"....then talk to the tech, ask to see his Volvo update class plaques(or whatever their called)"

This is somewhat funny to me because in my present dealership (and the one before that), they don't want my plaque up where customers can see it because not all techs have them and it makes the other techs look bad in comparison. So mine is now in a box in my basement. I do keep my 2 filled school certification books in my tool box however.