
Program matrix
| Required Courses: | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ABOD 1401 | Occupational Skills and Safety | 2.5 | |
| ABOD 1402 | Tools and Equipment | 3.5 | |
| ABOD 1403 | Oxyacetylene Procedures | 2.5 | |
| ABOD 1404 | Welding 1 | 12.5 | |
| ABOD 1405 | Sheet Metal Repair 1 | 14.0 | |
| ABOD 1406 | Plastics and Composites 1 | 9.5 | |
| ABOD 1407 | Surface Preparation | 9.5 | |
| ABOD 1408 | Auto Body Construction and Components | 6.0 | |
| ABOD 1409 | Practicum | 2.5 | |
| Total Credits: | 62.5 | ||
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
Program Details
Program length
32 weeks, full-time
Grading
The passing grade in each course is 70%. All courses must be passed in order to successfully complete the program.
Program location
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Industry training authority
BCIT transfers the student's name, contact information, Personal Education Number (PEN), and the name and date of the completed ITA Foundation program to the Industry Training Authority (ITA). This information is used for the purposes of tracking successful completions in order to grant credit towards apprenticeship where applicable, and communicating with trainees to promote continuation in an apprenticeship program.
Graduating & Jobs
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2018-2020 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2017-2019 graduates and for Degree 2015-2017 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Contact Us
Randy Sandhu
Chief Instructor
Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing programs
Telephone: 604-456-1044
Email: Randy_Sandhu@bcit.ca
Questions or comments?
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