Hands-On Paint Correction Training

Paint correction training that turns good detailers into specialists.

Learn wet sanding, compounding, rotary and dual-action polishing, and swirl-free finishing under one of the most respected paint correction specialists in the world. One-on-one days, 3-day intensives, and 5-day certification events — built for working detailers and shop owners who want to produce flawless paint and charge what it's worth.

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What Is Paint Correction Training?

Remove swirls, scratches, and oxidation — the right way, the first time.

Paint correction training is hands-on instruction in the tools, chemicals, and technique used to permanently remove defects from automotive paint and finish it to a flawless, swirl-free shine. It's the single highest-value skill a detailer can master — and the one most likely to be self-taught badly.

Most detailers learn paint correction off YouTube, burn through product, and still leave holograms, micro-marring, and buffer trails in the paint. Our paint correction training replaces guesswork with a repeatable process: you'll read paint and measure clear-coat thickness before you ever touch a pad, then move through wet sanding, compounding, rotary and dual-action (DA) polishing, and jeweling under direct supervision until the finish holds up to a swirl light. You don't memorize a recipe — you learn to make the right call on any panel, any paint, every time.

Because correction and protection go together, every program also covers ceramic coating prep, application, and quality control — so you walk away able to sell and deliver complete correction-and-coating packages, not just a one-step polish. This is the same training pipeline we use to develop technicians in our own shops, taught by people who do the work every single day.

The Curriculum

What you'll learn in paint correction training.

A complete, hands-on path from defect diagnosis to a finished, coated panel.

Paint Reading & Assessment

Identify defect types and depth before you correct.

  • Reading swirls, RIDS, etching & oxidation
  • Clear-coat thickness gauging
  • Risk assessment & when not to cut
  • Building a correction plan per panel

Wet Sanding

Level deep defects and orange peel safely.

  • Hand & machine sanding technique
  • Grit progression & spot testing
  • Controlling cut and heat
  • Refining sanding marks out cleanly

Compounding & Polishing

The core of correction — rotary and DA mastery.

  • Rotary: speed, pressure, heat control
  • Dual-action finishing passes
  • Pad & compound selection
  • Jeweling for a swirl-free, deep gloss

Multi-Stage Correction

Production-ready workflow for real shops.

  • One-, two-, and three-stage systems
  • Sectioning a vehicle for consistency
  • Fixing common correction mistakes
  • QC under proper inspection lighting

Ceramic Coating

Lock in the finish you just created.

  • Surface prep & panel wipe-down
  • Silica & graphene coating application
  • Avoiding high spots & flashing issues
  • Inspection & maintenance handoff

Pricing & Selling It

Turn the skill into real margin.

  • Pricing correction & coating packages
  • Setting client expectations & warranties
  • Upselling correction at intake
  • Positioning as the specialist in your market
Who It's For

Built for detailers serious about the craft.

  • Detailers ready to move beyond one-step polishes
  • Shop owners building a high-end correction service
  • Technicians who want their rotary work sharpened
  • New detailers who want to learn it right the first time
  • Teams — bring your crew and train together
Why Detailing Essentials

Taught by operators, not lecturers.

Most paint correction courses hand you a single product recipe and send you home. We teach decision-making on real vehicles, in small groups, under instructors who run production correction every day. You leave with documented standards and SOPs, a certification, and an online community for follow-up support — plus a post-event check-in to make sure it's actually working in your shop.

It's not just technique. It's the business behind the skill: how to price it, sell it, and become the obvious choice for correction in your area.

Your Instructor

Learn paint correction from a world-class specialist.

World-Class Paint Correction

Jason Killmer

Paint Correction Specialist · Ceramic Coating Master

Jason is one of the most recognized paint correction specialists in the world. He covers wet sanding, rotary, and DA polishing, and the kind of finishing work that separates good shops from great ones. Alongside him, Devin Freimarck — seven years training under industry veteran Jonathan Monson — brings the production systems that make correction repeatable at scale.

