Auto body painting & refinishing offers challenging and rewarding career opportunities using both technical and artistic skills. Earn your auto body painting and refinishing certificate from Minnesota State College Southeast to begin your auto body refinishing career.
The Auto Body Refinishing Certificate from MSC Southeast will prepare you with the skills you need to succeed in the automotive industry. This diploma includes painting detailing training with hands-on experience taught by industry-experienced instructors.
Major Details
In the 26-credit Auto Body Refinishing Certificate at Minnesota State College Southeast, you will focus your attention on the artistic side of Auto Body Collision Repair! You will be trained in the most advanced levels of auto body repair and refinishing, including:
- The study of color theory
- Achieving blendable paint matches
- Water borne paint technology
- Tri-stage paint application
- Custom painting techniques
The auto body refinishing training opportunity is available for students to explore custom painting techniques using airbrushes, miniguns, and many other tools.
With an Auto Body Refinishing Certificate from MSC Southeast in Winona, MN, students develop strong problem-solving skills through hands-on learning and classroom instruction. Our auto body painting and refinishing classes will teach you how to access and interpret product data sheets, service information, and estimating guides. Students have the opportunity to take the auto body refinishing coursework to earn I-CAR industry accreditation. Most importantly, you'll work on real vehicles in our state-of-the-art facility.
Auto Body Collision Technology is certified by the ASE Education Foundation (formerly NATEF). This makes Minnesota State College Southeast one of only a handful of auto body repair schools in the United States certified in the four major areas of Auto Body: refinishing, structural, non-structural, and mechanical/electrical.
Count on automotive refinishing job opportunities in several different specialties when you graduate with an auto body certificate from Minnesota State College Southeast – our placement rate is 100%!
Apply now for admission to MSC Southeast
Download the Program Plan
Courses
1) 1000 level (minimum) General Education courses required unless specified.
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
ABCT1115
Introduction to Transportation Careers
Intro to Transportation Careers covers departmental procedures and practices as well expectations of the students in the programs. Safety, environmental concerns, and simulated Right to Know training are a significant part of the course. Basic tools, tool usage, basic power tools, and care of them are included. Threaded fasteners, drive types, torquing, thread compounds, cutting methods, gluing, and adhesives are covered from a generic point and not vehicle specific. (Prerequisites: none) (1 credits: 1 lecture/0 lab)
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1 cr
ABCT1145
Auto Body Disassembly/Reassembly
Vehicle repairs require correct disassembly, damage assessment, and reassembly procedures to complement structural, body, and refinishing procedures. The need to document conditions prior to repair as well as at the completion of repairs is required as part of vehicle work files. Vehicles that have repairs performed need to be cleaned and detailed prior to delivery to the owner at the completion of repairs and the skills and techniques to do this are included in the course. (Prerequisite or concurrent: ABCT1115) (2 credits: 0 lecture/2 lab)
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2 cr
ABCT1155
Refinishing 1
Introductions to refinishing products, equipment, terminology, safety, corrosion protection, and product application are part of this course. The main focus will be the stages of refinishing that deal with repaired areas, bare metal, and the back side of these areas or panels. Primer surfacer work will focus on getting repaired areas leveled and free of imperfections through block sanding techniques. This course will prepare panels and build knowledge needed for Refinishing 2 which is top coat applications. This course is highly suggested prior to taking refinishing 2 but is not required. (Prerequisite or concurrent: ABCT1115) (2 credits: 1 lecture/1 lab)
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2 cr
ABCT1245
Plastics and Composites Repair
The plastics and composites repair course provides opportunity to learn the identification of plastic and composite types and locations used on late model vehicles. Once identified repair methods available for each are presented with hands-on assignments using a variety of methods and materials available in the collision repair industry. Repairs are completed to the point of refinishing readiness. This course utilizes many resources located at various web based sights so that knowledge of future plastics and repair methods can be learned after completion of the course. (Prerequisite or concurrent: ABCT1115) (2 credits: 1 lecture/1 lab)
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2 cr
ABCT1255
Refinishing 2
