Thornhill, Ontario--July 28, 2010--I-CAR announced its I-CAR Professional Development Program last week, a performance-focused system that offers the latest and greatest training to collision repair professionals.

"The program is focused on training that develops the knowledge and competencies required to perform successfully in specific roles in the repair and claims handling process,” said Jeff Peevy, I-CAR's director of field operations.

The I-CAR Professional Development Program includes training aimed at a variety of collision industry jobs such as steel structural technicians, estimators, non-structural technicians, aluminum structural technicians, auto physical damage appraisers, refinish technicians and electrical/mechanical technicians.

The courses are called I-CAR ProLevels and are split into three different levels based on knowledge and skill. Entrants are placed in levels based on their previous knowledge and work their way through all three levels of training, building upon the last. When an entrant completes all three levels of a ProLevel program they are recognized as an I-CAR Platinum certified individual.

To achieve the designation as an I-CAR Gold Class Professional Business, four business entrants must complete four ProLevel programs: estimator, non-structural technician, refinish technician and steel structural technician.

A four-year transitional time has been created to integrate this new program.

I-CAR President and CEO John Edelen strongly believes this program will positively affect the inter-industry. “It is focused on the knowledge that is required to be successful in specific industry roles,” Edelen said. “[It] supports progression over the course of careers by building on prior levels of experience.”