Motor Age Technical Editor Noah Nelson sat down with host Jay Goninen of ASE on the latest episode of the Beyond the Wrench podcast to talk about his pursuit of ASE World Class Technician status, one of the toughest credentials in the trade.

Nelson traces the path that took him from his father’s shop to the technician’s bay, then a district manager and eventually the Technical Editor role at Motor Age, where he writes technical articles and produces video for the Vehicle Service and Repair Video Network. 

The second half of the episode centers on certification. Nelson explains the mindset that keeps him testing and how his World Class Journey video series is meant to help other technicians prepare for the same exams. He and Goninen also take on some of the most common misconceptions about ASE and the testing process, then wrap up with a round of rapid-fire questions.