What can we help you find?

Can't Find What You Need?

Chat with an Admissions Advisor by closing the search window and then clicking the chat icon at the bottom.

Give us a call at 715-833-6300.

Or send us an email at therightchoice@cvtc.edu

Log into Student CommonsSearch CVTC.edu Toggle main menu 

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Log into Student CommonsSearch CVTC.edu  
Submit Search 

Program Requirements

Home  //  Programs & Courses  //  Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Auto Collision Repair & Refinish Technician

Technical Diploma 31-405-1

www.cvtc.edu
1-800-547-2882

Start Dates: August

Effective: August 2025

First Semester
Course # Course Title Credits Prerequisites/Comments
405-302 Intro to Collision Fundamental 2 Program student; Corequisite: 405-304, 405-306, 405-308 This course lays the foundation for collision repair, integrating industry insights to prioritize job-ready skills and earning opportunities. Learners will engage in safety training, tool usage, explore career opportunities, develop cover letter/resume/interview skills, begin estimating, and gain an industry overview along with getting to know area employers. The curriculum emphasizes identifying repairable damage, understanding products used in the repair/refinish process, and providing a strong base for entry-level positions.
Course #: 405-302
Title: Intro to Collision Fundamental
Credits: 2
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; Corequisite: 405-304, 405-306, 405-308 This course lays the foundation for collision repair, integrating industry insights to prioritize job-ready skills and earning opportunities. Learners will engage in safety training, tool usage, explore career opportunities, develop cover letter/resume/interview skills, begin estimating, and gain an industry overview along with getting to know area employers. The curriculum emphasizes identifying repairable damage, understanding products used in the repair/refinish process, and providing a strong base for entry-level positions.
405-304 Structural Fundamentals 1 Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-306, 405-308 In this foundational course, learners develop essential skills in structural collision repair, focusing on entry-level job readiness. Learners will identify structural damage, understand when to repair or replace, explore related materials, learn repair processes, and prioritize safety. The curriculum provides a fundamental understanding of structural repairs and what type of structural work employers are doing in regional shops.
Course #: 405-304
Title: Structural Fundamentals
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-306, 405-308 In this foundational course, learners develop essential skills in structural collision repair, focusing on entry-level job readiness. Learners will identify structural damage, understand when to repair or replace, explore related materials, learn repair processes, and prioritize safety. The curriculum provides a fundamental understanding of structural repairs and what type of structural work employers are doing in regional shops.
405-306 Non-Structural Fundamentals 4 Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-304, 405-308 In this foundational course, learners develop essential non-structural repair skills essential for entry-level positions. Emphasis is placed on hands-on practice in metal finishing, spreading body filler, prep sanding for primer, plastic repair, and disassembly/reassembly. This course will complement the content being covered in Refinish/Painting Fundamentals and will also cover relevant electrical and mechanical components that pertain to non-structural repairs.
Course #: 405-306
Title: Non-Structural Fundamentals
Credits: 4
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-304, 405-308 In this foundational course, learners develop essential non-structural repair skills essential for entry-level positions. Emphasis is placed on hands-on practice in metal finishing, spreading body filler, prep sanding for primer, plastic repair, and disassembly/reassembly. This course will complement the content being covered in Refinish/Painting Fundamentals and will also cover relevant electrical and mechanical components that pertain to non-structural repairs.
405-308 Refinish/Painting Fundamentals 4 Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-304, 405-306 This course introduces learners to fundamental refinishing and painting techniques critical for entry-level roles. Learners gain hands-on experience on panel prep, priming, masking, and achieving proper color match and showroom finish. Integrated with Non-Structural Fundamentals, the curriculum emphasizes proper procedures and techniques along with distinguishing between poor and good quality work to instill industry standards and enhance job readiness.
Course #: 405-308
Title: Refinish/Painting Fundamentals
Credits: 4
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; Corequisite: 405-302, 405-304, 405-306 This course introduces learners to fundamental refinishing and painting techniques critical for entry-level roles. Learners gain hands-on experience on panel prep, priming, masking, and achieving proper color match and showroom finish. Integrated with Non-Structural Fundamentals, the curriculum emphasizes proper procedures and techniques along with distinguishing between poor and good quality work to instill industry standards and enhance job readiness.
442-311 Transportation Welding 1 1st 8 weeks | Program student The purpose of this course is to help the students acquire basic welding skills used in the transportation industry by using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), and Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC). It is a hands-on self-paced learning environment to learn basic welding skills and safe welding practices. May get into course with instructor approval if you are not a program or pre-program student.
Course #: 442-311
Title: Transportation Welding
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: 1st 8 weeks | Program student The purpose of this course is to help the students acquire basic welding skills used in the transportation industry by using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), and Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC). It is a hands-on self-paced learning environment to learn basic welding skills and safe welding practices. May get into course with instructor approval if you are not a program or pre-program student.
442-312 Welding for Auto Collision 1 2nd 8 weeks | 442-311 or concurrent The purpose of this course is to help the students acquire basic welding skills on light gauge metals and other materials used in the automobile industry by using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), and Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC). It is a hands-on self-paced learning environment to learn basic welding skills and safe welding practices. May get into course with instructor approval if you are not a program or pre-program student.
Course #: 442-312
Title: Welding for Auto Collision
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: 2nd 8 weeks | 442-311 or concurrent The purpose of this course is to help the students acquire basic welding skills on light gauge metals and other materials used in the automobile industry by using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC), and Oxy-Fuel Cutting (OFC). It is a hands-on self-paced learning environment to learn basic welding skills and safe welding practices. May get into course with instructor approval if you are not a program or pre-program student.
804-360 Math for Technical Trades 2   This course prepares learners to apply fundamental mathematic concepts to real-world trade-based scenarios. Math for Technical Trades is an applied technical math course. The course includes arithmetic, measurement calculation, formula manipulation, basic geometry, right triangle trigonometry, and interpretation of visual displays of data, with an emphasis on contextualized technical applications.
Course #: 804-360
Title: Math for Technical Trades
Credits: 2
Prerequisites/Comments:   This course prepares learners to apply fundamental mathematic concepts to real-world trade-based scenarios. Math for Technical Trades is an applied technical math course. The course includes arithmetic, measurement calculation, formula manipulation, basic geometry, right triangle trigonometry, and interpretation of visual displays of data, with an emphasis on contextualized technical applications.
  Total Credits: 15  
Total Credits: 15

