Collision repair program prepares students for automotive industry careers

When Rosedale Technical College’s Collison Repair program launched in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area in 2016, just a handful of students were enrolled. Today, the program is preparing more than 40 current students for the variety of career possibilities offered by the automotive collision repair industry.

According to Brian Pierce, lead instructor for the college’s Collison Repair program, training students with the latest industry technology is essential in preparing them for post-graduation success. Since the start of the program, the PPG Foundation has supported the school’s efforts to stay at the forefront of advancing automotive technologies and industry standards.

“We offer the technology that is currently being used by many employers in our area and nationally. Our mission is to train students for employability that is compatible with the current and forward-focused standards and requirements needed in the collision repair industry today,” said Pierce.

Pierce continued, “From electric and autonomous vehicles to radar and lane auto changing capabilities, the workplaces we prepare our students for are technical and precise.”

Rosedale students have access to the materials and resources, like PPG automotive refinish paints, that align with the specific procedures and guidance automotive manufacturers require of car dealerships and collision repair shops. The PPG Foundation grants help to ensure access to these real-world workplace experiences and current technologies.

“The mission and goals of Rosedale Technical College have a proven track record of supporting work-readiness in the field of automotive repair,” said Chris Dewes, PPG director of Platinum Distribution Programs, United States and Canada, Refinish Distribution Programs. “We are proud to support the program at PPG, we also prioritize workforce development and helping to educate students with hands-on, practical education and skills that lead to career placement.”

Students in the Collision Repair program often graduate with multiple job offers, according to Debbie Bier, Rosedale Executive Vice President. She attributes this to the uniqueness of the program.

“Our Collision Repair program is one of a kind in this region. Due to the type of training, we offer in this high demand field, Rosedale students have the ability to earn an Associate’s Degree in Specialized Technology upon graduation. This opens the door to careers in various aspects of the collision repair field, such as refinish technicians, customer service advisors, claims adjustors, and estimators to name a few,” said Bier.

Rosedale Technical College is a private, non-profit technical college, devoted to the training of personnel for the automotive, electrical, HVAC, truck and transportation and other trade industries. It was founded in 1949 and has been in continuous operation since.

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