I-CAR launches two-year apprenticeship program for shops backed by Department of Labor

I-CAR has offically launched its national Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) for the collision repair industry, backed by $7 million in grant funding by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

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

“We have an early adopter shop owner who has seen five times the number of candidate applicants right now just because he was able to share that his program is part of a Department of Labor apprenticeship,” said Dara Goroff, I-CAR Planning and Industry Talent Programming vice president.

Dara Goroff

During a presentation given during a meeting of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) last week, I-CAR Director of Government Funding Anna Loftus said RAP elevates collision repair as a premier skilled trade with the goal of attracting new audiences to collision repair.

“We’re all invested in bringing more entry-level trainees into our industry and this puts us up there with other premiered skill trades that have long been understood as high-paying and stable and all the other things that we all like to be associated with any career pathway that we’re on,” she said.

There are also incentives for shops that participate in the program, including tool and material kits for up to three apprentices at a single shop location, offered on a first-come, first- served basis.

“The launch of the I-CAR Registered Apprenticeship Program marks a significant milestone in our mission to solve the collision repair industry’s talent shortage and support shops in developing their future workforce,” said Kyle Thompson, I-CAR president and CEO, in a press release. “This program is the result of a three-year journey to deliver a comprehensive talent initiative. It provides a structured framework for shops to cultivate skilled technicians. It’s about building a sustainable future for our industry, ensuring high-quality repairs, and providing rewarding career opportunities for individuals.”

I-CAR notes in the release that the collision repair industry has faced significant challenges due to a shortage of qualified technicians, paired with the increasing complexity of modern vehicles, a retiring workforce, and a declining public interest in trade careers.

“In addition to providing a way for employers to up-skill apprentice technicians, this program also improves recruiting outcomes by offering access to our enhanced job board on CollisionCareers.com, which now connects interested job seekers to entry-level and RAP positions at participating Gold Class shops,” said Goroff, in the release.

Collision Careers is an industry-focused talent attraction platform that I-CAR says promotes and offers information about the long-term success and financial stability of automotive collision repair. RAP-participating shops will be able to post open apprenticeship positions on the Collision Careers job board and Apprenticeship.gov.

Anna Loftus

“A big factor that drives retention through this program is that the program is a full two-year commitment, so it takes I-CAR Academy from one year to two years,” Loftus said. “These apprentices are going to get a lot of additional training and hands-on experience, but they’re also going to have a longer length of time getting embedded in the shop culture, building relationships with mentors, building relationships with management and other colleagues. And what the Department of Labor tells us is that all of these factors really do roll into greater retention, and this is research-backed.

“Secondly, you can gain affordable entry-level talent using the progressive wage scale. In practical terms, this means that every six months during the training program, an apprentice can expect to get a wage increase. This really puts the employer at the very forefront of the program and in the hiring process with setting expenses around what this entry-level training is going to cost. But what it does for the apprentice is that it provides a lot of clarity and pay transparency. It builds trust between the apprentice and the employer. It’s also extremely motivating. If you’re going through a training program and you know that every six months if you’re performing and meeting expectations, you’re going to get that wage increase.”

For collision repair shops to qualify for the RAP, they must hold an I-CAR Gold Class designation. Once a shop is participating, they must adhere to DOL requirements.

I-CAR says it will provide one-on-one guidance and training on all DOL requirements along with an overview of any available incentives.

Images

Featured image provided by I-CAR

Photos of Anna Loftus and Dara Goroff speaking during the July 23, 2025, Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting taken by Lurah Lowery/Reparier Driven News