9 Months – Total Clock Hours:  900

Starts: 8/27/2025

2025 2026 Tuitions Fees: $9,384

Admission Requirements

Application Fee, Application for Admission, Enrollment Agreement, High School Diploma or GED, Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse Clearance.

Program Overview

As quickly as the body style of today’s vehicles change, so do the skills and technology required to return them to their pre-accident condition. The Collision Repair Technology Program offers training in collision repair and refinishing that help prepare students to repair today’s complex vehicles. This program offers theory and hands-on training, including damage analysis, body repair, and refinishing.

The I-CAR Enhanced Curriculum is used as a standard classroom training that prepares students for I-CAR and ASE certification. Today’s increasingly complex vehicle designs challenge students to develop and utilize the skills required to excel in the field of Collision Repair. Physical Damage Appraiser (Series 16-20) Credential. PA State Inspection, MACS, SP2, Emissions, and ASE certifications are included as part of the Program.

Maximum # of Students Per Class:  15

Program starts in September. Please check with CPI Admissions and review the Program Enrollment Agreement for specific start dates.

Entry-Level Career Opportunities:

• Automotive Body Repairer
• Insurance Appraiser
• Rail Car Repairer
• Maintenance and Repair Worker

Courses In This Program Include:

Course Descriptions 

CRT-110 – Foundation of Collision Repair Technology
The Foundation of Collision Repair Technology course covers the foundations of collision repair, including general shop safety rules, vehicle design and construction, panel replacement and alignment, trim and glass hardware, metal finishing, and use of body fillers. Students are taught to identify and use personal safety devices, explain emergency protocols and procedures, demonstrate proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials and chemicals, safely operate vehicles within the shop area, and properly utilize information on Safety Data Sheets. Students are taught the distinction between vehicle construction types, panels of unibody vehicles, and various materials used in vehicle construction. This will include reasoning for full or partial panel removal and reinstallation and identification of related hardware and parts required for successful completion.  Through hands-on exercises, students gain experience removing and installing molding trim, and emblems, seats, interior and exterior parts and hardware, door window regulators, and vehicle glass. They also identify and properly use metal straightening, welding, and body filler tools and have the ability to assess and repair damages to meet industry standards. 
(120 Lecture Hours – 180 Lab Hours)

CRT-148 – Essentials of Vehicle Damage Assessment and Repair
In the Essentials of Vehicle Damage Assessment and Repair course, students are taught industry skills needed to analyze vehicle structural damage and component repair, apply corrosion protection materials, properly use welding and cutting tools, and demonstrate surface preparation and finishing. In doing so, they will be able to describe the types and degrees of damage to vehicles, and utilize dimension specification sheets, manuals, and gauges to determine the extent of damage, and how to make adjustments using proper repair and alignment methods. Students are taught the causes and identification of corrosion and how to repair corroded parts, including the correct application of caulking, sealants, and other materials for corrosion protection. They will be able to determine standard methods for attaching various structural components and identify tools and equipment needed, as well as be taught metal cutting process and techniques for MIG and STRSW welding. In preparation for employment in automotive refinishing departments. Students receive training in environmental regulations and OSHA guidelines to be able to identify hazardous warning information and demonstrate safe painting practices. This course is completed with an in-depth overview of different paint systems and material applications, defects in and correction of paint flaws, and different types of techniques for coatings and finishes. (70 Lecture Hours – 230 Lab Hours)

CRT-186 – Practice and Procedures in Finish Applications
The Practice and Procedures in Finish Applications course of Collision Repair Technology provides detailed learning of surface preparation, refinishing equipment and operations, paint mixtures and blending, automotive detailing, estimation of damage, plastic repair, and restraint systems. Students are taught how to utilize the course material to demonstrate proper vehicle pre-wash steps and surface debris removal, use appropriate sanding tools and feathering procedures, utilize paint matching resources, demonstrate appropriate masking materials and steps, and apply undercoating and chip-resistant material. Learning includes professional procedures for preparing and operating spray booths and mixing areas and testing and adjusting spray guns for optimal use. Training is also delivered on the National Institution of Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved (Fresh Air Supplied System) personal painting/refinishing respirator system. Students gain comprehensive instruction on techniques used for the stages of topcoat, primer, finish, and undercoating applications. Removal of overspray and application of decals and striping are covered in detail and students gain practical experience cleaning and polishing various parts and components for final work examination. Students receive instruction on vehicle identification, collection of vehicle and customer information, and estimation of damage and repair costs. Students also receive an overview of plastic repair decisions, methods and supplemental restraint systems, and seat belt components. (52 Lecture Hours – 248 Lab Hours)