Onboarding plan

Auto Body Technician Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new auto body technician from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Auto Body Technician onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: I-CAR training and Platinum recognition, ASE Collision Repair certifications (B2–B6) (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: frame machines and measuring systems; MIG welders and spot welders; dent repair tools and studs; sanders, grinders and blocks
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Auto Body Technician training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Wear a supplied-air or approved respirator when spraying paints with isocyanates
  • Use eye, ear and hand protection when grinding and welding
  • Support vehicles properly on lifts and stands
  • Disable airbags and disconnect batteries before working nearby
  • Shadow an experienced auto body technician through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: repair a small dent and prep for paint
  • Supervised practice: measure a vehicle on a frame machine
  • Supervised practice: look up and follow OEM repair procedures
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Inspect damage and review repair estimates: independently
  • Remove and replace damaged panels and parts: independently
  • Repair dents and reshape metal: independently
  • Measure and straighten frames and unibodies: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, I-CAR training and Platinum recognition)
  • Discuss the career path: Body Shop Helper → Auto Body Technician → Frame Specialist, Painter or Estimator
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Repair a Small Dent and Prep for Paint
Measure a Vehicle on a Frame Machine
Look Up and Follow OEM Repair Procedures
Damage analysis
Panel replacement and dent repair
Frame measuring and straightening
MIG and spot welding

How to measure onboarding success

  • Time to independent work orders
  • Comeback, rework or scrap rate
  • Billable or productive hours versus target
  • 90-day retention

How Auto Body Technician training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Auto Body Technician Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Auto Body Technician Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Auto Body Technician Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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