DALLAS, TX — After months of extensive research, the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) has signed a contract with On-Line Learning Systems in Toronto, Ontario, for the development of an online training program.

According to Steve Christie, executive director of AOCA, the e-learning project will allow AOCA to have its entire Technician Academy, which includes eight training modules, progress reporting and certification testing, accessible anywhere in the world via the Internet. This will include online payment of fees and automatic updating of the student database.

Among the advantages that the AOCA said the program will provide are lower training costs to lube operators, greater flexibility to meet employees’ needs, timelier test results, easily-revised content and a tracking system to record individuals’ certification progress.

CD-Roms and paper testing will still be available for fast lubes without Internet access.

AOCA said Pennzoil/Quaker State Canada provided the impetus for AOCA’s consideration of the program. “We appreciate the assistance Pennzoil gave us in this complex endeavor,” said Christie. “We are clearly two years ahead of where we would be without their help. We hope all oil companies will take a look at the program and endorse its use by their customers. It is our expectation that it will become the industry standard.”

AOCA is also considering ways that suppliers can link product training to the online Technician Academy. The program is expected to be functional by April 2005.

For more information on AOCA, visit: www.aoca.org.

_______________________________________

Click here to view the rest of today’s headlines.