Skip to main content
Apprentice paint spraying a accident damaged vehicle

Vehicle Accident Body Repair and Paint - Level 2

Summary

Are you interested in learning the skills needed to repair and restore vehicle bodies after accidents? The IMI Level 2 Vehicle Accident Body Repair and Paint course is designed for school leavers looking to start a practical and rewarding career in the automotive body repair sector. This course, which is delivered in our multi-million-pound Advanced Technology Centre, will teach you essential techniques in panel beating, welding, paint preparation and application, giving you a strong foundation in vehicle bodywork and finishing.

Completing this Level 2 qualification prepares you for entry-level roles in body shops, dealerships and repair centres. It also offers a clear pathway to progress your career through further study. For those keen to deepen their expertise and take on more complex work, we provide a seamless transition onto the IMI Level 3 Vehicle Accident Body Repair and Paint course. This higher-level qualification opens doors to supervisory roles, specialisations and greater job opportunities within the automotive repair industry.

If you want to build a future in vehicle body repair with excellent progression options, this Level 2 course is the ideal starting point to develop your skills and advance your career.

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
02 Sep 2026
Bispham Campus
1 Year

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

When you successfully complete the Level 2 Vehicle Body Repair and Paint course you will be able to progress to Level 3.

Throughout your time on the course you will receive regular career and progression advice from our team of highly qualified tutors, who have many years’ experience working as skilled technicians in the industry.

After successfully completing your Level 2 you will be well on your way to achieving your career aspirations and will have moved a step closer to reaching your career goal.

Next steps at B&FC

The Level 3 Vehicle Accident Body Repair and Paint in the next step on your path to a rewarding career.

Employment Opportunities

Careers that this course can lead to are:

Vehicle Body Repair Technician | Vehicle Paint Technician | Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician | Vehicle Valeter and Detailer | Vehicle Damage Assessor | Vehicle Research and Design Engineer

Career Options and Progression

When you successfully complete the Level 2 Vehicle Body Repair and Paint course you will be able to progress to Level 3.

Throughout your time on the course you will receive regular career and progression advice from our team of highly qualified tutors, who have many years’ experience working as skilled technicians in the industry.

After successfully completing your Level 2 you will be well on your way to achieving your career aspirations and will have moved a step closer to reaching your career goal.

Careers that this course can lead to are:

  • Vehicle Body Repair Technician
  • Vehicle Paint Technician
  • Mechanical and Electrical Trim Technician
  • Vehicle Valeter and Detailer
  • Vehicle Damage Assessor
  • Vehicle Research and Design Engineer

Key information

Entry Requirements

If you are aged between 16 and 18 and have a passion for cars, an eye for detail and are considering a rewarding career in the vehicle body repair and paint industry, this one-year course is an ideal place to start.

GCSE grade 3-1 in English and Maths, along with the following:

  • A successful interview with a tutor
  • The ability to study independently
  • A genuine interest in the subject
  • Good communication skills
  • Hardworking approach towards the industry

All 16-18 year-old applicants will be invited to attend an interview to meet a tutor and ask any questions they may have about the course.

Please note: Where wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is a mandatory requirement of the course, it is the responsibility of the learner to ensure that they are able to wear such equipment. Further information can be obtained at the IAG session which all applicants are invited to or by calling Course Enquiries on 01253 504343.

Qualification obtained

Diploma in Vehicle Accident Repair Paint Principles (VRQ)

Fees and funding

Courses for learners who are 16-18 years old at the start of their course and resident in the UK are fully funded. You may also be entitled to further financial help to support your studies depending on your personal circumstances. For more details of these, please visit our page on Finance Support for School Leavers

If you are not a UK resident, we will confirm whether funding is available when we process your application. If not, you may be liable for course fees.

Extra costs and equipment

You will need to provide your own safety boots and overalls / boiler suit for practical activities. A typical pair of safety boots should cost no more than £12 and a pair of overalls £15.

All other protective equipment will be provided by us.

All tools and equipment are provided for practical sessions and access to computers and all software required for the course is available at the College.

You will be expected to provide your own pen, pencil, basic drawing equipment and a note pad.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: IMI

Regulatory Body: Ofsted

Terms and conditions

Read our full terms and conditions for more information.

What will I learn?

What will I learn?

The modules covered in this course include:

  • Health and Safety in a Vehicle Body and Paint Workshop
  • Locating, Interpreting and Using Technical Information
  • Corrosion Protection
  • Accident Repair Core Skills
  • Vehicle Materials and Joining Methods
  • Mobile Automotive Repair Trades
  • Tools, Equipment and Materials for Vehicle Accident Repair and Paint
  • Vehicle Paint Preparation
  • Application of Topcoat and Minor Defect Rectification
  • Spray Guns and their Components
  • Spraying Techniques
  • Applying Primers and Sealers
  • Surface Preparation
  • Vehicle Masking
  • Applying Body Fillers
  • Body Panel Removal and Refitting
  • Welding
  • Paintless Dent Removal

Essential skills: English and Maths

All school leavers at B&FC are encouraged to continue developing their English and maths skills as higher ability in both these subjects is linked to long-term career success and increased earning potential - irrespective of how well you performed at GCSE. If, however, you achieve a GCSE Grade 3 or less in either subject, you will also have the opportunity to work towards re-sitting these to enhance your paper-based qualifications. This won’t delay your career journey because you will be undertaking this programme of study at the same time as your chosen subject.

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

You will have the opportunity to attend your industry placement with a local employer, which is an essential part of the course. This normally takes place once you have gained sufficient knowledge of safe working practices.

We will help you to select the type of placement that best suits your industry interests and will benefit you the most.

There are no planned essential field trips.

How will I learn?

While working towards your Vehicle Body Repair and Paint qualification you will learn the knowledge and skills required to carry out a range of common vehicle body repair and paint techniques.

You will be taught by tutors who have a wealth of industry experience and a passion for developing the next generation of technicians.

Your tutors will aim to discover how you learn best and tailor their teaching methods to your needs.

There are weekly opportunities for you to discuss your progress with your progress tutor and you will be allocated a team manager to support you through every aspect of your learning and career development.

This course is mainly practical based and is delivered in the following way, with the weekly hours shown alongside:

  • Vehicle Body Repair and Paint Practical (workshop – 6 hours)
  • Vehicle Body Repair and Paint Theory (classroom – 2.25 hours)
  • Independent Study (1.5 hours)
  • Industry Placement (employer – 26 hours in total)
  • Progress Meeting (classroom – 1.5 hours)
  • English and Mathematics (classroom – 3 to 7.5 hours depending on your GCSE results)

The environment is very supportive and includes regular target setting and reviews.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of courses and apprenticeships within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

Our recruitment process ensures that tutors delivering a given programme are suitably qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and a familiarity with professional practice. The aim of this is to enrich students’ learning experience, giving them an insight into what working in the industry is really like.

How will I be assessed?

How will I be assessed?

Along with skills development, you will need to demonstrate that you have developed your knowledge of different body repair and paint techniques and the procedures required to apply them

Your knowledge is assessed using online, multiple choice testing and through assignment work.

Your assessment weighting is as follows:

  • Practical skills assessments in the workshop (50%)
  • Online multiple-choice tests (50%)

Assessment Methods

You will be assessed in two different ways: by practical skills assessments in theworkshop (50%) and by online multiple-choice tests (50%).