Second Semester
Course # Course Title Credits Prerequisites/Comments
405-310 Collision Internship 1 Winter term | Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-312, 405-314, 405-316, 405-318 Aligned with employer expectations, the internship provides hands-on experience and mentorship to reinforce work readiness skills being learned in the classroom/lab. Learners will utilize this industry immersion to focus on skill development and will receive structured guidance in a meeting with the employer and instructor. Emphasis is placed on understanding job pace, growth opportunities, and applying learned skills in real-world settings to employability opportunities upon program completion.
Course #: 405-310
Title: Collision Internship
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: Winter term | Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-312, 405-314, 405-316, 405-318 Aligned with employer expectations, the internship provides hands-on experience and mentorship to reinforce work readiness skills being learned in the classroom/lab. Learners will utilize this industry immersion to focus on skill development and will receive structured guidance in a meeting with the employer and instructor. Emphasis is placed on understanding job pace, growth opportunities, and applying learned skills in real-world settings to employability opportunities upon program completion.
405-312 Intermediate Collision 1 Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-314, 405-316, 405-318 Expanding on Intro to Collision Fundamentals, this course focuses on integrating and applying work readiness skills and connecting broader collision concepts. Learners develop an understanding of more broad repair concepts such as air bags, SRS, seat belts and enhanced estimating. By covering a broad range of collision industry topics, this will expand student readiness for real-world collision repair environments.
Course #: 405-312
Title: Intermediate Collision
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-314, 405-316, 405-318 Expanding on Intro to Collision Fundamentals, this course focuses on integrating and applying work readiness skills and connecting broader collision concepts. Learners develop an understanding of more broad repair concepts such as air bags, SRS, seat belts and enhanced estimating. By covering a broad range of collision industry topics, this will expand student readiness for real-world collision repair environments.
405-314 Structural Applications 1 Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-316, 405-318 Building on Structural Fundamentals, this course advances learners' proficiency in structural collision repair, aligning with industry expectations. Learners focus on repair techniques such as welded body panel replacements and unibody/frame rail sectioning in addition to an introduction to frame rack setup, measuring and frame pulling. The curriculum emphasizes practical application type of work relevant to a work ready position in the collision repair industry.
Course #: 405-314
Title: Structural Applications
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-316, 405-318 Building on Structural Fundamentals, this course advances learners' proficiency in structural collision repair, aligning with industry expectations. Learners focus on repair techniques such as welded body panel replacements and unibody/frame rail sectioning in addition to an introduction to frame rack setup, measuring and frame pulling. The curriculum emphasizes practical application type of work relevant to a work ready position in the collision repair industry.
405-316 Non-Structural Applications 5 Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-314, 405-318 Building on Non-Structural Fundamentals, this course deepens learners' expertise in non-structural repairs, aligning with industry expectations. Learners focus on repetitive refinement of skills through tasks such as dent repair on fenders, doors, and hoods in addition to body line repair, body pulling to realign panel gaps and door skin replacements. This course will complement the content being covered in Refinish/Painting Applications and will also cover relevant electrical and mechanical components that pertain to non-structural repairs.
Course #: 405-316
Title: Non-Structural Applications
Credits: 5
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-314, 405-318 Building on Non-Structural Fundamentals, this course deepens learners' expertise in non-structural repairs, aligning with industry expectations. Learners focus on repetitive refinement of skills through tasks such as dent repair on fenders, doors, and hoods in addition to body line repair, body pulling to realign panel gaps and door skin replacements. This course will complement the content being covered in Refinish/Painting Applications and will also cover relevant electrical and mechanical components that pertain to non-structural repairs.
405-318 Refinish/Painting Applications 5 Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-314, 405-316 Continuing from Refinish/Painting Fundamentals, this course advances learners' skills in automotive refinishing. Learners engage in refining painting techniques, color blending/tinting, environmental impacts on process, and learning to identify and correct painting flaws. Through repetition, refinement, and integration with Non-Structural Applications, learners will achieve proficiency in painting various panels and understanding paint materials, aligning with industry expectations.
Course #: 405-318
Title: Refinish/Painting Applications
Credits: 5
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-302 and 405-304 and 405-306 and 405-308; Corequisite: 405-310, 405-312, 405-314, 405-316 Continuing from Refinish/Painting Fundamentals, this course advances learners' skills in automotive refinishing. Learners engage in refining painting techniques, color blending/tinting, environmental impacts on process, and learning to identify and correct painting flaws. Through repetition, refinement, and integration with Non-Structural Applications, learners will achieve proficiency in painting various panels and understanding paint materials, aligning with industry expectations.
801-357 Applied Written/Job Seek Comm 1   This course emphasizes the importance of effective workplace writing and the practical components of job-seeking skills. Students will acquire practical, business-related skills through reading, writing, revising, and grammar exercises. Additionally, they will polish a resume, practice their interview skills, explore a company's background, assess and refine their personal career goals, and establish a purpose for writing in their career field.
Course #: 801-357
Title: Applied Written/Job Seek Comm
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments:   This course emphasizes the importance of effective workplace writing and the practical components of job-seeking skills. Students will acquire practical, business-related skills through reading, writing, revising, and grammar exercises. Additionally, they will polish a resume, practice their interview skills, explore a company's background, assess and refine their personal career goals, and establish a purpose for writing in their career field.
  Total Credits: 14  
Total Credits: 14

