Plc Online Training Course

In recent years, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) have become an integral part of industrial automation systems. As such, demand for professionals with expertise in PLC programming and troubleshooting has risen significantly. With the advent of online learning platforms, individuals can now access PLC courses online, providing them with the flexibility and convenience of learning at their own pace and from the comfort of their homes. This article discusses some of the best PLC courses available online, highlighting their key features and benefits.

Here’s a look at the Best Plc Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

Plc Online Training Course

1. PLC Fundamentals (Level I) by Paul Lynn (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The PLC Fundamentals (Level I) course is designed to provide beginners with the necessary tools to create a PLC program from scratch. The course covers the use of Rockwell software RSLogix 500 and FactoryTalk View Studio, and includes topics such as general controls, digital and analog IO, ladder logic programming, alarm/notification handling, HMI, emulation, and best practices. The course also includes a comprehensive walkthrough of an entire working PLC program and HMI.There are five PLC courses available for students, including PLC Fundamentals, Applied Logic (Level 2), Process Visualization (Level 3), IEC Paradigms (Level 4), and TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5). PLC Fundamentals teaches ladder logic programming and provides all the necessary software to create and run programs live on a student’s computer. Applied Logic (Level 2) challenges students to solve progressively harder problems unassisted, while Process Visualization (Level 3) covers five different HMI/SCADA development environments. IEC Paradigms (Level 4) is for advanced learners, teaching programming using all five IEC programming languages in multiple environments. TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) is a complex and massive project that utilizes all five PLC programming languages in parallel.The PLC Fundamentals course is divided into sections, including Introduction, PLC Programming Overview, IO (Inputs and Outputs), Programming Fundamentals, Program Setup, IO Programming, Process Logic, Alarms and Notifications, HMI (Human Machine Interface), Communications, Program Walkthru (Line by Line), Shakedown/Debugging, Supplemental Material for Further Study, and Conclusion. The goal of the course is to provide students with a solid foundation in PLC programming using ladder logic.

2. Applied Logic (Level 2) by Paul Lynn (Udemy)

The course Applied Logic (Level 2) is designed to provide intermediate-level students with experience in originating complex, logical solutions. The course is intended for PLC programmers who often work alone without support. The course is based on the theoretical training received in PLC Programming from Scratch and focuses on constructing original ladder logic applications to solve everyday, industrial problems.

The course uses Rockwell software RSLogix 500, RSLinx and RSLogix 500 Emulate. Students will be given various descriptions/specifications for programs and expected to write each one from scratch. The course is 100% practical and contains no refreshers. Students are expected to know how to use blocks like XIC, XIO, OTE, ONS, SCP, JSR, and etc. This is an intermediate course with a prerequisite course before it.

The course is designed to challenge students and expects them to struggle through the problems. This course is not like the previous course, which had a safe, friendly, positive learning environment with group hugs and hand-holding. This is boot camp, where students are thrown into the deep end of the swimming pool. Students who want to learn what it’s like being a PLC programmer and get frustrated, wrack their brain trying to solve hard problems should take this course.

The course Applied Logic (Level 2) is part of a series of five PLC courses that the instructor teaches. The series includes PLC Fundamentals (Level 1), Applied Logic (Level 2), Process Visualization (Level 3), IEC Paradigms (Level 4), and TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5). Each course builds on the previous one, providing a comprehensive PLC programming education.

3. Learn 5 PLCs in a Day-AB, Siemens, Schneider, Omron & Delta by Rajvir Singh, Rajvir Singh (Udemy)

The Learn 5 PLCs in a Day course offers training on PLC programming for Allen Bradley, Delta, Siemens, Omron, and Schneider. The course, instructed by Rajvir Singh and Rajvir Singh, aims to provide a motivational learning platform by incorporating high-quality video tutorials, PLC E-books, test manuals, circuit diagrams, and text tutorials. Students will learn how to wire, design, and program a PLC, which is a crucial skill in today’s process and manufacturing industries. The course also includes quizzes to evaluate learning progress.

The course’s content includes 230+ video tutorials, PLC presentations, circuits, and codes, as well as doubt-clearing complimentary live sessions. Students will learn ladder logic programming and analog cards programming, such as 04 AD Analog to Digital, 04DA Digital to Analog, Allen Bradley IF2OF2, and Siemens Inbuilt in S7-200 XP. The course also provides free PLC simulation software for practice.

