I currently have a former auto body painter in a short term training program for Auto Damage Appraiser., each state has their own regulations regarding this job/certification/licensure. It's a light duty job, traveling to sites where damaged cars are (auto body shops, dealers, homes, etc.), taking pictures of damaged areas of the cars, writing and/or data inputting of specific info, usually into a computer program (I saw these in job ads: CCC One, Audatex, basic computer skills, Windows, Outlook, digital photography, web searches, uploading to insurance companies, using a hand held computer, automated estimating systems, and ADP software).
Some of the auto damage appraisers use an iPad to take the pictures, and record info into the computer program. The job market here is very good for auto damage appraisers, and salaries can rise to
In Massachusetts the curriculum is as follows: 6 weeks of training (one night a week at a voc tech high school adult ed program) followed by a three month internship with a licensed Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser. The candidate then takes a written test given for the state by Prometric, and then performs an onsite written appraisal. Once the candidate has passed all of this, the state issues them a license as a Motor Vehicle Damage Appraiser.
The training in his case was $399 for the 6 week class, and a $100 fee for application processing and examination registration.
Job outlook is good in Massachusetts. Salary information for Auto Damage Appraisers from current job openings in Massachusetts indicates that with 1-3 years experience, salaries range from $$22,800 to $60,000 yearly. Salary information for the Worcester, MA area in 2014 from the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics shows $50,400 for the lower 10th percentile, $68,700 for the median (middle) range, and $92,100 for the upper range of this occupation.
Jill S. Brown, MS, CRC, LRC, CCM Vocational Consultant
PO Box 830
West Brookfield, MA 01585
Phone 774-449-8058
Cell 617-529-4873
Fax 508-637-1244