Earning the title of Automotive Service Excellence World Class Technician is no small accomplishment. To be recognized as World Class, these individuals have obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas: A1-A8 (automotive), T1-T8 (medium/heavy truck), B2-B5 (collision repair), and L1-L2 (advanced).
Not only is achieving certification in these areas impressive, but as of 2026, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.
In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Mike Reynolds—an ASE World Class technician at MASS Charleston in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina—to learn more about his journey in the automotive industry and how gaining World-Class status has helped advance his career.
Motor Age: Please introduce yourself and tell us about your experience in the automotive industry.
Reynolds: I have spent over 20 years in automotive repair, specializing in ADAS calibrations, electrical diagnostics, and module programming. I have worked on everything from Classic Jalopies to brand-new luxury vehicles. I achieved ASE World Class status at age 37 in 2025.
Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?
Reynolds: As a mobile and diagnostic technician, I have enjoyed exciting wins and challenging electrical diagnoses. When I transitioned into a training and tech support role, I found it even more rewarding working through and solving problems.
In one recent example, I was working with one of our mobile technicians. They were trying to diagnose a liftgate symptom on a Honda. The Honda dealership was getting ready to replace the entire body harness, and we suspected a latch issue. Unfortunately, we were having trouble proving the fault with the available data and testing. We eventually were able to prove the harness did not need replacement. This saved everyone time and money.
Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.
Reynolds: I served as a subject matter expert in multiple L4 ADAS workshops. I have also written many case studies for training companies, articles for trade publications, and training courses to present at trade shows and training events.
It all started with a no-start diagnostic that I wrote a case study for. Before I knew it, I had opened all these doors and found opportunities I never knew existed. Believe it or not, I have learned much more outside of the bays than I have in them.
Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/ most concerned about?
Reynolds: I'm ready to get in the back seat of an autonomous vehicle and get work done, avoid small talk with a driver, and use my phone guilt-free!
I genuinely enjoy driving and the freedom it provides, but often I'm busy or just looking to get from point A to B. So, I welcome the potential autonomous vehicles offer.
Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?
Reynolds: I'm competitive by nature, and I learned early on that it wasn't too difficult to achieve higher certification than others in the shop. When looking for employment, I have always touted my ASE certification. Now—as an employer—I actively search for technicians with ASE certification and those with Master and L series certification. When we hire a technician without all their ASEs they generally start at a lower salary. Even so, a salary increase is outlined in their pay plan for when they achieve Master, L1, L3, and L4 status.