Refinishing 2 starts with cleaning of vehicle or panels to be refinished and then the development of a paint plan. Preparation of the panel(s) for top coat application, pre-paint cleaning procedures, set-up of spray equipment, mixing of paint materials and application are all part of the processes covered. Additionally paint detailing, paint problems and defects, vehicle protection, masking methods, color identification, and personal safety are included. This course start with top coat systems where refinishing y 1 ended with application of primer materials needed to treat bare metal and correct minor panel imperfections. (Prerequisite or concurrent: ABCT1115, ABCT1155 is highly recommended but not required) (5 credits: 1 lecture/4 lab)
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5 cr
ABCT1265
Refinishing Lab
This lab is intended to provide time needed to perform refinishing procedures for parts and vehicle areas needing refinishing for a variety of reasons. This includes pre-sanding cleaning, paint plan development, abrading of panels, mixing of paint products, application procedures, maintenance of spray equipment, and detailing of paint defects. (Prerequisites or concurrent: ABCT1115 and ABCT1255) (2 credits: 0 lecture/2 lab)
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2 cr
ABCT1355
Refinishing 3
Refinishing 3 is third in a series of refinishing courses and is intended to provide experience in the most advanced levels of vehicle refinishing. Included are the study of color theory and achieving blendable paint matches. Water borne paint technology is introduced and students switch to use of it for color application in this course and advanced labs. Tri-stage paint application and custom painting techniques and materials are introduced. The opportunity is available for students to explore custom painting techniques using air brushes, mini guns, and many other tools. (Prerequisites: ABCT1155, ABCT1255, and 6 credits of refinishing and production labs) (2 credits: 1 lecture/1 lab)
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2 cr
Total Credits Required for this Major: 26 Credits
Estimated Costs for this Major
| Approximate Tuition/Fees: | $5,639 |
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| Minimum Tool Cost: | $1,550 |
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| Books/Supplies: | N/A |
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| Estimated Total: | $7,189 |
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Career Opportunities
- Auto Body Repair
- Auto Body Refinishing
- Damage Claims Writer
- Shop Manager/Owner
- Parts and Supply Industry
- Related Manufacturing
Career Information
Use the MN DEED Career and Education Explorer Data Tool to learn about wages, job growth, And much more in this career field.
Outcomes
Auto Body Collision Technology Program graduates will be able to:
- Perform body panel and minor structural repairs and parts replacement.
- Perform vehicle refinishing preparation, application, and paint detailing.
- Dismantle and reassemble vehicle body parts, trim, interior components, and non-structural glass.
- Demonstrate safe and professional work habits.
- Perform minor mechanical and electrical collision-related procedures.
- Assess a vehicle's damage and develop a repair plan utilizing service information.
- Using the written damage report, interpret the procedures for the repairs and check all replacement parts for correct matches to the vehicle and the damage report.
Highlights
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National Automotive Technician Education Foundation (NATEF) certified program.
- Instructors are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified.
- The program follows Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) recommended guidelines and offers the students the opportunity to gain I-CAR course credits.
- The program is continually upgraded to maintain the latest technology used in industry.
- 70% of coursework is hands-on in a lab setting.
- You will enjoy the opportunity of a broad career range within the auto body/collision repair and related fields.
Instructors
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Brandon Boynton
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Auto Body Collision Repair instructor Brandon Boynton is ASE Master Certified in Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing and holds multiple certifications through various vehicle manufacturers as well as through I-CAR, the industry standard in continued education. As a successful technician coming out of the industry, he brings a wealth of fresh ideas to the classroom and lab, bringing out the best in his students and pushing them to create a work ethic that partners with the skills they develop in the program. He hopes to share his passion for the Auto Body industry with his students, knowing that they will be able to take pride and satisfaction from performing repairs that align with vehicle manufacturer standards.
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Thomas Brandt
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Tom Brandt is ASE Master Certified in Auto Collision Repair as well as Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collison Repair (I-CAR) trained. He has worked in the auto collision industry for several years and has continually upgraded his training since he started teaching for Minnesota State College Southeast. Tom feels the best way to learn the trade is to be provided the opportunity to get involved in repairs. His students gain skills thorough hands-on experience and quality coaching from the instructor.