Auto Collision Fundamentals

Together Wisconsin Automotive & Truck Education Association and Northcentral Technical College offer a 7-credit program that prepares students for entry-level work in the auto body repair field. Through hands-on training and classroom instruction, students learn foundational skills such as damage assessment, disassembly, welding, frame repair, refinishing, and safe use of shop equipment. Designed for those new to the industry or seeking to enhance their skills, the program supports pathways to employment or further training in collision repair.

Found in These Career Fields:

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Approximate Cost

FREE

Savings of Nearly $2,000.00

Get Started

The application takes just a few minutes to complete.

A Closer Look

Detailed Program Information

Take a deeper dive into the details of this program. This section offers information to help you evaluate whether the program fits your goals, interests, and timeline. Use it as a tool to guide your decision-making process.

Outcomes

Graduates will be able to…

Assess and effectively utilize various body shop layouts and set-ups
Identify and safely use various body shop chemicals and substances
Understand the different possible career paths available for those in the auto collision industry
Apply effective professionalism and communication skills
Understand and apply basic collision analysis skills, including: pre-repair inspections, vehicle protection, vehicle inspection, damage report creation, estimate creation, and basic scanning tools
Understand and apply automotive disassembly activities, including: standard procedures, organization, parts identification, documentation, practical disassembly experience, and auto glass removal
Identify, understand, and apply automotive body repairs including repair estimates, basic paint preparation, basic paint finishing & detailing, common prep and repair chemicals, welded panel work, frame damage, and more advanced refinishing techniques
Identify and safely use various pieces of common body shop equipment

Careers

Some of the potential careers graduates can pursue are:

Body Shop Assistant
Body Shop Apprentice
Collision Technician
Collision Apprentice
Paint Detailer
Body Shop Technician

Courses

The Auto Collision Fundamentals Certificate is a 7 Credit program. The following is a typical semester breakdown of the courses within the program.

Auto Collision Basics 2.00 cr

Intermediate Auto Collision 3.00 cr

Auto Collision Capstone 2.00 cr

View All Detailed Course Information

2026–2027 Schedule

Class runs Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and select Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Wausau East High School, 2607 N 18th St, Wausau, WI 54403.

Auto Collision Basics: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10/20 – 12/17; Saturdays, 11/14, 12/12
Intermediate Auto Collision: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1/19 – 3/18; Saturdays, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/13
Auto Collision Capstone: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3/30 – 5/13; Saturdays, 4/10, 4/24, 5/8

Ready to Get Started?

Get Your Auto Collision Fundamentals Certificate at NTC

Ready to start earning your Auto Collision Fundamentals Certificate at NTC? Just fill out the registration form to get started and we’ll follow up with you on your next steps.