Only a small fraction of the nearly 1 million automotive service professionals in the U.S. can call themselves World Class Technicians. Just 73 individuals earned the coveted designation in 2025, according to the Auto Care Association and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
The annual World Class Technician Award recognizes professionals who attain ASE certification in 22 specific areas in a single calendar year. Since the program’s inception more than 30 years ago, only 2,375 technicians have achieved this elite benchmark -- less than 1% of the total U.S. technician workforce. More than 250,000 technicians currently hold at least one ASE certification, but few go the extra mile to earn the comprehensive World Class title.
"This program was an excellent opportunity for me to test my knowledge and troubleshooting skills that I have acquired through training and previous work experience,” said 2025 honoree David Jenkins of Prince William Water Fleet Maintenance in Woodbridge, VA. “An achievement truly worth the investment.”
For many recipients, the award symbolizes a personal commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development.
“Achieving ASE World Class status is important to me because it reflects my ambition for excellence and constant improvement,” said Jeremy Johnson of Fitzgerald Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM in Fitzgerald, GA. “I believe it's important to stay up to date with new vehicle technologies and deliver top-quality service.”
Other honorees noted how the achievement helped build confidence and credibility in their careers. Jonas Singer of Metro Motors in Washington, D.C., who entered the industry at age 35 after two previous careers, described the designation as a pivotal milestone.
“Achieving World Class Technician status gave me the confidence to pursue my goals and allowed me to compensate for my experience with proven expertise,” Singer said. “This certification challenges you to develop a deep and broad understanding -- spanning from the fundamentals of the earliest cars to the cutting edge of future transportation engineering.”
A full list of the 2025 World Class Technician recipients can be found on the Auto Care Association’s website. More information about ASE certification programs is available at ase.com.
