Bodywork: body repair and painting

Tasks and responsibilities of bodymen and painters

Bodymen and painters repair and refurbish the bodies of damaged vehicles and mechanical and structural parts damaged in collisions.

The repair work they perform can range from correcting structural and superficial scratches and dents to major repairs to the structure of an automobile.

These tradespeople also replace parts damaged beyond repair, align and replace components and restore interior components of vehicles.

They perform tasks involved in body repair and painting of various types of damaged vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, etc.

Bodymen have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Repairing dents in auto bodies
• Repairing or replacing windows or mirrors, interior and exterior trim and removable auto body parts
• Welding the various metals used
• Removing and reinstalling the cooling and air conditioning systems
• Repairing perforated, torn or damaged sheet steel, aluminum and plastic auto body parts
• Measuring and checking frames and body shells and repairing structural and welded elements of the body

Painters have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Preparing the vehicle to be painted
• Matching the paint colours
• Applying paint to the vehicle
• Preparing the vehicle for delivery

Even though candidates holding a D.E.P. in bodywork have been trained in body repair and painting, they will nevertheless develop their skills in one of these trades during their apprenticeship.

Besides their apprenticeship period in the workplace, they will be granted a certain number of credit hours by the CPA Montréal to account for their training time.

After accumulating 6,000 work hours as apprentice bodymen or apprentice painters, including CPA Montréal's training credits, the candidates may register to write the professional qualification exam in body repair or painting.

Candidates having done the majority of their apprenticeship in body repair may register to write the body repair exam, while those who have done the majority of their apprenticeship in painting may register for the painting exam.

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Painting

Tools to prepare for the professional qualification exam in painting

Self-evaluation test in painting

Candidates wishing to prepare for the professional qualification exam in painting may shortly fill out the new self-evaluation test in painting.

Self-training guides in painting
(Currently available only in French)

New self-training guides available soon

Course for third-year apprentice painters

Candidates are invited to refer to the training section.

Professional qualification exam in painting

The professional qualification exam in painting has been developed according to the profile of the tradespeople working in the field. In order to reflect the realities of this constantly changing market, this profile is regularly revised according to the input of qualified and recognized automobile painters from all regions of Québec.

The exam, which lasts approximately three hours, is the same for all the parity committees. It was developed by the CPAs in collaboration with technical and educational professionals. It is an oral exam composed of a theoretical part and a practical part, given in an appropriate atmosphere for evaluating the candidate. For each module, an examiner will question the candidate on his skills and abilities to make the right diagnosis. The exam is divided into four modules on the following subjects:

Module I : Theory

Module II : Repair

Module III : Polishing

Module IV : Colour matching

Required percent scores to obtain a qualification certificate in automobile painting:

3rd class : between 60% and 67.4%

2nd class : between 67.5% and 74.9%

1st class : between 75% and 100%

The qualification earned by candidates is province-wide and is recognized everywhere in Québec (in the six parity committees in Québec ).

Note Candidates earning scores lower than 60% continue to hold the cards they held when they took the exam.

Candidates are invited to consult the professional qualification exam section to obtain general information regarding the qualification exams (admission conditions, registration, location, format, results, retakes, etc.)

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Body repair

Tools to prepare for the professional qualification exam in body repair

Self-evaluation test in body repair

Candidates wishing to prepare for the professional qualification exam in body repair can complete the self-evaluation test for this trade.

This test was developed by the CPA Montréal in collaboration with Emploi-Québec in order to avoid the candidates being disappointed when they receive the results of their qualification exams. This is an important tool to help candidates assess their knowledge of automobile body repair. This test will also help them determine what level they have reached in the learning process.

