The key to a successful training plan is to get started and have a dedicated training schedule.
Many workshops will see I-CAR’s highly prestigious Gold Class accreditation or the Platinum Individual Professional Accreditation being awarded to businesses and wonder how they can embark on the journey. Here is some advice from I-Car on how to build toward success.
Platinum Individual Professional Accreditation
Being recognised as an I-CAR Australia Platinum Individual in your role means an individual technician has achieved one of the highest professional training levels recognised in the collision repair industry.
Your Role as a Professional:
I-CAR Australia’s Platinum recognition program provides ongoing, relevant training for technicians to gain and maintain knowledge for his/her role. With many new vehicle introductions or redesigns planned for the next few years, technicians can feel good knowing they are keeping up with the latest vehicle technology. Achieving Platinum Individual also helps businesses in a number of ways including:
- Addresses skills shortage
- Makes technicians more employable to collision repair shops
- Platinum Individuals can easily integrate into Gold Class businesses
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Some of the 2023 successful recipients Image: I-Car
How do I achieve Platinum Accreditation?
I-CAR Australia has developed programs and pathways for role specific training. 10 recognition points are required from the following programs in order to achieve Platinum Individual designation:
- Live training
- Virtual training
- Testing and certification
- Online training
Once you have achieved 10 recognition points, accreditation will be granted. There is no time limit, but I-CAR Australia recommend that you complete 10 points over a maximum of two years.
Points can also be allocated after the successful completion of an approved course delivered by any of I-CAR Australia’s Industry Training Alliance Partners. The number of points earned are awarded by the training partner and are added to your I-CAR point total.
Gold Class Professional Accreditation
The I-CAR Gold Class designation is the highest role-relevant training accreditation recognised by the collision repair industry in Australia. The I-CAR Professional Development Program provides collision repair and insurance businesses with a reliable training framework for acquiring Gold Class and maintaining the up-to-date knowledge and skills that contribute to compliant repairs, improved business performance and risk reduction.
A ‘technical tsunami’ for the collision repair industry is upon us. In the past two years, more than 200 new vehicles and redesigns have debuted, many with new lightweight aluminium materials, ADAS and High Voltage Systems that have changed the nature of collision repairs. Up-to-date training is becoming increasingly important for consumer safety and business survival. The Gold Class program prepares businesses to meet the challenges of these ongoing technological changes.
Any collision repair business big or small can achieve Gold Class Accreditation. Insurance businesses can also earn Gold Class Accreditation by providing its team of Auto Damage Assessors with a defined amount of training over time.
When a business is Gold Class it means that it:
- Promotes a commitment to continuous training
- Enhances your team’s ability to improve shop KPIs
- Differentiates your shop to consumers
- Improves business cycle times
- Improves client touch times
- Avoids costly mistake
- Increases customer satisfaction
- Improves operational efficiencies
- Receives discount pricing on all I-CAR Australia courses
- Receives early bird access to new courses and course packages
How do I achieve Gold Class Accreditation?
Insurance businesses may achieve Gold Class accreditation at the corporate/ company level or at the office/business location/department level. To achieve Gold Class, a minimum of 75 per cent of an insurance company’s assessing staff must have been awarded Platinum Individual designation.
The Insurance Gold Class program was developed with industry input, and has the flexibility to accommodate employee turnover.
To earn the Gold Class recognition for collision repair businesses, businesses must achieve and maintain a high level of role-specific training across each of the major collision repair roles, they are: Estimator, Non-Structural Technician, Structural Technician, Refinish Technician. A repair facility must identify a technician in each of these roles who has achieved I-CAR Platinum Individual recognition, earned through I-CAR Australia or via their Industry Training Alliance partners. All other employees directly involved in the repair of vehicles must complete four training points.
Road to Gold
I-CAR Australia’s Road to Gold program is the Gold Class Accreditation Pathway for collision repair business wanting to achieving Gold Class. I-CAR Australia can help your business achieve Gold Class accreditation sooner with tailored training pathways developed for your business.
To find out more about I-CAR Australia’s professional development programs head over to I-CAR Australia’s website at i-car.com.au/pdp or call I-CAR Australia on 07 3219 9088.