BEDFORD, TEXAS, May 31, 2006 - The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announced today that its Automotive Service Management Course is available in an online format on the Institute's web site: www.AMIonline.org. This 18-credit course is required for completion of the Institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.

This is the first AMI course to be offered online. It also is available to students in a self-study print format. "Our goal is to provide easy access to AMI education. This new online format is user-friendly, interactive and easy to follow," said AMI Executive Director Toni Slaton, AAM.

The Automotive Service Management Course is an introduction to three of the most critical business development skills: sales and marketing, personnel management, and financial and business management. Sales and Marketing addresses the challenges of finding and keeping a solid customer base. Personnel Management dissects the hiring process and helps pinpoint applicant recruitment and selection criteria. This segment includes writing a job description, finding qualified applicants and selecting the right employee. The Financial and Business Management segment provides an understanding of financial statements and how productivity and efficiency affect the bottom line.

"This format gives students the flexibility and convenience to take the course when it fits their busy schedule. Students can take the course in one setting or complete it in modules to best accommodate their needs," said John Francis, Jr., AAM, AMI Board of Trustees chairman.

AMI was established to answer the demand for continuing education tailored specifically for the business needs of the automotive service industry. The Institute offers the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, the first business management accreditation exclusively for the automotive service professional. To date, AMI programs have attracted more than 132,000 enrollments throughout North America. AMI is a not-for-profit educational foundation to which tax-deductible contributions can be made. For more information about the Institute, its curriculum, or EXCEL, please contact AMI at (800) 272-7467 ext. 241, or visit the AMI Web site at www.amionline.org.