Self-training guides in body repair
(Currently available only in French)

Candidates wishing to prepare for the professional qualification exam can obtain self-training guides on the following subjects:

• Guide Lecture de plans et mesurage [jpg]
  Blueprint reading and measurement guide
• Guide Soudage et sectionnement [jpg]
  Welding and cutting guide
• Guide Techniques de restructuration [jpg]
  Restructuring techniques guide

These guides may be obtained by downloading the PDF Guide purchase order. This document must be completed by hand and must be sent by mail at 509 Bélanger Street, Montreal, Quebec H2S 1G5, with a cheque payable to CPA Montréal. These guides may also be obtained in person at the CPA Montréal office. In this case, candidates do not have to pay handling costs.

Course for third-year apprentice bodymen

Candidates are invited to refer to the training section.

Professional qualification exam in body repair

The professional qualification exam in body repair has been developed according to the profile of the tradespeople working in the field. In order to reflect the realities of this constantly changing market, this profile is annually revised according to the input of qualified and recognized bodymen from all regions of Québec.

The exam, which lasts approximately three hours, is the same for all the parity committees. It was developed by the CPAs in collaboration with technical and educational professionals. It is an oral exam composed of a theoretical part and a practical part, given in an appropriate atmosphere for evaluating the candidate. For each module, an examiner will question the candidate on his skills and abilities to make the right diagnosis. The exam is divided into three modules on the following subjects:

Module I : Dimension chart interpretation

Module II : Frame rail part assembly

Module III :Straightening techniques

Required percentage scores to obtain a qualification certificate in body repair :

3rd class : between 60% and 67.4%

2nd class : between 67.5% and 74.9%

1st class : between 75% and 100%

The qualification earned by candidates is province-wide and is recognized everywhere in Québec (in the six parity committees in Québec).

Note Candidates earning scores lower than 60% continue to hold the cards they held when they took the exam.

Candidates are invited to consult the professional qualification exam section to obtain general information regarding the qualification exams (admission conditions, registration, location, format, results, retakes, etc.)

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Trim Man

Tasks and responsibilities

Trim men perform various tasks relating to the repair and installation of various accessories to various types of new and used vehicles. They repair or refurbish various manual or electrical accessories and align various body components to eliminate wind noises and the infiltration of drafts and dust.

They may replace or repair window regulators also various mechanisms, adjust convertible vehicle roofs or install the small accessories requested by the client upon the purchase of a vehicle.

Trim men have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• Installing safety belts, performing minor welding and retouching paint work
• Replacing, adjusting and adding manual and electric window and seat regulators and repairing locks
• Locating and eliminating body noise and water and dust leaks, aligning doors and windows, installing and aligning automotive trim and adjusting windows, doors, mudguards, hoods, and trunk lids
• Installing or removing rear defrosters and radios and removing mirror controls and windshield wipers

Professional qualification exam
(Currently available only in French)

Whether they hold a Diploma of Vocational Studies (D.E.P. in French) in bodywork or automobile mechanics, or whether they practise one of these trades without professional training in that field, candidates who have worked 6,000 hours as apprentice bodymen or automobile mechanics may register for the qualification exam as trim men, a specialization in body repair and automobile mechanics.

The professional qualification exam is divided into three modules on the following subjects:

Module I : Theory

Module II : Removable components of the body

Module III : Windows and accessories

Required percent scores to obtain a qualification certificate as trim men:

3rd class : between 60% and 67.4%

2nd class : between 67.5% and 74.9%

1st class : between 75% and 100%

The qualification earned by candidates will be recognized within the jurisdiction of the CPA Montréal. We suggest that candidates contact the other parity committees to determine if this trade is recognized in their jurisdictions.

Note Candidates earning scores lower than 60% continue to hold the cards they held when they took the exam.

Candidates are invited to consult the professional qualification exam section to obtain general information regarding the qualification exams (admission conditions, registration, location, format, results, retakes, etc.)

Suggested links

For more information on the D.E.P. in Automotive Body Repair and Repainting.

For more information on the A.E.P. in automobile aesthetics click here and download the corresponding PDF document. Currently available only in French

To register online for a professional training program.

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