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Automotive Collision Repair

Automotive Collision Repair

About the Program

This program offers an Associate in Applied Science degree and several specialized certificate options: collision repair, damage analysis, refinishing and structural repair. Whether you earn a degree or a certificate, you will learn to use paints, high-tech spray guns and other tools along with how to tap into your own creativity. The program will prepare you for positions at car and truck dealerships, auto body repair shops and other employers.

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Take a Virtual Tour of Our Automotive Building

Launch a Virtual Tour of G Building: Automotive Technology

Careers in Automotive Collision Repair

Career options are wide-ranging—with experience, you may supervise others in a shop or garage—or you may open up your own business.

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Why study at CLC?

Our courses incorporate the training curriculum from I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair and combine solid theory and real-world problem solving. The program is Gold Class Certified by I-CAR, and it is Master Certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation Inc. (NATEF).

What Students Say

Students value the program’s hands-on approach:

"The teachers have a lot of hands-on experience, and the hands-on practice makes you learn. The book work is important, but until you do it, you won't know how auto body repair is done."
Elvin Escobar, 2010 graduate

"My passion is working with cars. I started this program as a hobby, but now I want to do it as a career. CLC's program has helped me to understand pretty much everything about automotive collision repair."
J. Carlos Flores

Auto Shop Renovations

In January 2015, the ACR program relocated to a new Auto Body Shop, a $1.6 million renovation of Building 12. Prior to the opening of CLC’s Technology Building in 2005, the building housed the Automotive Technology program. The 10,083-square-foot auto lab space includes a large auto-body work area, three new general classrooms, a faculty office, student lounge, restrooms, plus a 2,955 square foot storage mezzanine. The building renovation and most of the equipment for the Auto Body Shop was funded through the college’s Sustainable Master Plan.

A new asphalt paved vehicle staging area accommodating up to eight cars is behind the building. Shop equipment and features include:

  • Full down draft and semi-down draft paint spray booths
  • Two paint mixing rooms
  • Integrated welding booth
  • Chief frame machine and new mechanical service area and equipment
  • One paint double prep station
  • Dust collection system
  • Vehicle exhaust system
  • Compressed air system

 

Automotive Collision Repair Program

Take classes at CLC's state-of-the-art facility in Grayslake, Illinois. Complete your I-CAR certification or earn a two-year degree or one of five specialty certificates. Our community college tuition is affordable, and financial aid is available.

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