I-CAR Canada and CWB Group expand welding training

I-CAR Canada’s next phase in its partnership with the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB Group) is to expand access to welding training and certification for collision repair professionals, including in remote and underserved regions.

With access to CWB’s updated and recognized training, more technicians across Canada will be able to access the certification they need more easily and efficiently, helping to create a more unified national standard for welding excellence, according to a joint press release from CWB Group and I-CAR Canada.

The release states that the collaboration combines CWB Group’s nationally recognized expertise in welding with I-CAR Canada’s commitment to complete, safe, and quality repairs.

“The strengthened partnership, which includes CWB joining the Sustaining Partner Program, will allow technicians to access updated and enhanced CWB courses now eligible for I-CAR Canada credits, helping them achieve and maintain I-CAR Canada Gold Class recognition, the collision industry’s leading standard for repair excellence,” the release states.

Tom Bissonnette, executive director of the Saskatchewan Association of Automotive Repairers (SAAR), told Repairer Driven News that technicians currently have to come to two Saskatchewan Polytechnic Auto Body shops to obtain their welding certification, which is tougher for rural shops due to the time and expense of travel.

“I am not sure if the CWB Group will provide the certification right at the shop’s location or not, but I’m told that is what happens in more densely populated areas,” he said. “The advantage, of course, is less travel and time away from home and work, but also that the technicians get tested using their own welding equipment. We believe welding certification is a good thing. Many long-term technicians originally scoffed at the idea of taking the training and subsequent testing until many, if not all, failed on their first attempt.

“Change is sometimes hard, and the cost of the welding certification (upwards of $1,000 Canadian) was a stumbling block for many shops.”

Stuart Klein, I-CAR Canada executive director, added, “Ensuring access to consistent, high-quality training is a key part of our mission. This continued partnership supports our goal of holding the Canadian market to a higher standard — one that evolves with vehicle technology and exceeds what is required through Red Seal certification.”

Ongoing welding certification is a critical part of the I-CAR Canada Gold Class program, especially for steel structural technicians who work on some of the most complex and safety-sensitive areas of vehicle repair, according to the release.

“We are proud to advance our partnership with I-CAR Canada to provide the country’s auto collision industry with expanded access to CWB’s world-class welding training,” said Bill Gwynne, CWB Group vice president of business development, in the release. “This collaboration not only aligns with our goals of growing our presence in the automotive sector, but it also empowers the industry’s workers with greater opportunities for skills development and career advancement.”

In May, I-CAR Canada added UAP/NAPA as its newest Sustaining Partner Program (SPP) participant, allowing NAPA customers to earn I-CAR Canada training credits by completing select NAPA courses.

Images

Featured image: Stock photo of MIG welding. (Credit: EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/iStock)