Craftsman Motor Vehicles Body Repair

Two components: a multiple-choice paper covering the ten domains, and a written examination where you answer repair-scenario questions in your own words. The written part tests reasoning and procedure, not just recall, so practise writing short, structured answers that state the decision, the reason, and the safety or warranty implication.

The certifying body publishes the current question count, time allowance, and sitting schedule in its candidate handbook. Check its official website before booking, since these details are revised periodically. Do not rely on numbers repeated in forums, which are frequently out of date.

Passing scores and fees are set and published by the certifying organization, not fixed here. Consult its official site for the current passing standard, fee schedule, and any rescheduling charges. Budget for possible travel to a test centre as well, since sitting locations vary.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any additional fees are set by the certifying body and published in its handbook. Confirm the current policy on its website before you sit. In practice, most candidates who fail do so on one or two domains, so request your domain-level results and target those areas before rebooking.

Candidates with several years of collision repair experience generally find the multiple-choice section manageable but the written section demanding, because it requires justifying procedures rather than recognizing terms. Weak areas are usually structural straightening measurements, heat limits on high-strength steels, and refinishing defect diagnosis. Expect to study rather than rely on shop habit alone.

Start with vehicle construction and collision damage analysis, since panel, structural, and welding decisions all depend on knowing how the vehicle is built and which steels are repairable. Then take safety, panel replacement, and metal straightening together. Follow with welding and bonding, structural straightening, and refinishing, and finish with estimating and customer communication, which draws on everything else.

Answering written questions with vague generalities instead of specific procedure and reasoning; confusing heat limits for mild, high-strength, and ultra-high-strength steels; mixing up measuring and straightening sequences; and misdiagnosing refinish defects such as solvent popping versus pinholing. Practise writing concise answers that name the cause and the corrective step.

Eligibility requirements, including any experience or training prerequisites, are set by the certifying organization and published on its website. Even where experience is not formally required, the written component assumes familiarity with real repair procedures, so hands-on time in a shop is the most effective preparation.

Practise explaining procedures in short paragraphs: state the damage, the inspection or measurement you would perform, the repair method and its limits, and how you would verify the result. Review manufacturer position statements on sectioning, welding, and heat. Have a colleague review your answers for missing safety steps and unclear reasoning.