What the course covers
The day runs as a blend of theory and hands-on practice, with both threaded throughout rather than a block of classroom followed by a block of practical.
You’ll start with the chemistry behind ceramic coatings – how they bond, what drives durability, and what the differences between product grades and formulations actually mean in use – before moving into surface preparation, which the course treats as the single most important phase of any coating job. Get the preparation right and everything else follows; get it wrong and even the best coating will fail early.
Preparation coverage includes decontamination, polishing, and panel wipe technique, with particular attention to the steps that most often compromise adhesion and longevity. From there you’ll cover application technique, flash and levelling times, and curing conditions in detail, along with the common application errors, how to spot them early, and how to recover when something goes wrong.
You’ll also work with multi-stage and layered coatings, safe removal when it’s needed, and the aftercare advice your clients will rely on – so you leave able to deliver a complete, professional coating service from first inspection through to handover.
A multi-brand approach
Rather than training you on a single manufacturer’s system, this course deliberately works across multiple brands and product types. The ceramic coatings market is broad and moves quickly – understanding the underlying principles rather than one fixed workflow means you can judge new products with confidence, switch between brands as your business needs, and give clients genuinely informed recommendations rather than a sales pitch for one range.
Who the group day suits
This is the small-group route to the same core coating skills we teach one-to-one, capped at five people so you still get proper hands-on time and individual guidance. Learning alongside other working detailers has its own value – you’ll see a wider range of questions, vehicles, and real-world problems than you would working alone.
Because the day moves at a professional pace, it assumes you’re already competent with preparation and decontamination – it isn’t an introduction to detailing. If you’re newer to the process, or you’d prefer dedicated one-to-one time on a date that suits your calendar, our Coatings & Protection 1-to-1 is the better fit.
On completion
You’ll receive a UK Detailing Academy certificate in ceramic coating, and the day also earns IDA Certificate Maintenance Credits towards your ongoing accreditation. Whether you’re adding coatings to an existing detailing offer or building a specialist protection service from the ground up, you’ll leave with the technical grounding and the practical competence to do it properly – with ongoing support only ever a message or phone call away.
Any questions about the course, or whether the group day or the 1-to-1 suits your current level? Get in touch and we’ll help you decide.
