Taking on an apprentice accident repair technician can be a great idea if you are looking to invest in the future of your workforce.
We will work with you to train your apprentice in all aspects of accident repair as well as providing pastoral support if needed.
Accident repair technicians typically undertake a wide range of bodywork repairs including MET, panel and paint
Whether you are a sole trader or a national business with multiple sites we can help grow your business.
Key information
Key information about this apprenticeship programme, with the main details like the level, duration and industry/sector. Full details about this standard can be found on the Skills England website.
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Level: 3 (Advanced)
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Duration: 36 months
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Training location: Ruddington
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Mode of Attendance: Block release
- Industry/sector: Engineering and manufacturing
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Maximum funding available: £18,000.00
Apprenticeship overview
Rectification of damaged vehicles using a range of engineering, electrical, constructional, and refinishing techniques.
The key skills, knowledge, behaviours and duties that will be carried out by the apprentice as part of this apprenticeship.
Skills developed
- Identify and apply techniques to document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work in compliance with regulations and standards.
- Apply techniques to plan work activities.
- Identify and apply techniques to organise and use resources with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Apply sustainability principles.
- Read and interpret information. For example, text, data, engineering drawings, job card, work instructions, risk assessments, method statements, operation manuals, permits to work, instructions.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques.
- Apply techniques to record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, equipment service records, test results, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, records, work sheets, checklists, waste environmental records and any legal reporting requirements.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Apply techniques to test the function of repaired, fitted and associate components.
- Applies stock control techniques to check, replenish and complete returns.
- Identify and apply techniques to resolve problems encountered during the accident repair process.
- Apply techniques to report issues and problems which cannot be resolved.
- Apply techniques to operate electrical and electronic control systems such as programmable logic control systems, electrical and electronic relay systems, and electronic drive systems.
- Use diagnostic tools for fault finding, such as multi-meters and electronic diagnostic tools.
- Apply techniques to remove damaged and associated mechanical components from a vehicle.
- Apply techniques to re-assemble and replace existing mechanical components to a vehicle.
- Apply techniques to remove and refit trim components.
- Apply techniques to fit electrical components and systems.
- Diagnose and apply techniques to rectify vehicle electrical faults.
- Apply techniques to diagnose, remove, replace and recalibrate Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) systems and components.
- Apply techniques to remove, repair and replace non-structural body panels.
- Apply techniques to repair and refurbish trim components.
- Apply techniques to remove, repair and replace structural body panels excluding chassis legs and related components.
- Apply techniques to identify and rectify vehicle body misalignment.
- Apply body filler and foundation materials.
- Apply techniques to prepare and refinish metal, plastic, and pre-painted surfaces.
- Apply paint, primer, and base coats.
- Apply topcoats and clear coats. Complete final refinishing operations.
- Identify and apply techniques to rectify paint and preparation defects including smart repair technologies, and Paintless Dent Removal (PDR).
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion principles.
- Apply mechanical and non-mechanical joining techniques.
- Apply techniques to record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
- Communicate in writing.
- Identify and apply techniques to rectify wheel misalignment (two-wheel and four-wheel).
Further information
- Accident repair technician
- Bodyshop technician
- Cosmetic repairer
- Crash repair technician
- Met technician
- Multi-skilled technician
- Paint technician
- Panel beater
- Panel technician (panel beater)
- Vehicle body repairer
This occupation is found in the automotive sector.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to repair a motor vehicle after it has sustained some type of collision damage. This can range from small damage to moderate impacted damage requiring complex and detailed repair or replacement of damaged elements of the vehicle. The types of vehicles can include a broad range of vehicles from cars and car derived vans to light commercial vehicles. Technicians will work on and obtain a level of competence in all craft aspects of vehicle accident repair, including Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET), non-structural panel repair, structural panel repair and replacement, and preparation and paint. They will also have an awareness of electric and hybrid vehicles to maintain levels of safety throughout the repair, including an understanding of environmental impacts and considerations. They will have a good understanding of vehicle Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and also have the ability to check if these systems have been compromised by an accident circumstance. The accident repair technician will be able to obtain, interpret and work accurately to complex technical repair specifications and instructions. An accident repair technician has the ability to work in a focused, analytical and methodical fashion, completing repairs on time, with a right-first-time, customer focused culture under-pinning all their activities.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues within the workshop as well as other internal and external stakeholders, such as suppliers. The accident repair technician embraces the need to put complete customer satisfaction and commercial awareness, at the centre of everything they do. The ability to excel whilst working within a team is a key output for any accident repair technician. Typically, the accident repair technician works in a modern, highly technologically advanced, workshop environment.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for returning vehicles in a safe manner to pre-accident condition using work instructions and according to manufacturer standards. They will check parts against work instructions, ordering and receiving parts to enable repair. They will prepare vehicles for accident repair including ensuring they are safe and will communicate any additional repair requirements. Technicians should be able to communicate with line supervisors any challenges or issues that could prevent work of a lower calibre than the customers' expectations from being completed or result in a change to the scheduled completion time.
Occupation - Overview of the role.
