SCHOOL PROFILE
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Mohawk College Mohawk College offers both apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship tracks. BY MIKE PICKFORD
Auto Body Repairer and Automotive Painter programs are offered at the school's Stoney Creek campus.
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ohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology is one of two post-secondary institutions operating out of Hamilton, Ont. With three campuses split between the immediate downtown and rural regions of the city, the school is home to roughly 12,500 full-time students, 1,800 international students and 4,000 apprentices. Since its founding in 1966, over 100,000 students have graduated from Mohawk College.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW Mohawk’s Auto Body and Collision Damage Repairer program educates and trains apprentices on a wide-range of key, industry-specific skills, including how to properly repair dents in body panels, fenders and skirting, how to file and sand grind and finally how to apply spray paint. Apprentices will have the opportunity to learn about shrinking and stretching metal panels with heat treatment, while also exploring how to repair welding breaks in body panels and structures. According to its program outline, students will understand how to test for and correct faulty frame alignment, and install trim and body parts, while also acquiring sound theoretical knowledge and practical applications to complement on-the-job experience of the trade. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS In order to qualify for this program, applicants must already be registered apprentices in the autobody and collision repair industry. Mohawk College recently launched its Auto Body and Collision Damage Repair pre-apprenticeship training program for those looking for a starter course to work their way into the trade. The 20-week in school training program has a capacity of 17 students and exposes students to the basic, entry-level practices of the industry. The program concludes with an 8-week placement at a local body shop.
GRADUATION OUTLOOK Past graduates of this apprenticeship program have gone on to hold a plethora of positions within the autobody and collision repair industry. According to a survey carried out by Colleges Ontario, Mohawk sat above the provincial average for total number of graduates that have secured full-time employment in their field, with a healthy 85.5 percent. PROGRAM LENGTH The apprenticeship program runs for a total of 24-weeks and is separated into three semesters. The first semester introduces five courses to those enrolled, while semesters two and three each carry a six-course load. The program kicks off again in the fall. For more information on Mohawk College, please visit mohawkcollege.ca
OCTOBER 2016 BODYWORX PROFESSIONAL
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