Automotive Refinishing Technician Apprentice
Learn industry-leading skills including restorative and protective treatments, paint booth operations, and spray gun technology, while working your way up to a B.C. trade certificate.
What you will learn
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- How to use color matching and paint mixing tools and equipment.
- How to use refinishing tools and equipment.
- How to create a work plan and organize materials.
- How to prepare surfaces and apply finishes.
What to expect
Program Duration and Maximum Time for Completion
The combined duration for all levels of traditional on-campus technical training classes is 10 weeks. See each course for details and for online/on-campus delivery durations. Technical training generally takes 2 years to complete, alongside 3300 hours of work-based training. There is no maximum time to completion.
Courses are offered in on-campus and blended online/on-campus delivery options. Both delivery options may include on-campus, online, and live online (videoconference) components.
Option 1: On campus. On campus courses are offered face-to-face for 7 weeks (level 1) or 6 weeks (level 2).
Option 2: Online/On-campus blended (level 1 only). Online/On-campus blended delivery is offered online for approximately 23 weeks, followed by a 3-week full-time face-to-face on-campus component. This option is not available for level 2.
Admission requirements
Program-specific
- A valid SkilledTradesBC ID number
- A current employer and sponsor.*
NOTE: Registration in the online/on-campus (E-pprentice) courses is recommended only for individuals prepared to meet the demands of an online learning environment. E-pprentice courses require a high level of self-directed engagement, effective time management, and the ability to work independently without in-person supervision. Participants must be proficient in using digital tools, capable of communicating clearly through online platforms, and willing to actively seek support and utilize available resources to ensure academic success.
* Every registered apprentice has both an employer and a sponsor. The employer hires you and pays for your work; the sponsor commits to helping you get opportunities to learn on the job and reports on your progress. In most cases, the employer and sponsor are the same person or organization.
General
- This program is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Program options for international students can be found at VCC International.
- Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous are strongly encouraged to connect with VCC’s Indigenous Education and Community Engagement team to learn more about VCC’s Indigenous Enrolment policy, application preparation/completion, program advising, and a range of other individualized services.
- Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or a graduate of a secondary school. (Some exceptions may apply.)
- Applicants must submit official transcripts and educational documents as required by their course or program.
- Before applying to VCC, you will need an official apprenticeship number with SkilledTradesBC. Use this ID number when enrolling at VCC.
Missing prerequisites? Learn more about VCC's tuition-free academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
Program Considerations
Course activities require:
- frequent lifting and moving of heavy equipment, automotive parts, and materials;
- frequent movement alternating between standing, bending, kneeling and reaching;
- extended periods (5+ hours) of standing/walking on concrete floors/hard surfaces;
- differentiating colours for safety codes, wiring, and automotive paint colour analysis and tinting;
- the operation of automobiles for staging/positioning within the facility;
- precise hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Activities may include the operation of equipment and machines, detailed assembly, and small-scale technical work requiring steady hand movements.
?Course environments involve:
- exposure to fumes, dust, and airborne particles from paints, solvents, and mechanical processes;
- exposure to loud machinery noise, power tools, and equipment vibrations;
- exposure to automotive chemicals and strong odors from paint, solvents and additives, cleaning agents, polishing compounds, fuels, oils, lubricants and coolants.
Other considerations include:
- the required use of computers to access web-based course materials, and to complete quizzes and exams;
- following detailed oral and written instruction in the English language.
If you have a disability or diagnosis and think you might face challenges with any of the listed considerations, please contact disabilityservices@vcc.ca or 604.871.7500 to explore possible accommodations/supports.
Courses *
Prior learning assessment and recognition
Applicants who have relevant work experience (in B.C. or elsewhere) or previous trades training may be eligible to write challenge exams for levels of technical training through SkilledTrades BC.
Note: If you have completed ACRP 1101, ACRP 1102, or the Automotive Refinishing Foundation Certificate, you can go directly to Level 2. Each level must be completed in the option you registered for, but you may switch options when starting a new level.
Option 1: On campus
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACRP 1101 | Automotive Collision and Refinish Common Core Apprentice Level 1 | 9 |
or Automotive Collision and Refinishing Foundation Certificate | ||
| APAP 2002 | Automotive Refinishing Technician Apprentice Level 2 | 4 |
Option 2: Online/On-campus blended
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACRP 1102 | Automotive Collision & Refinish Common Core Apprentice Lvl 1 (E-pprentice) | 9 |
Automotive Refinishing Technician Level 2 is not available online/on-campus. | ||
* This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.
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