Trades in Alberta
On this page:
- Apprenticeship Education Program
- Trades Qualifier Program
- Employment in the Trade
Auto Body Technician - Auto Body Repairer
Auto body technicians in the auto body repairer branch of the trade do damage appraisals, frame and unibody structural repairs, body sheet-metal work, plastic repairs, component replacement and alignment. Auto body repairers rely on precise factory specification charts and use measuring and repair systems to restore damaged vehicles.
Apprenticeship Education Program
Apprenticeship blends hands-on work experience with classroom learning, so you can build skills, knowledge, and a career all at once.
- Certificate
- Journeyperson Certificate
- 3 periods (levels)
- Period 1:
- 1620 hours work experience per period
- 6 weeks classroom instruction per period
- Period 2 and 3:
- 1590 hours work experience per period
- 7 weeks classroom instruction per period
- All periods:
- Theory exam required
- Each period designed to take ~1 year
- Up to 18 months allowed between each requirement
- 6 weeks in period 1
- 7 weeks in period 2 and 3
- Offered at NAIT and SAIT
- Entrance requirements:
- English 10-2, Math 10-3, and Science 10
- or GED/CAEC
- or Entrance Exam
- 1620 hours in period 1
- 1590 hours in period 2 and 3
- Sponsorship agreement required to earn hours.
- Must be completed with a qualified mentor.
- Demonstrate competence in activities outlined in the record book to receive credit.
- Theory exam required to complete each period
Trades Qualifier Program
If you have experience in the trade without an Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, the Trades Qualifier Program is your pathway to qualify.
- Complete 54 months and 7200 hours of verifiable Auto Body Repairer work experience.
- Pass a theory exam.
- Pass two practical exams:
- $78.00 (Exam A) and
- $108.00 (Exam B)
- Submit a copy of a recognized trade certificate from outside Alberta.
- Pass a theory exam.
- Pass two practical exams:
- $78.00 (Exam A) and
- $108.00 (Exam B)
Employment in the Trade
As a designated trade under the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, employed individuals or those employing tradespeople must meet certain regulated standards.
- Specific tasks and function within the trade may only be performed by authorized individuals.
- To perform restricted activities, you must be:
- a registered apprentice, or
- working at a journeyperson level in the opinion of your employer (journeyperson certification optional).
- Employers may employ two apprentices for every one assigned mentor (2:1).
- AEITP Regulation (open.alberta.ca)
- Apprentices must be paid at least the below percentage of the rate received by the lowest-paid Auto Body Repairer journeyperson employed by the same company.
- Period 1: 55%
- Period 2: 70%
- Period 3: 80%
- AEITP Regulation (open.alberta.ca)
- If you hold a recognized trade certificate from outside of Alberta, you are authorized to work in the full scope of the trade in Alberta.