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A student in a navy TCHS uniform shirt working underneath a vehicle, using tools to examine or repair the undercarriage. The student is lying on their back and looking up at the vehicle's components.

Automotive Collision Technology, designed for students with a keen interest in motor vehicles.

The Automotive Collision Technology program is designed for students with a keen interest in motor vehicles and an eye for color, shape, and design. It takes a skilled auto body technician to make damaged vehicles look new again, and that’s exactly what students learn to do as they gain hands-on experience through straightening bent frames, repairing dents, replacing body panels, learning to match and apply paint colors, and writing damage estimates.

TCHS student in green uniform holds welding equipment and wears a welding mask with the front flipped up.

Course Description and Career Skills

This course provides comprehensive training in collision repair and refinishing, covering all major areas of automotive body technology. Students learn essential shop safety procedures, vehicle design and construction, metal finishing, welding, and corrosion protection. The curriculum includes hands-on instruction in panel replacement, trim and hardware installation, plastic and structural repairs, and cutting processes. Learners gain proficiency in surface preparation, refinishing operations, blending, detailing, and damage estimation using industry-standard software and techniques. Emphasis is placed on following OEM repair guidelines, using proper tools and equipment, and understanding modern vehicle systems such as supplemental restraints and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Upon completion, students will possess the foundational skills necessary for entry-level positions in the collision repair and refinishing industry.

The various skill career levels for technical college high school: beginning, intermediate, advanced.

Program Opportunities

Certifications

  • I-CAR Certificate (students are eligible after two years of employment in the field)
  • I-CAR Introduction to Collision Repair Process Overview
  • Pennsylvania Skills Certificate
  • S/P2 Automotive
  • S/P2 Safety & Pollution Prevention 

College Credits

 

Workplace Opportunities

Upper-level students may be hired at local companies, such as: 

AABRA, O’Ryans Auto Body, Mercer Auto Body and more! Co-ops allow students to work during their school day, earn real-world experience, and build their resumes.

Tour the Program

CIP 47.0603

The Department of Education provides a CIP Code to approved Programs of Study (POS). Schools and postsecondary institutions use the CIP code to categorize the POS, outline the scope and sequence of educational offerings and develop a POS task list. 

Click here to review the task list.