Originally Posted by ultra-g
You'd be hard pressed to find a certified bike mechanic in NYC.
2 of the best shops I know hires racers from the Dominican Republic as their mechanics. At Toga, one of the mechanics, Sergio, raced at the Barcelona Olympics (he's the surly Argentinian guy). They aren't certified for crap but they know bikes.
Plus, if you had certification, it won't mean you'll be paid any better.
My experience is that young racers DON'T know that much mechanically about bikes. There are exceptions, but it definitely is not the rule.