Motor Vehicle Courses
Autocare Technician
Overview
An Autocare Technician carries out a range of services and repairs to cars, car derived vans and light goods vehicles, working in an autocare or “Fast-Fit” Centre, which may be part of a national chain or operated by a regional/local independent group/owner.
An Autocare Technician requires a unique combination of technical, retail and customer service skills. They will use a range of tools, measuring and diagnostic equipment to identify and repair simple system faults.
They must be able to work as part of a team but also operate independently, understand how their centre operates from a commercial perspective and how their actions contribute to business results, whilst maintaining a high standard of workmanship.
Apprenticeships Available
Level 2 Autocare Technician
Typical Duration
-30 months
Career Progression
On completion of this course you may then progress onto the Level 3 qualification.
Alternatively, with experience, you could move into workshop supervision and management jobs, or related areas, like breakdown and recovery, service centre advice or general vehicle mechanics.
Light Vehicle Maintenance Technician
Overview
A motor vehicle service and maintenance technician services and repairs light vehicles such as cars and vans and works either in dealerships which focus on a particular manufacturer, or in an independent garage which deals with many different makes of vehicles.
The technician will work on all the systems found within the vehicle. The day-to-day work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment. The tasks faced are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques.
Apprenticeships Available
Level 3 Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician (Light Vehicle)
Typical Duration
– 36 months
Career Progression
On completion of this course you may then progress onto become a senior technician, workshop supervisor, garage manager or MOT tester become a motor vehicle breakdown engineer, or specialise in an area such as motorsport engineering.
Mechanical Electrical and Trim (MET) Technician
Overview
With this apprenticeship you will gain the knowledge and skills to identify damaged mechanical and electrical components on a damaged car or light commercial vehicles and refit these components before and after body repair has been carried out.
The technician will be able to carry out vehicle diagnostics utilising diagnostic hardware/software to interrogate any faults found within the vehicle management system (on board computer), interpret technical information to ensure integrity of repair. A competent MET Technician is accountable for ensuring that the vehicle components and trim of a repaired collision damaged vehicle meets at minimum the manufacturer safety and performance standard prior to the damage sustained.
Apprenticeships Available
Level 3 Mechanical Electrical and Trim (MET) Technician
Typical Duration
-36 months
Career Progression
This qualification can help you find work in roles such as Bodyshop Mechanic, MET Technician, Bodyshop Technician, Body fitter and more.
You may want to work in small or large independent garages, car dealerships that specialise in vehicle body fitting, vehicle body pair or paint spraying.
Motor Vehicle Damage Paint Technician
Overview
A Vehicle Damage Paint Technician works in the vehicle body repair sector of the motor industry. The role is to prepare, spray and finish vehicles that have been involved in collisions and other incidents in an efficient manner.
The vehicles can include Cars/Light Commercial Vehicles. This includes ensuring correct colour match and final finish to the company and customer’s exacting standards.
This is usually within a collision repair workshop or smart repair workshops/mobile repair micro business and working alongside another fully qualified Paint Technician.
Apprenticeships Available
Level 3 Motor Vehicle Damage Paint Technician
Typical Duration
-36 months
Career Progression
Once you have completed your apprenticeship you could get an IMI accreditation and move into senior paint technician roles; become a shift supervisor, quality control inspector or workshop manager; set up your own paint spraying business; specialise in customising cars.
Motor Vehicle Damage Panel Technician
Overview
A Vehicle Damage Panel Technician works within the Collision Repair workshop, demonstrating expert working knowledge in relation to the removal, repair and replacement of vehicle body panels to vehicle manufacturer specification.
A technician is able to work independently and as part of a team following a defined process, using their skills to correctly identify the different body panel types and have the ability to use the correct repair tools to carry out the work to the highest possible standard.
The equipment they use can include using jigs, resistance welding equipment, riveting and bonding tools, as well as new equipment such as reinforced plastic carbon fibre diagnostic ultrasound tools.
Apprenticeships Available
Level 3 Motor Vehicle Damage Panel Technician
Typical Duration
-36 months
Career Progression
After completing your apprenticeship, with experience, you could become a lead fitter or technician, or move into supervisory and body-shop management positions in larger firms.
You could also work as a vehicle damage assessor for a repair workshop or an insurance firm.
You could also set up your own business and move into mobile repair.
