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KALISPELL - Flathead Valley residents are getting the chance to work toward earning an Auto Body Technology Certificate through a new program Flathead Valley Community College which will debut this fall.

The program will be instructed by 20-year auto body repair veteran Mike Downes and will provide training in the automotive collision repair and refinishing field.

According to FVCC Director, Career and Technical Education Bill Roope, the launch of the program comes as a response from numerous requests from local auto body shops seeking skilled workers in the field.

"The economy has boosted the demand of the auto body industry, not only locally but nationwide as well," said Roope. "Americans are choosing to maintain their current or older vehicles as opposed to purchasing new ones, generating a need for highly skilled workers in the field to meet the demand."

Students can be eligible to test for I-Car Certification after completing the one year course. Wages for auto body repair workers in the greater Flathead currently range between $14 and $16 per hour.

The program is articulated with Montana State University College of Technology in Billings. Credits earned at FVCC have been designed to transfer seamlessly toward a two-year associate's degree in automobile collision repair and refinishing. Salaries of those with two-year degrees jump to between $20 and $25 per hour.

Fall semester registration at FVCC will take place August 26 and 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the classes will begin August 30th.