What a day with Jason covers

  • Wet sanding — when, where, and how to do it safely
  • Rotary work — heat control, paint reading, correction
  • DA polishing — finishing passes, jeweling, swirl-free results
  • Paint thickness gauging and risk assessment
  • Multi-stage ceramic coating workflow
  • Quality-control standards used by world-class shops
$2,000
PER DAY · 1-ON-1 OR YOUR TEAM
Travel additional. Curriculum built around your shop's biggest gaps. Multi-day bookings available.
Book Jason →
Training Formats & Pricing

Three ways to get certified.

Pick the format that matches where you're at. Every option is hands-on and limited-seat.

1-on-1 Day

Private Paint Correction Day

A full day built entirely around you or your team with Jason Killmer — correction, finishing, and the exact gaps holding your work back.

$2,000
per day · 1-on-1 or your team
Book a Day →
Most Popular · 3 Days

Paint Correction & Ceramic Intensive

Three days, no fluff — paint correction and ceramic coating with Devin and Jason. For techs and owners who want to specialize and command higher prices.

$2,995
per person · Aug 10–12 & Sep 7–9
Reserve a Seat →
Full Immersion · 5 Days

5-Day Flagship Immersion

Everything in correction and ceramic, plus production detailing and the business, sales, and marketing systems to scale your shop.

$3,995
per person · next event Jul 6–10
Reserve a Seat →

Want the full event calendar, group bookings, and the SEMA VIP experience? See all Detailing Essentials trainings & events →

What every paint correction program includes

  • All chemicals, polishes, and ceramic products for hands-on training
  • Workbooks, SOPs, and digital resources you keep forever
  • A Detailing Essentials paint correction certification
  • Access to the Detailing Essentials community for follow-up support
  • One-on-one Q&A access with instructors throughout
  • Post-event check-in to make sure you're applying what you learned
Paint Correction Training FAQ

Questions detailers ask before booking.

What is paint correction training?

Paint correction training is hands-on instruction in the tools, chemicals, and technique used to permanently remove swirls, scratches, oxidation, and other defects from automotive paint. You learn paint reading, wet sanding, compounding, rotary and dual-action (DA) polishing, jeweling, and how to finish to a swirl-free shine — then how to price and sell the work.

Do I need experience to take a paint correction course?

No. Our paint correction training meets you where you are. Beginners learn the fundamentals safely on practice panels and real vehicles, while experienced detailers and shop owners use the time to refine rotary technique, paint reading, and multi-stage correction. Training is tailored to your skill level and your shop's goals.

How long is the paint correction training?

We offer three formats: a 1-on-1 day built entirely around your needs, a 3-day Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating Intensive, and a 5-day flagship immersion that adds production detailing and the business, sales, and marketing systems to scale your shop.

How much does paint correction training cost?

A 1-on-1 paint correction day with Jason Killmer is $2,000. The 3-day Paint Correction & Ceramic Coating Intensive is $2,995 per person. The 5-day flagship immersion is $3,995 per person and includes all chemicals, polishes, and ceramic products used during hands-on training.

Who teaches the paint correction training?

Hands-on paint correction is led by Jason Killmer, one of the most recognized paint correction specialists in the world, alongside Devin Freimarck, who has trained for seven years under industry veteran Jonathan Monson. You're learning from working detailers who do this every day, not lecturers.

Will I get a certification?

Yes. Graduates leave with a Detailing Essentials paint correction certification, the documented standards and SOPs used in our own shops, and access to the Detailing Essentials community for follow-up support after the event.

Does the course cover ceramic coating too?

Yes. Because correction and protection go hand in hand, every format covers ceramic coating prep, application, and quality control so you can offer correction-and-coating packages and command higher prices.

Ready to level up?

Text Jonathan to lock in your paint correction training.

Whether it's a 1-on-1 paint correction day with Jason or a seat at our next 3-day intensive — the fastest way to get on the schedule is to text or call directly.