“Providing students with access to current technology is imperative to their success when they join the workforce,” said Melissa Marscin, CREF’s director of operations and impact.

More than 10,000 future collision repair professionals received training on industry-standard estimating software in 2024, thanks to donations coordinated by the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) in partnership with Audatex, CCC Intelligent Solutions and Mitchell.

These donations benefited 543 secondary and post-secondary schools in 47 states, giving students access to the same platforms they will encounter in professional collision repair environments. Instructors and industry leaders agree: early exposure to this technology gives students a competitive edge in the workplace.

“Providing students with access to current technology is imperative to their success when they join the workforce,” said , CREF’s director of operations and impact. “The free subscriptions donated by Audatex, CCC and Mitchell allow these students to gain familiarity with the same programs they’re likely to encounter after graduation.”

This access has had a direct impact on student achievement. , who placed first in Damage Analysis during the 2019 Texas State SkillsUSA Competition, credits her early experience with repair planning software during school for her later success as a diagnostic technician and college instructor.

“Using repair planning software was a vital part of my job,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to excel at those tasks if I hadn’t gained experience with that software during school.”

“Access to repair planning software helps us better prepare students for joining the collision repair industry’s workforce,” said , instructor at Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Knoxville, TN, noting that one of his students placed second in Damage Analysis at the 2024 SkillsUSA National Competition.

Industry leaders supporting the initiative emphasized the need for workforce readiness in an evolving field.

“At CCC, we believe the future of the collision repair industry depends on investing in people,” said , senior vice president of mobility at CCC Intelligent Solutions. “Through our long-standing partnership with CREF, we’re helping ensure that students and schools have access to the same advanced estimating and repair planning technology used in today’s repair shops.”

In 2024, CCC provided its CCC ONE Estimating software to 385 schools in 47 states, along with access to repair procedure integration and mobile estimating capabilities.

Mitchell, an Enlyte company, donated its Mitchell Cloud Estimating software to 129 schools in 38 states, delivering real-world experience with cloud-based diagnostics, scanning, and ADAS calibration tools.

“The collision industry is facing two critical challenges: increasingly complex vehicles and a shortage of skilled technicians,” said , executive vice president and general manager of Mitchell. “We are introducing tomorrow’s repair professionals to today’s leading-edge technology.”

Audatex, a Solera company, donated its estimating platform to 29 schools across 18 states in 2024 as part of its Educational Institutions Program, which also includes curriculum, online training, CEUs, I-CAR points and technical support.

“We’re proud to support the automotive industry and the next generation of technicians,” said , SVP of global industry relations and claims solutions at Solera.

According to instructors like of Dennis Technical Center in Idaho, this access opens doors beyond traditional roles. “They don’t always have to be a bodyman or painter; I want them to understand there are other career paths available to them in this field,” Moore said, pointing to students who transitioned into estimating roles after graduation.

CREF continues to seek support from industry partners to expand access to this critical training.

“Learning up-to-date techniques on modern equipment provides students with a solid foundation,” Marscin said. “These donations are helping to transform the lives of our students.”