Surrey Campus
Auto Body Collision Estimator
A great career in Collision Estimating has endless growth opportunities – and you don’t need a university degree
Following is a review of the entry level collision estimating positions you can expect to hold after graduation and where your career could lead in just a few years.
Collision Estimating Employment opportunities
- New Car Dealers
- Pre-owned car dealerships
- Retail automotive repair facilities
- Automotive collision repair facilities
- Insurance companies
- Contract your services and enjoy the freedom of working for yourself
Entry-level collision estimating jobs
- Collision Estimator
- Insurance Company Estimator
- Independent Estimator
- Heavy Duty Estimator
- Possible occupational advancements
- Insurance Adjustor
- Fleet Rental Specialist
- Assistant Manager
- Body Shop Manager or Owner
- Fixed Operations Manager
Typical job description for a Collision Estimator
- Inspects vehicles to determine the amount of structural, body, mechanical or interior damage using mechanical testing devices, questioning customers about the vehicle or by visual inspection
- Calculates cost of labor and parts to fix or replace each affected item and estimate the salvage value of the total vehicle loss
- Analyzes repair cost estimates
- Consults with the collision repair manager or foreman
- Reviews cost effectiveness of repair versus replacement of parts
- Determines fees associated with repainting
- Fills out insurance claim forms to indicate repair or replacement cost estimates and recommendations
- Determines feasibility of repair versus pre-accident market value
- Prepares work orders
Admissions Requirements:
Applicants must meet the following requirements prior to acceptance into the program.
- The minimum entrance requirements are 19 years of age prior to the start of the study and/or graduation from Grade 12 (or equivalent).
- Satisfy one of the following language proficiency requirements:
- Completion of three years of full-time secondary (grades 8-12), or two years if the grades are 10, 11, 12, in English, in a country where English is one of the principal languages (Countries list can be found here: https://www.autotrainingcentre.com/automechanic-auto-body-school-surrey/english-language-requirements-for-international-students)
- This may be demonstrated by providing a high school transcript, completion of a BC Adult Graduation program, or providing international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, or IQAS.
- Completion of two years of full-time post-secondary education, in English, in a country where English is one of the principal languages ** (includes international education credentials recognized through WES, ICES, IQAS.)
- Language development courses (i.e., ELL courses) cannot be included in this calculation.
- Provide verified results for one of the English language proficiency tests listed below. Test results must be dated no more than two years before the start date of the program.
Mature student applicants:
- If the applicant is 19 years or older at the start of the program and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who cannot access their educational records or provide sufficient evidence of secondary or post-secondary education as described above, then:
- Provide attestation that they have completed at least three years of full-time instruction in English in a country where English is one of the principal languages, and
- Complete an Accuplacer English Assessment (Next Generation Reading, Writing, WritePlacer) with these minimum scores:
- Reading 230
- Writing 230
- WritePlacer 4
English language proficiency tests:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS academic, IELTS general, IELTS academic online)
- Overall score of 5.5 minimum
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition)
- Overall score of 46 minimum
- Canadian Academic English language Assessment (CAEL or CAEL Online)
- Overall score of 40 minimum
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General or CELPIP Online)
- Scores of listening 6, speaking 6, reading 5, writing 5 minimum
- Duolingo English test (DET)
- Overall score of 95 minimum
- Pearson test of English (PTE) academic
- Overall score of 43 minimum
- Cambridge English qualifications B2 first exam (FCE)
- Overall score of 160 or “C” minimum
- Cambridge linguaskill
- Overall level of B2 minimum
- LanguageCert academic
- Overall level of B2 minimum
- The Michigan English test (MET)
- Overall level of B2 minimum
- iTep academic
- Overall score of 3.5 minimum
- Eiken
- Placement of Grade Pre-1 minimum
*This program has been approved by the Private Training Instititutions Branch (PTIRU) of Ministry of Advanced Education.
https://www.privatetraininginstitutions.gov.bc.ca/
Learn more about Collision Estimating opportunities by following the links below:
- Career Outlook, featured on our Car Estimator page
- Salary & benefits, featured on our Auto Estimating page
- The Opportunity, featured on our Collision Estimating page
- The Course Outline, featured on our Auto Estimator page
