What Is I-CAR Training, and Why Is It Important?

Most people who take their vehicles to auto body shops to have work done are not exactly experts in the field. Therefore, they’re likely to encounter a lot of jargon that is unfamiliar to them. One common example is “I-CAR,” which you might see in signs on walls indicating the shop is an “I-CAR Gold Shop.”

So, what is I-CAR training, and why is I-CAR training important in Visalia, CA? Here’s an overview of what you should know.

Understanding I-CAR

I-CAR is the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, an international nonprofit organization specializing in classes, training, resources and activities with a focus on improving the level of technical training in the collision repair industry. The goal of the organization is to give every single person within the industry the appropriate knowledge and skills to complete repair work safer and to a greater standard of quality. This increased level of knowledge and skill is beneficial to auto body shops in that it attracts more customers, and beneficial to the customers in that they are able to get even better work done on their vehicles.

There are always new vehicle designs being introduced, or redesigns of existing vehicles being planned, which means it’s crucial for collision repair professionals to stay up to date with these changes. I-CAR makes it significantly easier for auto body technicians to get all of the most up-to-date information they need about repairs for bodies on today’s vehicles.

I-CAR Platinum™ designation exists for collision repair professionals who achieve a high level of role-relevant training ensuring high-quality, complete and safe repair work. Training up to platinum level ensures collision professionals stay current on vehicle technology, improves their job performance and aids in their ongoing career development. This level of recognition only exists for individual body and paint technicians.

Entire auto body shops can achieve what’s referred to as Gold Class designation, which is the highest training achievement recognized by the collision repair industry for full shops. Gold Class shops are considered to be the highest quality auto body repair shops in the nation—only about 10 percent of all collision repair shops meet the high standards set by I-CAR to achieve Gold Class standard. Businesses that meet this designation have gone through extensive training and have shown an aptitude for maintaining all the most up-to-date knowledge and skills needed to make proper repairs and improve the performance of their business while making work safer through reduced risk.

Earning the Gold Class recognition is not easy—the body shop must achieve and maintain a certain level of training across all the major collision repair categories, which means it requires constant training, testing and retesting. Though it may be difficult, it shows an immense level of dedication to customers.

Interested in learning more about I-CAR training and the various standards that exist to become I-CAR certified as a technician or auto body shop? Tom’s Body & Paint, Inc. is an I-Car Gold Class auto body shop in Visalia, CA. Contact us today with your questions.

Categorised in: Auto Body Shop

This post was written by Writer