Hamilton, Ontario — March 12, 2015
Collision Industry Information Assistance (CIIA) is training experienced and competent technicians to provide them a better chance of passing the Certificate of Qualification (CofQ) Auto Body Collision Damage Repairer trades exam.
The training course, currently consisting of 44 technicians, is designed to help able but unlicensed techs to pass their trades exam and become certified.
There are currently only two ways to become a trades licensed collision repair technician in Ontario: either through apprenticeship, or by working to become an experienced worker and then by passing the trades exam.
The training courses allow “challengers” who have been approved to write the exam under the Technician Equivalency program, apprentices, and those who never finished their apprenticeship, to gain additional knowledge over the course of a nine-night intensive program. The hope is this will lead to better marks and more techs successfully completing the exam.
The Ontario College of Trades has become active in the industry by enforcing the obligation of technicians to become properly trades licensed. In 2014 alone, 183 tickets were issued and six charges were laid against employers and employees — in motive power trades — who were not trades licensed or allowed non-trades licensed individuals to work on vehicles.
“The provincial data showed us that out of 113 challengers who attempted the Auto Body Collision Damage Repairer exam, only 41 passed the first time,” says John Norris of CIIA. “We clearly needed to provide additional help and training to assist other techs in successfully completing these exams. Current classes are fully booked and feedback is very positive.”
Classes are planned for London, Oakville, Toronto, Ottawa and Thunder Bay in the coming weeks. A Sudbury-area class is also under consideration.
The other advantage for students to take a CofQ preparation course is that for most employees in the class, their employer can receive a two-third rebate for any training cost.
For more information on how to receive a no-charge “Technician Equivalency Package,” call CIIA at 1-866-309-4272, or contact the organization by email at info@ciia.com.
To learn more about CIIA, please visit CIIA.com.
