South Metropolitan TAFE
Apprenticeship program
Develop hands-on skills in vehicle body repair and paint refinishing at WA's premier automotive training centre. This apprenticeship-based Certificate III prepares you for a rewarding career as a vehicle painter with state-of-the-art facilities and industry-standard training.
Applicants should have enjoyment of practical work using manual hand tools, an eye for detail with good hand-eye coordination, good problem-solving skills, good vision and hearing, and good communication skills including customer service abilities. School leavers require AQF OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8, or C Grades in Year 10 English and Maths. Non-school leavers should have completed Certificate I or II. For apprenticeships, you must be employed in a training contract with an appropriate organisation.
The course covers comprehensive automotive refinishing skills including surface preparation and substrate preparation for refinishing, masking vehicle panels and components, applying refinishing primers, preparing and painting plastic and composite surfaces, de-nibbing, buffing and polishing, removing paint, preparing spray painting equipment, and colour matching techniques. Students learn to apply clear over base two-pack and multi-layer refinishing materials, water-based refinishing materials, and rectify paint faults. Additional units cover environmental and sustainability practices, safe working procedures, reading automotive repair instructions, working effectively with others, vehicle inspection, component removal and storage, and touch-up techniques for minor damage.
South Metropolitan TAFE's Carlisle Campus is WA's major centre for automotive and panel beating studies, offering state-of-the-art facilities including new vehicles, specialised repair and diagnostic equipment, fully equipped spray painting ovens, and specialised workrooms. The apprenticeship model combines full-time employment with structured off-job training, allowing students to earn a wage while learning trade skills and gaining a nationally recognised qualification.
Upon completion, graduates are prepared for careers in the vehicle body repair industry, particularly as vehicle painters. The apprenticeship provides a valuable foundation for a rewarding career path in automotive refinishing, with opportunities to progress to supervisory roles, specialise in advanced techniques, or establish independent automotive refinishing businesses.
Course fee
Start date
You will be redirected to the training provider to enquire directly. Workinitiatives is not the course or training provider. We aggregate and list courses only.