Featured photo: Logan Allison pictured working in a collision classes during his time as a student at Blue Ridge Community College. Photo by Rich Keen.
Emily Gill, Marketing & Communications Dept.
In response to the high demand for skilled collision repair technicians, Blue Ridge Community College is equipping students with the expertise needed to step into secure, high-paying jobs. The College’s Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology (CRRT) program provides a strong foundation in vehicle restoration, painting, refinishing and more.
Instructor Brian Foster believes part of what makes the CRRT program successful is connecting students to local jobs through Blue Ridge’s Work-Based Learning approach, which combines classroom instruction with practical work experience.
“Part of my duty is to help students find gainful employment. I tell the students that I can’t get them the job, but I can get them an interview. It’s up to you to secure that job,” Foster said.
Angel Guerra, a current collision student, is already applying the skills he gained at Blue Ridge to his job as a collision tech at his Work-Based Learning placement.
“It’s really nice to have relevant skills that I can practice on the job, so it’s evolving my career as I learn,” Guerra said.
Foster emphasized the collision field doesn’t just work well for people who like working with their hands and creative problem solving; it also meets a significant need.
“You’re taking something that’s usually somebody’s biggest or second biggest investment they’ll make in their life – what most people cherish dearly and has been damaged – and you’re able to put it back into a working state,” Foster said. “You played a hand in taking something torn up, repairing it properly, restoring its integrity and giving it back to the vehicle owner.”
That restoration is Guerra’s favorite part of the job.
“You turn something broken into something that works; I think that’s special,” Guerra.
Even better, the CRRT program opens opportunities across the automotive industry.
“The industry needs collision techs; opportunities are endless. These students are easily finding gainful employment right now,” Foster said. “Just because you go to work as a tech or painter doesn’t mean you have to stay in that position. If you are looking for a career you can advance in, have job security, good pay – collision is a great option.”
Logan Allison, who completed the program in May 2023, is already taking advantage of those growth opportunities. He began working at First Aid Collision in Hendersonville while still in the program. He started there as a painter and now serves as a collision technician.
“This is a very good industry; it keeps your mind busy and keeps your hands busy,” Allison said. “Every single day I come in, there’s something new to learn.”
With job opportunities in the collision repair industry growing rapidly, now is the perfect time to consider a career in this rewarding field. Blue Ridge Community College’s Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology program is providing students with the training, experience, and industry connections they need to succeed. For those who enjoy problem-solving, working with their hands, and making a tangible impact, the program offers a pathway to a stable and fulfilling future.
Information about the program is located at www.blueridge.edu/collision.
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