Onboarding plan

Auto Damage Appraiser Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

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

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Auto Damage Appraiser 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: State appraiser license, I-CAR training (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: CCC ONE; mitchell estimating; audatex; digital camera
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Auto Damage Appraiser training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Stay alert at tow yards
  • Use caution near lifts
  • Watch for sharp metal and glass
  • Drive safely
  • Shadow an experienced auto damage appraiser 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: write an auto damage estimate
  • Supervised practice: decide if a car is a total loss
  • Supervised practice: handle a body shop supplement
  • 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 damaged vehicles: independently
  • Photograph damage: independently
  • Write repair estimates: independently
  • Negotiate with body shops: 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, State appraiser license)
  • Discuss the career path: Appraiser Trainee → Field Appraiser → Senior Appraiser
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Write an Auto Damage Estimate
Decide If a Car Is a Total Loss
Handle a Body Shop Supplement
Damage assessment
Estimating software
Auto body repair knowledge
Vehicle valuation

How to measure onboarding success

  • Time to independent work
  • Error or rework rate
  • Internal customer satisfaction
  • 90-day retention

How Auto Damage Appraiser training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Auto Damage Appraiser Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Auto Damage Appraiser 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 Damage Appraiser Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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