Following career in auto body... go to school or no?

Do you need to go to school to get into auto body field type job. Like a painter or or collission repair? Im wondering because I did some research and found out some people just start as helpers and move their way up. But I want to learn a trade and figured since I love modding cars I'd look into it.

I don't know how it is where you are, but here, definitely. Unless you've been doing it pretty much all your childhood anyways.

But even then you'll need a minimum of accreditation just to get a real job at a bodyshop, and most shops are not looking for apprentices very often, so you'll need to work a lot of hours fast to get your journeyman to find real work.

Your best bet is to go to a school that will get you some certification that counts (ask around to see what shops look for), and also gets you a job placement as an apprentice.

most shops look for icar certification... you can get a job as a prep person, sander or a service writer but if your certified you can get almost any position at top body shops and make good money.

Go to school. If you mess up on a car, it won't come out of your pocket. You also learn all the technical things in school like how things work, safety, new car technology and you get to venture in every field of autobody. You may be a great painter or even a welder but you would never know if your stuck in the shop doing body work for 10 years.

you go to school to gain knowledge, you work to gain experience. i would say school is a must cause you'll understand why things way the way they work befoire you ever start working. that being said, a lot of that stuff doesn't mean s**t in the real world (not in reference to certifications, those are always good).

i would say school first, cause the employer is going to see you that you schooled in that certain job and you will gain experience at the school and you have a better chance on getting the job.

[QUOTE=ViruzOne;175371]Do you need to go to school to get into auto body field type job. Like a painter or or collission repair? Im wondering because I did some research and found out some people just start as helpers and move their way up. But I want to learn a trade and figured since I love modding cars I'd look into it.[/QUOTE]

It's really up to you if you go to trade school for auto body. 

As for me I went to Autobody school back 03-04 attended UTI (Universal Technical Insititue) @ Houston for their CRRT Class (Collison Repair & Repair Technlogy), its a 1 year program.  I also graduated and came out with 30 I-Car Gold Points, ASE Certified, Certified Toyota/Lexus CRRT Mechanic.  They also find you jobs which is helpful, they make you a resume and stuff.  They offer other programs like Audi, Merecedes Benz, but i choose not to take it.  I can say when I applied for a job at a Toyota Dealership, they hired me as a helper pay was good.  But when I was working their they had valets, detailers kissing ass to move up in the company, I didn't because I had those certifications.  If I had more expierence my pay would have been more, but it varies to different dealerships and states also.

 Because when you go to school its so short and you learn little bit of each, when i started to work I've gotten to learn more, few things that I learned in school we didn't use.

I can go on & on about this, but really going to school and not has its pro's and con's the decision is up to you.

Dudes like Chip Foss and Boyd Coddington only hire from reputable schools.  Right now my brother is going to Wyo-Tech , which  is the "harvard" of automotive schools.  They teach you everything from regular oem maintaince, body repair, shop management, aftermarket horsepower and even diesel.  If you want to make a name fo yourself, and make some good money doing it.  I would suggest to look into Wyo-Tech.  Its a great school and you could learn a lot.