Summer Term
Course # Course Title Credits Prerequisites/Comments
405-320 Advanced Collision 1 Program student; 405-310 and 405-312 and 405-314 and 405-316 and 405-318; Corequisite: 405-322 In this advanced course, learners apply their foundational skills from Intro to Collision Fundamentals and Collision-Intermediate to comprehensive repair projects, mirroring real-world scenarios. Emphasizing hands-on experience, learners tackle more advanced repair items such as pre/post repair scans, calibration, scanning, and ADAS. Building upon the projects being completed in the Collision Capstone course, application of these topics will be completed to ensure students are prepared for work readiness, are prepared with problem-solving abilities and practical proficiency, and understand final repair inspections.
Course #: 405-320
Title: Advanced Collision
Credits: 1
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-310 and 405-312 and 405-314 and 405-316 and 405-318; Corequisite: 405-322 In this advanced course, learners apply their foundational skills from Intro to Collision Fundamentals and Collision-Intermediate to comprehensive repair projects, mirroring real-world scenarios. Emphasizing hands-on experience, learners tackle more advanced repair items such as pre/post repair scans, calibration, scanning, and ADAS. Building upon the projects being completed in the Collision Capstone course, application of these topics will be completed to ensure students are prepared for work readiness, are prepared with problem-solving abilities and practical proficiency, and understand final repair inspections.
405-322 Collision Capstone 5 Program student; 405-310 and 405-312 and 405-314 and 405-316 and 405-318; Corequisite: 405-320 In this culminating course, learners integrate and apply the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the program to complete comprehensive repair projects. Emphasizing real-world scenarios, learners tackle start-to-finish repairs, such as light to medium collision repair, body panel, bolt on parts, AC condenser/radiator, core support, priming, painting, and final detailing. The curriculum is designed to refine work readiness skills through practical application and industry-aligned projects, ensuring learners are well-prepared for immediate employment in the collision repair industry.
Course #: 405-322
Title: Collision Capstone
Credits: 5
Prerequisites/Comments: Program student; 405-310 and 405-312 and 405-314 and 405-316 and 405-318; Corequisite: 405-320 In this culminating course, learners integrate and apply the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the program to complete comprehensive repair projects. Emphasizing real-world scenarios, learners tackle start-to-finish repairs, such as light to medium collision repair, body panel, bolt on parts, AC condenser/radiator, core support, priming, painting, and final detailing. The curriculum is designed to refine work readiness skills through practical application and industry-aligned projects, ensuring learners are well-prepared for immediate employment in the collision repair industry.
  Total Credits: 6  
Total Credits: 6

Course Title

###-### | # Credits

Course Description

Find Upcoming Sections

Minimum Program Credits Required: 35

2.0 Minimum Program Cumulative GPA Required for Graduation
If a student does not enroll in any courses at CVTC for two or more consecutive semesters, the student will be required to reapply with Admissions. Students must abide by any changes in admission requirements and degree requirements.

Updated: 11/7/2024 3:34 p.m.  |  Printed: 8/11/2025 4:29 p.m.

Print Page

Join Us To

Experience CVTC for Yourself

Explore CampusAttend an EventSchedule a Visit
Go Back to Top Tell us who you are!
I'm a(n)
Schedule
a visitApply
todayChat
with us