Autobody Repair and Refinishing Certificate & AAS
Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Autobody Repair and Refinishing Certificate & AAS program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information may be subject to change at any time without notice, please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.
General Overview
When can I start? Fall (September) and Spring (April)
How long is the program?
- 4 quarters (14 months) with 72 credits for the certificate
- 6 quarters (up to 22 months) with 92 credits for the AAS degree
When do classes meet? 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays
Are summer classes required? Yes. You cannot complete the certificate or degree without attending classes during summer quarter (July and early August).
You will learn the skills needed in the automotive collision repair industry: damage repair, mechanical components, electrical systems, plastics, adhesives, painting, and refinishing. You use state-of-the-art tools and equipment within one of the most modern training facilities in the nation. This program articulates with TechPrep programs through the Puget Sound Dual Credit Career Consortium.
All classes follow recommendations of the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) at ProLevel 1.
You can learn more about the Autobody program in our $25 class CCP 029 Bridge to Transportation.
What does an autobody repair technician do?
What is the average salary?
$48,730 annually in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most autobody repair technicians earn at least $38,340; there is a wide salary range.
Who can I contact for questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Autobody Repair & Refinishing.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Personal protective equipment ($410 for professional safety glasses, ear protection, face shield, welding helmet, and gloves)
- Shop tools (download the autobody tool list Download download the autobody tool list)
You can expect to spend between $2,500 and $3,000 for quality, professional equipment. You may be able to borrow some tools while you are a student at RTC.
Minimum class grades
You must pass each class with a grade of 1.0 or higher, and you must have an overall or cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
Materials Warning
If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Key Course Icons (learn more)
green means the class has expensive materials
red means the class has lots of assignments
purple means the class has a lot of technical vocabulary
orange means the class has complex content
blue means the class moves at a fast pace
gold means that this is the most challenging quarter in the whole program
Mobile Browser Information
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Fall
Quarter 1
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL 101 | College Success | NO | 2 |
| ABDY 100 | Introduction to Collision Repair | YES | 2 |
| ABDY 102 | Surface Preparation and Masking | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 105 | Paint Application I | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 111 | HAZMAT, Personal Safety, and Refinish Safety | YES | 3 |
| ABDY 243 | Auto Detail | YES | 3 |
| INDS 101 | First Aid/CPR & AED | NO | 1 |
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 112 | Welding for Autobody Repair | YES | 6 |
| ABDY 114 | Autobody Construction I | YES | 9 |
| ABDY 116 | Autobody Plastics | TBD | 5 |
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 161 | Math for Autobody Repair | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 101 | Estimating | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 123 | Straightening Metal | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 232 | Impact Analysis and Repair | TBD | 2 |
| ABDY 234 | Autobody Construction II | TBD | 2 |
| ABDY 235 | Door and Quarter Panel Replacement | TBD | 8 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 128 | Autobody Structure and Mechanics | NO | 7 |
| ABDY 129 | Communication for Autobody Repair | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 280 | Human Relations | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 250 | Collision Related Mechanical Repair | NO | 3 |
Estimated Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $12,800
($9,929 for tuition, fees, and protective equipment, plus $3,000 for all tools)
You can continue with Quarter 5 and Quarter 6 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMATH 175 | Financial Math (recommended) | NO | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education class |
varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 6
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMP 100 or CMST& 220 |
Applied Composition or Public Speaking or other communications or humanities class |
varies by class | 5 |
| ANTH& 106 | American Mosaic or other social science class | varies by class | 5 |
Estimated Cost for Your AAS Degree: $15,800
($12,800 for tuition, fees, and protective equipment, plus $3,000 for all tools)
Spring
Quarter 1 
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL 101 | College Success | NO | 2 |
| ABDY 101 | Estimating | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 123 | Straightening Metal | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 232 | Impact Analysis and Repair | NO | 2 |
| ABDY 161 | Math for Autobody Repair | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 234 | Autobody Construction II | NO | 2 |
| ABDY 235 | Door and Quarter Panel Replacement | NO | 8 |
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 128 | Autobody Structure and Mechanics | YES | 7 |
| ABDY 129 | Communication for Autobody Repair | NO | 1 |
| ABDY 250 | Collision Related Mechanical Repair | NO | 3 |
| ABDY 280 | Human Relations | NO | 1 |
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 100 | Introduction to Collision Repair | YES | 2 |
| ABDY 102 | Surface Preparation and Masking | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 105 | Paint Application I | YES | 5 |
| ABDY 111 | HAZMAT, Personal Safety, and Refinish Safety | YES | 3 |
| ABDY 243 | Auto Detail | YES | 3 |
| INDS 101 | First Aid/CPR & AED | NO | 1 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABDY 112 | Welding for Autobody Repair | YES | 6 |
| ABDY 114 | Autobody Construction I | YES | 9 |
| ABDY 116 | Autobody Plastics | TBD | 5 |
Estimated Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $12,892
($9,829 for tuition and fees plus $3,000 for full equipment and tools)
You can continue with Quarter 5 and Quarter 6 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMATH 175 | Financial Math (recommended) | NO | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education class |
varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 6
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| COMP 100 or CMST& 220 |
Applied Composition or Public Speaking or other communications or humanities class |
varies by class | 5 |
| ANTH& 106 | American Mosaic or other social science class | varies by class | 5 |
Estimated Cost for Your AAS Degree: $15,701
($12,701 for tuition, fees, and protective equipment, plus $3,000 for all tools)
Not quite the career path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!