Automotive body repairers must retake the examination at least every 5 years to retain certification. Continuing education throughout a career in automotive body repair is required. Automotive parts, body materials, and electronics continue to change and become more complex and technologically advanced. To keep up with these technological advances, repairers must continue to gain new skills, read technical manuals, and attend seminars and classes. An experienced automotive body repairer with supervisory ability may advance to shop supervisor.
Some workers open their own body repair shops.
Others become automobile damage appraisers for insurance companies. Opportunities should be best for persons with formal training in automotive body repair and mechanics. Demand for qualified body repairers will increase, as the number of motor vehicles in operation continues to grow in line with the Nation's population. With an increase in the number of motor vehicles in use, the number of vehicles damaged in accidents will also increase. Also, new, lighter weight automotive designs are prone to greater collision damage than older, heavier designs and, consequently, more time is consumed in repair.