Panel Technician

Panel technicians may become accredited at the following levels:

• Panel Technician
  Full ATA : 2 days
  £850 per candidate
  
  Intended For: Individuals looking to prove current industry competency or for those businesses who need to provide evidence of current Technician competency levels in order to achieve the Cosmetic Repair Kitemark.
• Senior Panel Technician
  Full ATA : 3 days
  £1,350 per candidiate
  
  Intended For: Individuals looking to prove current industry competency or for those businesses who need to provide evidence of current Technician competency levels in order to achieve the Structural Steel, Structural Aluminium or Composite Repair level Kitemark.

For available dates please click here.

A requirement of ATA is the prerequisites for each grade of technician to pass an assessment.
To be eligible to take the assessment, a panel technician must:

• have a minimum level of industry experience in an appropriate role i.e. for panel technicians 2 years and for senior panel technicians 5 years or;

• hold the lower level ATA and have a minimum of two years post accreditation experience in an appropriate role or;

• hold a relevant NQF qualification at the same level and have a minimum of two years post qualification experience in an appropriate role.

In order to establish your most appropriate level, the IMI have provided a self assessment section on their website. You may want to try this before applying to become an ATA registered technician.

Assessments

To attain each level of accreditation, technicians will have to pass practical assessments and an on-line knowledge test.

To ensure currency of assessments, no more than six months may elapse between the first successful assessment and the last successful assessment.

Technicians who are referred on one or two practical assessments may re-take these assessments within the six-month period. Technicians who are referred on more than two practical assessments will have to retake all the assessments again.

Practical Assessments

From the 1st March 2010 the practical assessments at technician level will measure competence in the following:

• MIG Welding to National Occupational Standard
• Bonding (Non Structural / Structural)
• Rectification of Panel Damage (Panel Beating Techniques)
• Preparation, Application & Finishing of Cold Filler
• Remove/Replace/Refit Mechanical, Trim & Electrical Component
• Panel Removal & Replacement procedure (permanently attached panel)

From the 1st March 2010 the practical assessments at senior technician level will measure competence in the following:

• MIG Welding to National Occupational Standard
• Bonding (Non Structural / Structural)
• Rectification of Panel Damage (Panel Beating Techniques)
• Preparation, Application & Finishing of Cold Filler
• Remove/Replace/Refit Mechanical, Trim & Electrical Component
• Panel Removal & Replacement procedure (permanently attached panel)
• Set Up/Measure & Realign Body Structure using Body Jig & Hydraulic Push/Pull System
• Mig Brazing
• Repair Cosmetic Aluminium Panel

Each of these assessments is given a maximum time allowance according to the complexity of the assessment.

On Line Assessments

To allow flexibility the online knowledge test can be taken before, during or after the assessment day. The test remains valid for 6 months from completion. If all other assessments have not been completed within 6 months, centres will need to contact the IMI to reset the test and the applicant will need to complete the test again.

The test will be multiple choice 'online' and consist of 30 randomised questions. The time limit for the test will be 45 minutes.

The technician level on-line test will be aligned to national occupational standards and measure knowledge in the following areas:

• legislation, health and safety relating to body repair
• non-structural panel removal and replacement procedures
• repair of non-structural body panels
• welding techniques & methods
• vehicle construction & materials
• repair materials & data

The Senior technician level on-line test will be aligned to national occupational standards and measure knowledge in the following areas:

• legislation, health and safety relating to body repair
• selection and use of materials & data
• selection and use of tools and equipment
• vehicle body repair techniques & methods
• vehicle realignment techniques
• welding techniques & procedures
• vehicle construction & materials

To gain a pass, the applicant will be required to achieve a mark of 60% or above.

Panel ATA Guidelines for Candidates can be downloaded here (pdf).

'Further Guidance for Candidates' from IMI Awards is available here (pdf).

Application

You can download the application form here (pdf).

Please indicate on the front sheet of your ATA Application form if your delegate has any special needs that Thatcham need to be aware of.

Also, please indicate your BSI Audit/Inspection date, if you are applying for PAS 125. This will assist us to ensure delegates are offered assessment dates, where possible, prior to the audit/inspection taking place.

Thatcham will require the original copy of the application form for audit purposes, however, customers may also fax their application to us for initial processing.

Please Note : To ensure currency of assessments the IMI have stated that no more that 12 months may elapse between the first assessment and the last successful assessment. Therefore once the 12 month period has expired, a delegate will be required to commence all elements of their chosen assessment from the beginning.

Please click here for details of our cancellation policy.