I-CAR offers new training program for educators

I-CAR has expanded the I-CAR Professional Development Program, introduced to the industry in 2010, to include a comprehensive collision repair training program for schools that aligns with the defined education and knowledge needs of the industry.

The I-CAR® Professional Development Program™ - Education Edition was created through collaboration with the industry and is now available for the 2012/13 academic year. This performance-focused program is structured into three successive training levels, each referred to as an I-CAR ProLevel®, recognizing students for successful completion of their role-based training.

The I-CAR® Professional Development Program™ - Education Edition provides a standardized learning system with guided course materials for specific roles defined in the I-CAR® Professional Development Program™, as well as new instructor guides and student performance evaluations. Students who graduate from this program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to begin working efficiently in a collision repair facility at the start of their careers.

Bill Stage, I-CAR Senior Director of Segment Development stated, “The foundation for the program, and one of its most highly anticipated benefits, is the increased emphasis on hands-on instruction and time spent in the shop,” Stage continued, “Previous I-CAR curriculum models focused on broad topics; however, the new program will provide a deeper learning experience through hands-on practice, creating skills that will be directly transferable to the collision repair workforce.”

To date, over 30 educational institutions have committed to integrating the I-CAR® Professional Development Program™ - Education Edition into their curriculum for the upcoming 2012/13 academic year.

More details are available on the I-CAR website, at www.i- car.com.