I-CAR: Registered Apprenticeship Program boosted new Gold Class shop certifications by 7.1% YoY
According to I-CAR’s recently released 2025 Impact Report, the launch of its Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) led to a 7.1% year-over-year (YoY) increase in Gold Class shop certifications.
The report provides details about the organization’s progress in technical training, workforce development, and industry collaboration over the past year.
In 2024, I-CAR was designated as a Registered Apprenticeship Hub and received an Apprenticeship Building America grant by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) under its Investing in America initiative. The recognition included more than $7 million in funding to support and expand the use of RAPs in high-demand fields, such as the automotive collision repair industry.
A June 11 press release calls 2025 a pivotal year for the organization, “defined by record Gold Class shop participation, the launch of two workforce development-focused programs, and continued investment in advanced technical training and collaboration for the collision repair industry.”
I-CAR President and CEO Kyle Thompson added that the report “reflects the growing impact of our work.”
“Vehicle technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and the results in the report show how we are collectively rising to meet these challenges with precision, accountability, and a forward-looking commitment to driver safety,” he said.
Highlights from the report include:
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- 10,722 additional Gold Class shops, including locations in every state.
- 48,980 Platinum-certified technicians across nine roles
- 121,534 learners trained and supported by a catalog of 576 total courses and lessons, adding up to 1.9 million total course completions, up 31% YoY.
- Workforce development advancement, including the launch of a two-year, Department of Labor-Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) that combines paid, on-the-job learning with I-CAR Academy curriculum, and leads to a nationally recognized credential.
- Advanced technical training expanded with a new “Mixed Attachment Methods” course, plus expanded ADAS calibration and EV repair courses to keep technicians current.
- Industry collaboration at scale, including 73 sustaining partners, 23 industry training alliance members, and a growing network of Gold Class Repair Network OEM and insurance partners that require I-CAR training as a foundational standard.
I-CAR announced last week that enrollment for the new “Mixed Attachment Methods” course had officially opened.
The course is developed for structural technicians and piloted based on extensive industry feedback, according to an I-CAR press release.
It focuses on rivet bonding, MAG welding, MIG brazing, steel sectioning and spot welding — techniques currently included within I-CAR’s ProLevel 2 and ProLevel 3 training requirements. The in-person course consolidates the joining techniques most frequently referenced in OEM collision repair procedures into a single, real-world skills assessment, the release states.
Mixed Attachment Methods will replace the current Steel Sectioning Recertification requirement for Platinum recognition and will become required for Gold Class renewal beginning July 1, 2027. Completion of Mixed Attachment Methods will be valid for three years, consistent with other I-CAR welding certifications.
To support technicians preparing for the assessment, I-CAR will also offer a free online “What to Expect” course, complete with a downloadable repair manual and guided practice resources to build confidence ahead of the evaluation, according to the release.
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I-CAR receives $7M federal grant to support and expand collision repair apprenticeship offerings