Auto Body students team up to practice skills at LCTI

Aleishka Alejandro, left, and Najary Flores team up to remove the dents from a fender in instructor Harry Mericle's Auto Body/ Collision Repair Technology class.

Aleishka Alejandro, left, and Najary Flores team up to remove the dents from a fender in instructor Harry Mericle’s Auto Body/ Collision Repair Technology class.

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. |It used to be that a high school diploma and passion for automotive work were all you needed to secure a position in an auto body shop. That’s not the case anymore, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

On-the-job training remains common, but increasingly auto body shop owners and managers favor candidates who’ve got experience and industry credentials, the department’s Occupational Outlook Handbook says. Fortunately, in addition to formal training, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute’s Auto Body/Collision Repair Technology program offers students opportunities to gain experience and earn certifications before they graduate high school.

LCTI’s School-to-Career coordinators help students find internships and co-ops at local auto body shops. Plus, tasks students perform in their Auto Body lab prepare them to earn National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence certifications.

Level 1 students in instructor Harry Mericle’s class recently practiced removing dents from fenders with a hammer and dolly.

Check out the photos below and then follow the link to learn more about LCTI’s Auto Body/Collision Repair Technology program.

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Schnecksville, PA
18078

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