A motor vehicle Accident Repair Technician repairs all elements of a vehicle after it has sustained some type of collision damage. These range from small damage through to heavily impacted types of damage requiring complex and detailed repair or replacement of major structural elements of the vehicle. Typically, the Accident Repair Technician works in a modern highly technical workshop-type environment, working on a broad range of vehicles from cars and car derived vans to light commercial vehicles.
Uniquely, they work on and obtain a level of competence in all craft aspects of vehicle accident repair, including Mechanical, Electrical & Trim (MET); Panel Repair & Replacement; Preparation and Paint – not just one as has been the case in the past. Additionally the Accident Repair Technician is able to interpret and work accurately to detailed and complex technical repair specifications / instructions and, at times, obtain these instructions from a range of electronic sources. An Accident Repair Technician has the ability to work in a focused, analytical and methodical fashion, completing repairs on time, every time with a right-first-time, customer focused culture under-pinning all their activities.
The Accident Repair Technician from day one embraces the need to put complete customer satisfaction, as well as commercial awareness, at the centre of everything they do. The ability to excel whilst working within a team is a key output for any Accident Repair Technician.
Programme duration
Typically this apprenticeship will take 2 years to complete.
Entry requirements
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria for applicants. In order to optimise success, typical applicants will display a good attitude, a positive approach to learning & development and a high level of ambition. Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment.
| Discipline | Knowledge | Skills |
|---|---|---|
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Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET) |
• How all types of engines and propulsion systems function. • How electrically propelled and hybrid vehicles function. • How sub systems of lubrication, cooling, fuel, ignition, intake and exhaust systems operate. • How transmission, driveline & final drive systems operate. • Vehicle suspension, steering, brakes, wheels and tyre systems. • Vehicle electrical principles. • Vehicle electrical systems and components. |
• Remove all damaged & associated components from a vehicle. • Re-assemble replacement or existing components to a vehicle. • Remove and re-assemble permanent & non-permanent fixed vehicle body panels • Remove and refit all types of vehicle body panels. • Remove and refit trim components. • Identify and describe principle vehicle electrical components and systems. • Diagnose and rectify basic vehicle electrical faults. |
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Panel Repair & Replacement |
• Vehicle thermal welding operations & techniques. • Vehicle bonding and adhesives procedures. • Vehicle body mechanical fastening operations. |
• Repair all types of vehicle body panels. • Repair or refurbish Trim components. • Repair vehicles using thermal welding operations and processes. • Repair vehicles using non thermal joining, bonding and adhesive processes. • Remove, repair and replace structural body panels. • Identify and rectify vehicle body structural misalignment. |
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Preparation & Paint |
• The various types of filler & foundation materials. • The different materials used in vehicle construction. • The preparation techniques required for different materials & surfaces. • Paint, basecoat & topcoats. • The refinishing process. • Which techniques & products to employ with each type of repair process. |
• Apply body filler & foundation materials. • Prepare all types of vehicle body material. • Prepare & refinish metal, plastic and pre-painted surfaces. • Repair minor defects in all types of body panels and materials. • Apply paint, primer and basecoat • Apply topcoats and clear coats and complete final refinishing operations. • Identify and rectify paint or preparation defects. |
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Cross-cutting |
• Health and safety in the workplace as it relates to the accident repair environment. • The structure of their organisation, and where they work within that. • Tools & equipment and vehicle construction methods used in the accident repair workplace. |
• Carry out their work safely in the workplace and adhere to relevant health and safety requirements. • Develop strong working relationships. |
Behaviours
A competent Accident Repair Technician demonstrates the following behaviours:
- The adoption at all times of a good health and safety first mentality as standard practice.
- A customer first approach when dealing with owners of vehicles and other clients.
- Recognises that high quality is intrinsic in every activity throughout the accident repair process.
- A strong and positive work ethic.
- The ability to work in a team and be a good team member.
- A positive attitude. Good aptitude. Excellent ambition.
- Effective communication throughout the repair process, both with clients and with other members of the team.
Level and review
- This apprenticeship is at Level 3 and will be reviewed after 3 years.
Change log:
| DATE | CHANGE | PREVIOUS VERSIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 06/03/2018 | Funding band changed from 9000 (band 9) to 12000 (band 10) for new starts from 1 April | |
| 07/06/2017 | Assessment plan published | Current version |
| 06/11/2015 | Standard published | Current version |
- Level 3 Award in Automotive Refrigerant Handling (EC842-2006), or another accredited organisation who offer this qualification (or an equivalent qualification that a European Union (EU) member state recognises) (Level 3)
Hire an apprentice today!
Are you interested in this apprenticeship for your business or company? Get in touch with our dedicated Business Development Manager for this industry/sector to find out more. Alternatively, you can fill out our employer interest form below and we'll get back to you.
Stacey Sargeant
Business Development Advisor - Automotive (Emtec)
Call Stacey Sargeant on: 01159457200
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Information provided for this apprenticeship programme is sourced from the Skills England formerly the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). For the information authored by Skills England, this was last modified on 9th October 2025.
