Recognizing Business Achievements

The I-CAR Gold Class Professionals^® designation is the highest training level recognized in the collision industry. Through earning the Gold Class designation, businesses can increase operational efficiencies, reduce cycle times, and minimize repair mistakes.

For a business to earn Gold Class recognition, four key employees must be designated as Role Reps and achieve Platinum in the following roles: Refinish Technician, Steel Structural Technician, Non-Structural Technician, and Estimator. One person can be a Role Rep for multiple roles, but must achieve Platinum in each declared role.

To renew Gold Class, each Role Rep must complete his/her Knowledge Area training requirements for the next ProLevel that they are working toward in the I-CAR^® Professional Development Program™ (PDP), while all other employees involved in the collision repair process must take six credit hours of role-relevant training by the business’ renewal date. Renewal dates for Role Reps and non-Role Reps will align with the renewal date of the Gold Class business.

NEW! Beginning in 2013, I-CAR has simplified and enhanced its Collision Repair Gold Class Professionals recognition program. I-CAR addresses realities such as technician turnover, and in 2013, I-CAR provides an easier on-ramp for new shops and fair re-entry for those that did not meet ProLevel 1 training requirements in 2012.

Important information can be found here, Getting Started: Collision Repair Gold Class Professionals.

Training Timeline: Road to Gold, Achieve, and Maintain

Road to Gold | Once a business commits to training with PDP it is on the Road to Gold (R2G). Businesses can typically expect to spend 12-24 months on the R2G, depending on the amount of training that has already been completed and number of employees.

A business is on the R2G until all four Role Reps have achieved I-CAR Platinum Individual^® status in the ProLevel they are currently working toward and all other employees have completed six credit hours of ongoing training. Businesses will receive support and training tools from the I-CARE™ Customer Support Team as soon as they begin R2G.

Achieve Gold Class | Once all four Role Reps have achieved Platinum Individual recognition and all other employees have completed six credit hours of ongoing training, the business can submit its Gold Class application, and be recognized as a Gold Class business. The renewal date for the business becomes the date once all training has been completed.

EXAMPLE | The four Role Reps and all other employees completed their required training on October 1, 2013. The business is recognized as Gold Class and the expiration dates for all employees and the business are now aligned to October 31, 2013.

Maintain Gold Class | To maintain Gold Class, all Role Reps must maintain their Platinum status by achieving the next (or subsequent) ProLevel, or annual training requirements, by the business’ next annual renewal date.

EXAMPLE | If a Platinum Role Rep completed ProLevel 2 on June 1, 2012 and the business expiration date is October 31, 2012, the Platinum Role Rep must complete his/her next ProLevel, which is ProLevel 3, by October 31, 2013.

I-CAR Customer Care Representatives are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m.  –  6:00 p.m. CST. Call 800.422.7872, customercare@i-car.com.