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 becoming World Class is no small feat. As of 2025, only 2,000 technicians have achieved World Class status.

In this Q&A, Motor Age sat down with Rogell Hamilton — an ASE World Class technician and instructor at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois — 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.

Hamilton: My interest came from working with my dad in the garage. We didn't do anything really heavy, just typical maintenance. But that drove my interest in vehicles.

I took auto shop in high school. From there, I was introduced to the University Technical Institute in Lisle, Illinois. It wasn't too far from my home, so after high school, I went straight to UTI for automotive and diesel, with every intention of working at a car dealership, working on diesel pickup trucks. 

But when I got to the diesel side. I found I enjoyed working on semis. I thought it was more interesting. I had more fun doing it, so I picked semis, and from there, I was recruited by Travel Centers of America.

I now teach at Thornton Township High School, and I got my ASE World Class Status in 2025.

Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?   

Hamilton: A fuel injector return line on a Gen 1 6.7 Power Stroke in an F-550 ambulance. This was my first time completing this repair without a manual.

I had to step back multiple times to see what components needed to be removed throughout the repair to complete the repair. While diving into the repair, I noticed the engine oil in the turbocharger and charge-air-cooler and the glow plug module connector partially melted with battery acid. So the job just got bigger and bigger.

Once I completed the fuel line and started the engine, I found that there was excessive blow-by in the crankcase.

The blow-by was caused by a broken fuel injector tip, which is what caused the fuel return line to blow and damaged the cylinder walls. So all in all, a simple fuel line turned into a new engine. 

Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.

Hamilton: I used to build model cars as a kid.

Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/ most concerned about?     

Hamilton: I'm most concerned about EVs. Just because our infrastructure can't handle it as of yet, so I'm concerned about that.

 I'm excited about new technology and training. I was just at the ASE conference in Dallas, Texas, and I saw all different kinds of technology with AI and Oculus goggles and things like that for training and also for diagnostics.

Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?

Hamilton: It's been everything in my career. From the monetary standpoint of getting raises with each certification, to being able to instruct.

I don't think I would be a trainer today without having that kind of experience or these certifications.