After a few classes, you can start to paint cars right away. However, if you want to set your services apart from everyone else, you can get licensed or certified in the field of auto painting and detailing. Completing the licensing process with an ASE-certification/licensing from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence will give you access to better jobs and show that you take your car painting seriously.
Search online or a local phone book for a vocational school or community college. Contact them to request a class catalog for the next semester. In some cases schools will provide an online copy of the catalog to search though.
Find classes on automotive painting and repair, as well as provide a certification upon completion of the class. Enroll in the classes and complete the classes. This can take 10 weeks or longer, depending on the school and class.
Contact local detailing and auto painting shops to get an internship with the shop. Most schools can help with gaining an internship as if you were taking a class. Contact your school counselor for help. Do this for about a year.
Use your on-the-job internship experience and school certification to gain your ASE -- Certification/licensing from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Register on the ASE website to take the certification/licensing computer-based test. This test will cost about $30 for the standard test and $60 for advanced certification.
Complete the online test following the online directions and prompts on the ASE website. Upon completing the test, if your score is passing, you will receive your ASE-certification/licensing and patch in the mail. You will have to retake this test every five years after to keep your certification.
