Description

An Automotive Painter is defined as a person who refinishes motor vehicle bodies by sanding, spot filling,priming, conditioning and painting.  Other duties include:

• Read work orders and inspecting condition of vehicle
• Sand repaired body surface using hand and power tools, spot fill and prime
• Mask and tape for multi-tone paint work and protective requirements
• Prepare paint booth equipment
• Mix paint and components and match colours
• Use equipment, brush or spray guns to apply primer, paint, enamel, lacquer or other non-metallic protective and decorative coatings to automobiles
• Dry or bake newly painted surfaces
• Refinish galvanized outer panels and anodised aluminium mouldings
• Apply decals, transfers, stencils and other types of identification to finished paint work
• Inspect job and repair faults
• Apply or restore anti-corrosion treatments

Personal Qualities

• You will work indoors with noise and environmental conditions that can be dusty and dirty with exposure to exhaust fumes, dust particles, chemicals and solvents
• You enjoy working to close tolerances
• You have the stamina to stand for long periods, bend, stoop, crouch, reach and kneel
• You are not bothered by paint and other odours
• You like to learn new things
• You have good manual dexterity
• Review the Essential Skills profile for additional qualities required  srv108.services.gc.ca/english/profiles/222.shtml

Career Opportunities

• Automotive painters are employed by auto body repair shops, automotive and truck dealerships, custom auto shops, trucking companies and bus lines

Educational/Training Requirements

• The minimum entry for apprenticeship is Grade 12
• Completion of a 4,560 hour apprenticeship program is required
• If you have completed 4,800 hours of on the job experience/training but have not completed the Apprenticeship Program you may be eligible to challenge the Certificate of Qualification 

Training Availability

Apprenticeship Training

Centennial College - Ashtonbee Campus
P.O. Box 631, Station A
Scarborough ON M1K 5E9
416-289-5000
www.centennialcollege.ca

Potential Earnings

• Apprentices start according to individual company rates and progress along the company’s wage scale over time
• Wages¹ range from $10.00 to $23.00 an hour, excluding overtime, with journeypersons usually earning the higher end of the pay scale 

Prospects For Employment

• Most tradespersons work full time for a single employer
• Employment is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2009²

Financial Incentives

• Employers who employ first, second and third year apprentices can apply for the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit
• Employers who employ first and second year apprentices can apply for the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit
• Apprentices in this trade are able to apply for the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant
• Apprentices may also be able to apply for the Tradesperson's Tools Tax Deduction 

Additional Information

Occupational Analysis
www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/hrib/hrp-prh/redseal/english/pdf/Automotive_Painter_1995.pdf

Automotive Industry’s Information Centre
www.ciia.com

Job Futures
www.jobfutures.ca/noc/7322.shtml 

National Occupational Classification
www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC-CNP/

Automotive Industries Association of Canada
613-728-5821
www.aiacanada.com
www.automotivejobs.ca

Canadian Automotive Repair and Service (CARS)
www.carsyouth.ca/index.cfm?v=6
www.cars-council.ca/

¹ www.labourmarketinformation.ca
² www.ontariojobfutures.ca/profile7322.html 

Updated December 2008