Collision Repair

North Idaho College Collision Repair instructor Cal DeHaas’ students don’t use a palette and canvas, but they are artists. Their art supplies include metal, fiberglass, and paint as they transform a damaged vehicle body and make it new again. Soon, those students will have a new facility to hone their craft.

“The new Career and Technical Education Facility in Rathdrum is starting to take shape with construction getting underway this summer,” said Mark Browning, NIC Vice President for Communications and Governmental Relations. “It will be the new home for several North Idaho College career and technical education programs that are now in inadequate or temporary quarters.”

Programs moving to the CTE facility are Automotive Technology, Collision Repair Technology, Architectural and Mechanical Computer Aided Design Technology, Diesel Technology, Industrial Mechanical/Millwright, Machining and CNC Technology and Welding Technology. This 110,960-square-foot facility is being constructed with $15 million in capital reserve funds set aside by the NIC Board of Trustees, without raising taxes. Now, a capital campaign is underway led by the North Idaho College Foundation to raise an additional $5 million to pay for equipment, scholarships and the funding necessary to sustain equipment needs for programs such Collision Repair Technology, which provides students with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce.

“Our goal is to get the fundamental skills under the students’ belts and then move them out into the industry and into employment,” said instructor DeHaas, who has been teaching collision repair for 17 years.

NIC’s nine-month collision repair technology program teaches the fundamentals of repairing damaged or wrecked vehicles. It’s one of a handful of one-year collision repair programs in the Northwest, and the only one in Idaho. Students learn polishing and detailing, plastic repair, sheet metal/aluminum dent repair, welding, tear down/reassemble, vehicle prep and paint, estimating and structural analysis. Upon completing the program, students will emerge as body technicians or auto refinishing technicians (painters).

Of the 23 students who have graduated from the program in the last two years, 19 are currently working in the industry. Usually, students find work at independent body shops, dealership body shops and truck repair shops in the area. Most of DeHaas’ students are placed in Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Spokane. Demand for collision repair technicians is expected to increase 13 percent nationwide between now and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook.

“The industry is in desperate need of technicians right now,” DeHaas said. “If the student is qualified and they want to pursue the industry, there most certainly will be a job available for them in this area.”

To learn more about the Career and Technical Education Facility and how to be involved, contact the NIC Foundation Office at 208.769.5978 or email foundation@nic.edu.

Collision Repair Technician

At NIC: 9-month Technical Certificate

In-Demand: 13 percent growth in job demand over the next 10 years

How much will I earn? $36,960 - $59,710

More information on the Collision Repair program can be found at www.nic.edu by clicking on “Instructional Programs,” then searching for “Collision Repair” under the pull-down menu. Or call 208.769.3433.

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