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 Brian LaCroix — an ASE World Class technician and instructor at Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) in Albany, New York — 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.
LaCroix: I always loved small engines, power sports, and being outside. I found an automotive repair program when I was in high school, and I was able to get enrolled in that and did quite well.
While I was in that program, I placed first in Vermont State for the fourth AAA competition. That secured me a full-ride scholarship for college.
After graduating from college, I secured an internship at a Ford dealer, and I spent seven years with two different Ford dealers. I became a Ford Senior Master Technician and a Mazda Master Technician.
From there, I had an opportunity to start teaching at a local high school, and I've been there for the past 19 years. This is my 20th year. I earned my World Class status in 2021.
Motor Age: What's the most memorable repair you've ever completed?
LaCroix: I always enjoyed the tough-to-diagnose repairs. I always enjoyed the challenge.
Motor Age: Tell us one thing about you that we can't guess from your certifications.
LaCroix: I volunteer for a local snowmobile club in Vermont. It’s one of my passions, my hobbies. It’s the largest club in Vermont State. They have four snowcats, and I help perform maintenance and repairs on those.
I also volunteer for trail maintenance year-round. I'm the past president of the snowmobile club, and we do a lot of charity fundraising work for local charities.
Motor Age: What automotive technology trend are you most excited about/ most concerned about?
LaCroix: I’m excited about all the new technology, electric or high-voltage systems, and ADAS systems.
I'm most concerned about technicians' resistance to learning those systems, specifically EVs. While EVs are not an answer for everyone, the high-voltage systems in the vehicles have a lot of applications, and I think learning that technology and understanding it is very useful.
It seems like a lot of technicians are just resistant to learning, just because they don't feel like that's the answer moving forward. I feel like we're going to see those systems moving forward forever, maybe not in the same capacity that we see them today, but as an evolutionary change.
Motor Age: How has ASE certification helped advance your career?
LaCroix: Having the ASE credentials at the dealership I worked for always equated to a pay raise.
It was also a requirement when I started to teach, and having more than the required amount helped me get the job over other applicants.
