Connecticut Automotive Glass Standards of Practice

Connecticut Automotive Glass Standards of Practice

CGDA Automotive Glass Apprentice Curriculum

This is a one year course that will be taken online through the National Glass Association’s online learning system at You will receive a login and password for the site and all of the modules listed below will be completed online.

Where you see a in the syllabus, please call CGDA Headquarters at 860-722-0166 to schedule your mid-term and final exams. The mid-term covers all materials from the beginning of the course until the exam. The final covers all material from after the mid-term exam until the end of the course.

Syllabus (all module names correspond to classes on )

  1. Why the Windshield is so Important:
  1. Causes and Types of Glass Breakage - The various causes and types of auto glass breakage, for both laminated and tempered glass.
  2. Safety Regulations and Standards - Vehicle structural changes and consumer safety demands, federal motor vehicle safety standards, litigation examples, state and local motor vehicle regulations, OEM and other regulations.
  3. Vehicle Body Construction - A challenge that often confronts auto glass professionals is that some customers do not know basic information about the vehicles they drive. This course reviews the basics of vehicle body construction so that you can easily collect this information from your customers.
  1. Manufacturing of Windshields and Tempered Glass
  1. Automotive Glass Basics - Variables in automotive glass, a review of “AS” designations, auto glass monograms, and part labels and positioning.
  2. Value Added Glass Parts - Types of value added glass parts, auto glass color codes, and repair techniques.
  1. OEM Installations
  2. Before You Install
  1. AGRSS: Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards - This course will familiarize you with the AGRSS Council and the ANSI/AGRSS approved standard establishing automotive glass installation best practices. This standard creates the easily identifiable benchmark for proper auto glass installation procedures and it is promoted throughout the auto glass industry.
  2. OEM - Although FMVSS standards apply only to the OEMs, it is the ARG industry’s responsibility to restore the structural integrity of the vehicle in regard to the glass installation.
  3. Pre & Post Inspection Procedures – Pre and Post-inspection procedures every auto technician should know.
  4. Vehicle Protection - Vehicle protection materials and procedures every auto technician should know.
  5. Trade Mathematics - Basic mathematic formulas needed to become an auto glass technician, including adding/subtracting/converting fractions and decimals.
  1. Basic Installations
  1. Adhesives and Sealants I: Supplies and Products
  2. Adhesive and Sealants II: Bonding Systems and Surface Preparation Techniques
  3. Adhesives and Sealants III: Urethane
  4. Glass Removal and Installation: Urethane
  5. Glass Removal and Installation Techniques: Gaskets and Butyle
  6. Auto Glass Installation: Part 1 (VIDEO) - Part 1 discusses the seven steps of installation, pre-inspection, protection and preparation for auto glass installation
  7. Auto Glass Installation: Part 2 (VIDEO) - Part 2 discusses encapsulation removal, the express tool and stripping surfaces.
  8. Auto Glass Installation: Part 3 (VIDEO) - Part 3 discusses dry set procedures, preparing the urethane applicator tip, finding the correct width and height, and installation.
  9. Leak Detection - Different kinds of glass leaks and procedures for repair.

Please call CGDA Headquarters to schedule your mid-term exam before proceeding with additional coursework. Please allow a minimum of one week study time before taking your exam.

  1. Glass Other Than Windshields and Backlites
  1. Electrical Systems I - The basics of vehicle electrical systems for work safety and efficiency.
  2. Electrical Systems II – Advanced study of vehicle electrical systems for work safety and efficiency.
  3. Non-Glass Parts: Removal and Installation - Types of non-glass parts and steps for removal and replacement.
  4. Air Bags (Restraints): What You Need to Know (VIDEO) - In this video new safety and restraint systems manufacturers are adding to vehicles will be discussed. This video includes live air bag deployments.
  5. Door and Vent Glass Installation Methods - Illustrates the techniques and problems related to installing door vent glass.
  6. Troubleshooting Interior Door Parts - Working with interior door parts, including common problems and how to troubleshoot them.
  7. Window Regulator Replacement - This course covers window regulator removal, pre-installation, and window regulator installation.
  8. Corrosion - The causes of and remedies for corrosion, and review procedures and tips for removing corrosion.
  1. Special/Difficult Auto Glass Installs
  1. Sunroof Replacement and Service - This course describes procedures for the replacement, inspection and testing of sun and moon roofs.
  2. Pattern Making for Glass Fabrication - Many Vehicles in use, such as heavy construction equipment and vintage vehicles, do not have a manufactured glass part. Learn pattern making for glass replacement for these special auto glass applications.
  3. Custom Accessories - Procedures for T-top units, soft-top back-lites, van conversion glass components and vinyl roofs.
  1. Proper Use of Auto Glass Tools
  1. Tools of the Trade - Common and specialty hand and power tools used in auto glass replacement.
  1. Safe Glass Handling and Safety Equipment
  1. Safety Procedures: Part 1 - Applicable rules for personal, workplace, customer and hazardous materials safety.
  2. Safety Procedures: Part 2 - Safety standards, basic first aid and safety policies and procedures.
  1. Glass Repair
  1. Introduction to Windshield Repair: The Windshield Repair (AUDIO) - This audio course is designed to teach you about the windshield repair process and specifically about preparing the vehicle for repair, performing the repairs, and finishing the repair.
  2. Introduction to Windshield Repair: The Science of Windshield Repair (AUDIO) - This audio course is designed to teach you about the windshield repair process and specifically about the effects of environmental conditions on windshield damages and windshield repair resins.
  3. Windshield Repair Systems: Procedures and Equipment - Repairing bulls-eye breaks, star breaks, combination breaks, cracks less than six inches long, and other similar damage resulting from an object impacting a vehicle’s windshield
  4. Introduction to Windshield Repair: Introduction to the Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass (AUDIO) - This audio course is designed to teach you about the windshield repair process and specifically about components such as resin, tools, vocabulary, customer service, safety and most of all about repairable and non-repairable damages. You will also learn about some of the general principles of physics that occur during the process of repairing damages to a windshield.
  1. Customer Service and Reference Materials
  1. Auto Glass Technician Best Practices: Ensuring World-Class Quality in a Hyper-Competitive Marketplace (AUDIO) - This session took place at the 2009 Auto Glass Conference on February 20, 2009.
  2. Marketing Your Certified Technicians (VIDEO) - Learn how glass firms can use their technicians’ certification credentials to raise the bar of excellence within your organization.
  3. Operation and Maintenance of a Mobile Repair Unit - Not all auto glass repairs will take place in ideal conditions. Occasionally you will have to perform work in the field, and for that, you will need a mobile unit. This course explains the mobile unit and what you need to do to maintain it.
  4. Service Documentation - As an auto glass technician, you will need to keep detailed records of each job performed in order to protect yourself and the customer. In this course you will learn the necessary records and forms to use when documenting the service you perform.
  5. Technology Focus: Harnessing the Power of the Internet to Market Your Firm (VIDEO) - Learn how to maximize the return of your marketing dollars by effectively measuring results against the actual goals of on-line and off-line advertising.
  6. Reference Materials: Part 1 - This course provides an overview of reference resources including the National Auto Glass Specifications (NAGS) International Catalog
  7. Reference Materials: Part 2 - This course continues an overview of reference resources, including the National Auto Glass Specifications (NAGS) International Calculator and Air Bag Quick Reference Guide.

Please call CGDA Headquarters to schedule your final exam. Please allow a minimum of one week study time before taking your exam. Once you have successfully completed this exam, you will receive a certificate of completion for this course.

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