I-CAR launches high school pre-apprenticeship pilot program

With more Illinois students seeking affordable, technology‑forward career paths, I‑CAR has launched new statewide programs that introduce high school students to hands-on learning of diagnostics, electronics, materials science, and the repair procedures behind modern automotive repair.

I-CAR is offering the programs through grants funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Illinois is serving as the pilot for I-CAR’s new high school pre-apprenticeship program with a planned national rollout during the 2026-2027 school year.

Beginning next school year, students at participating Illinois high schools will be able to complete I‑CAR’s Electric and Alternative Energy Vehicle Badge through the I‑CAR Academy entry-level technician learning platform.

Eligible students who complete the badge will receive professional tool kits, which I-CAR says will directly address one of the most common barriers to entry in technical and skilled-trade fields. Students who complete the program can seamlessly transition into a school or worksite training and apprenticeship program on I-CAR’s platform.

I-CAR is also offering incentive packages to Illinois repair centers to help them recruit, train, and retain entry-level employees through its Department of Labor-backed Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) model.

I-CAR’s RAP, which launched in 2025, is a two-year structured training program that combines paid, on-the-job learning with related technical instruction from the I-CAR Academy curriculum. Those who complete the program earn a nationally recognized credential from the DOL.

“Automotive collision repair has become a high‑tech, STEM‑based profession, and skilled workers are critical to keeping drivers safe and America moving,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR’s vice president of product management, in the release. “Students are working with the same technologies found in engineering labs and advanced manufacturing — from advanced metal materials to digital diagnostics and ADAS calibration. These new opportunities come at the perfect time, as more young people search for affordable, sustainable career options.”

I-CAR says today’s collision repair technicians use skills rooted in:

• • Engineering and physics, including structural analysis and repair
  • Electronics and computer diagnostics
  • Advanced materials science, from aluminum to composites
  • ADAS and sensor calibration technologies
  • High‑voltage electric and alternative‑energy platforms

According to I-CAR, the new initiatives for Illinois are expected to:

• • Build a stronger, more sustainable talent pipeline for Illinois’ collision repair industry
  • Provide high school students with earlier access to STEM‑based, hands‑on learning
  • Reduce training and equipment costs for students entering technical fields
  • Support Illinois employers with more career‑ready, entry‑level workers
  • Strengthen pathways to RAPs, community college programs, and long‑term careers

“Students want opportunities that are affordable, relevant, and connected to real jobs,” said Goroff. “Illinois is helping lead the way by giving young people early access to one of the most technologically advanced skilled trades in the country.”

CCC Intelligent Solutions and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) recently published a workforce study based on a survey of students and young professionals, showing they hold a positive perception of the collision repair industry.

The “Future of Collision Repair Workforce Study” also highlights the 475 respondents’ eagerness to pursue a career that combines hands-on work with advanced technology in a field they view as stable and rewarding. The survey includes high school, college, and technical/vocational students, as well as recent graduates considering careers in collision repair.

Ninety-five percent of respondents said they’re confident that collision repair is more stable than traditional college-degree jobs. At the same time, 74% believe a career in the industry also offers higher earning potential.

Thirty-one percent said they’re interested in the career because of the promise of work-life balance, and the flexibility and variety of tasks at work.

Images

Featured image of collision repair students provided by I-CAR