I-CAR Academy, the organization’s new entry-level curriculum program, is now available to collision repair facilities after launching for schools earlier this year.

The program is designed to kickstart technicians’ education journeys when they start their careers in collision repair shops. Techs who finish the program will have a solid foundation for the I-CAR Professional Level curriculum and Platinum Technician recognition as well as OEM and supplier training, I-CAR said in a news release.

“As our industry continues navigating through the talent crisis, I-CAR Academy offers an industry-wide solution at the most critical time in a technician’s career: the beginning,” said I-CAR president and CEO John Van Alstyne, in the release. “Our industry is in dire need of technicians. For some the right starting point is a school, while others excel beginning their career in a shop. Regardless of where a technician enters the industry, they can count on I-CAR Academy to give them a solid and relevant foundation from which to build their future.”

Before launching Academy, I-CAR asked some facilities and schools to pilot the program, one of which was Gustafson Brothers in California. Trish Ostrander, Gustafson Brothers’ training and marketing manager, previously told Repairer Driven News that the curriculum is a great supplement to the shop’s apprenticeship program and provides more structure.

“It’s an on-the-job training apprenticeship program that provides the fundamentals and the curriculum as they start,” she said. “Now they can start out with that extra knowledge of ‘why’ things work in conjunction with their hands-on training. They’ll master their craft quicker with this duo.”

I-CAR Senior Marketing Director Arianna Sherlock previously told RDN the Academy is the first entry-level curriculum I-CAR has offered to shops focused on attracting, training, and retaining technicians. I-CAR says it’s also the first program to offer a consistent entry-level curriculum to schools and repair facilities.

Academy includes five core learning areas — Collision Repair Fundamentals, Disassembly and Reassembly, Plastic Repair, Aluminum and Steel Small Dent Removal, and Preparation for Refinish — with a badging system, similar to achieving tasks in a video game.

The Academy program for shops differs from the school version by offering additional training and best practices for shop leadership on creating a differentiated culture and delivering effective mentoring, which is key to technician development, progression, and retention, I-CAR said.

“We expect that the collision repair facilities who make the commitment to training and developing the next generation of technicians will see the return on their investment in their locations, reaping the benefits of helping to create a more productive, stable, and engaged workforce, which in turn strengthens the public view of our industry,” said Van Alstyne.

Technicians also learn collision repair fundamentals such as safety and tool skills, and foundational knowledge for shop roles including estimator/repair planning, non-structural repairs, structural repairs, and refinishing as well as guidance on selecting a mentor.

“We expect that the collision repair facilities that implement I-CAR Academy will experience a range of benefits, including producing confident new technicians who possess a solid foundation in collision repair fundamentals, allowing them to contribute meaningfully from day one,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR vice president of planning and industry talent programming, in the release.

“Research has shown that disengagement in the early onboarding and training process, and lack of clarity about career path leads to significant turnover. I-CAR Academy is accessible, easy to implement in a shop, and will reduce onboarding time, resulting in increased productivity, longer employee retention, and a high level of employee satisfaction.”

Collision repair leaders, shop owners, and managers who are interested in I-CAR Academy for their locations can learn more at i-car.com/academyshops.

I-CAR also offers Collision Careers, an industry-focused talent attraction platform that it says promotes and offers information about the long-term success and financial stability of automotive collision repair. CollisionCareers.com provides decision-making tools, information, and resources to students, parents, and educators about the rewarding and lucrative careers available in the collision repair industry, according to a news release.

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Featured image provided by I-CAR