If you already work in a shop or are a hobbyist and want to gain some new skills and get better at others, the 1-year Auto Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician program is for you.
auto collision repair student sanding a car's side panel
Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician
Program Number: 314051
Your Degree: Technical Diploma
Estimated Time to Complete: 26 Credits | Finish diploma in 1 year
Delivery Method: 100% In Person
Area of Study: Transportation
Estimated Program Cost: $7,532.08
Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your tuition costs.
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  • Program Overview

    Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician is a one-year program at Madison College designed to provide students with skills necessary to enter the metal finishing and automotive refinishing/painting areas of the auto body and light truck trade. Students may also choose to go on to receive Madison College's Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Technician two-year technical diploma.

    As a student in the Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician Program, you will:

    • Learn the basic theories and principles used in the collision repair industry.
    • Work with various materials and systems on late-model vehicles and the proper collision repair considerations for each.
    • Exercise methods for diagnosing and resolving common collision repair issues.
    • Work to develop hands-on job skills such as metal inert gas (MIG) welding, panel replacement, metal forming, sheet metal alignment and finishing, and automotive refinishing/painting.

    Program Details

    Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician program offerings begin in the fall semester of each academic year.

    Students in the Auto Collision Repair and Refinish program must attend full time.

    Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician Program classes may be offered at these Madison College campuses:

    • Madison - Truax

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    Careers

    Earning your one-year technical diploma in the Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician program at Madison College prepares you for valuable work as a/an:  

    • Auto Body Disassembler/Assistant
    • Paint Prep Tech
    • Detailer

    With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:

    • UniBody Repair Specialist
    • Manager/Shop Owner
    • Insurance Adjuster and Appraiser
    • Equipment and Supplies Specialist
    • Frame and Alignment Specialist

    Individuals choosing to enter professions in areas other than collision repair will also benefit from skills learned in the Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician Program; related careers could include, but are not limited to:

    • Insurance adjusting
    • Welding and fabrication
    • Auto glass installation
    • Industrial painting
  • Curriculum and Experience

    Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2025-2026 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.

    Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:

    • Progress toward your specific requirements
    • Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements

    If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.

    First Semester
    32-405-302
    5 credits
    Second Semester
  • Admission

    Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!

    If you are an international student and want to apply to Madison College, or transfer your F-1 student visa here, check program availability and then complete the International Admission Process.

    Apply Now – Secure Your Spot!

    This program has a limited number of seats available. We encourage early applications to secure your spot, but the program has not historically reached full capacity. It shares this capacity with other programs that have similar curriculum.

    Application Dates

    Fall 2025

    • Application open
    • Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025

    Fall 2026

    • Application available on September 15, 2025
    • Application completion deadline is August 31, 2026

    Admission Requirements

    All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.

    1. Admission Application

    The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.

    2. Education Completion

    Submit official transcripts from the institutions you attended that indicate one of the following:

    • High school completion (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
    • GED/HSED completion
    • College transcript or Madison College experience showing:
      • Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
      • At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
        • The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
        • Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
        • Credits completed at Madison College are evaluated and do not require a transcript

    All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.

    Additional Notes

    Individual courses may have prerequisites to enroll. Admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses. See the Curriculum section for the list of courses for the program.

    After Acceptance

    Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.

    Questions?

    Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.

    apply for admission

    Get Started!

    Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your Auto Collision Repair and Refinish Technician career.

    It's Free to Apply

Ready to get started?
Your first step is to apply to Madison College. It's easy and free to apply, so get started today!
Contact the School of Technologies and Trades

Madison Truax Campus
Main Building, A2105

1701 Wright Street
Madison, Wisconsin 53704

tandt@madisoncollege.edu
608.246.6800

Hours

Tuesday - Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Monday, Thursday, Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (phone or email only)