The course material is designed to provide quality education in industrial automation control systems to help students acquire knowledge to improve productivity and profitability of machines and troubleshoot systems faster. The course is offered online, making it accessible to students and engineers worldwide. The course content includes sections on Delta PLC, Allen Bradley Micro 850 PLC, Allen Bradley PLC Micrologix 1000, Siemens PLC S7-200, Schneider PLC, Understanding Industrial Sensors, Delta HMI, Omron CP1E, Understanding Encoders, Micrologix 1400 PLC, PLC Box Sorting Project, PLC Batching, and PLC Troubleshooting and Maintenance.

Overall, the Learn 5 PLCs in a Day course provides comprehensive training on PLC programming for various brands, with an emphasis on practical applications and hands-on experience.

4. From Wire to PLC , A Bootcamp In Industrial Automation by Mouhammad Hamsho (Udemy)

The course titled From Wire to PLC: A Bootcamp in Industrial Automation is designed to teach students how to build fully functional electrical automation projects from scratch. The course covers basic electrical concepts, components, and circuits, modern motor driving equipment, protection components, wiring, and cable sizing, as well as sensors and their application in real projects. Additionally, this course offers tutoring on PLC programming using various languages, such as Ladder Logic, Structured Text, Functional Block Diagram, and continues flow chart, among others. Furthermore, this course includes Allen Bradley training, human user interface design and animation, web/phone-based visualization, and two A to Z compilation projects.

This intensive course walks students through the entire process of designing their own projects step by step, starting with introducing the most fundamental components and concepts that students should be familiar with to keep up with the course. The course then progresses to two real-world compilation projects that sum up everything students have learned. The course utilizes simulations instead of hardware, allowing students to follow along without purchasing equipment. The software used in the course is free, and no license is required.

The course is intended for Electrical/Electronics/Computer/Control/Mechatronics or industrial engineering graduates/students interested in learning the automation design field. Additionally, graduate engineering students preparing for a job in the industrial automation field, and people interested in learning PLC programming with real-life examples can benefit from this course. It is also useful for people who know how to program a PLC but have no idea how to conduct a full electrical automation project from scratch. Lastly, Mechanical engineers who want to do the electrical and automation parts of their projects can also benefit from this course.

The skills taught in this course are applicable to any industrial manufacturing project, be it a large factory with hundreds of robots or a small machine with a couple of sensors. Thousands of companies are looking for employees with these skills, making it possible to find work in almost any city in the world.

5. Process Visualization (Level 3) by Paul Lynn (Udemy)

The course titled Process Visualization (Level 3) is an opportunity for PLC programmers to learn about HMI and SCADA. The course will enable them to develop their own live interfaces for a running system to monitor automated processes, set operating parameters, and acquire and warehouse data from a running system. The course covers multiple solutions available in the market that can be used to accomplish these tasks. Students will work hands-on with various technologies, including Wonderware, InduSoft, EasyBuilder 5000, AdvancedHMI, FactoryTalk View Studio, and C-More. By the end of the course, students will have working experience with most of what people are using in the world of automation today.

The course consists of five PLC courses, including PLC Fundamentals (Level 1), Applied Logic (Level 2), Process Visualization (Level 3), IEC Paradigms (Level 4), and TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5). PLC Fundamentals (Level 1) focuses on ladder logic, the most popular PLC programming language, and teaches everything necessary to make a PLC perform as desired. Applied Logic (Level 2) is an unassisted problem-solving course where students are given a spec and have to make it work. Process Visualization (Level 3) provides knowledge and experience in five different HMI/SCADA development environments. IEC Paradigms (Level 4) teaches programming using all five IEC programming languages in multiple environments, and TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) is the culmination of everything.

The course has various sections and covers topics, including an introduction, concepts of HMI and SCADA, the theory of process visualization, overview of tools and technologies, drivers, and communications. The course also covers several projects using different technologies, including C-More, FactoryTalk View Studio, AdvancedHMI, EasyBuilder 5000, and Wonderware.

6. IEC Paradigms (Level 4) by Paul Lynn (Udemy)

The IEC Paradigms course (Level 4) is an advanced programming course offering instruction in five different programming languages, plus one proprietary language, used for programmable logic controllers (PLC). In addition to instruction in the paradigms, the course also focuses on developing a comfort level with various development environments. Students will work with the Logix5000 environment, AB’s Connected Components Workbench, and ABB’s Automation Builder. The latter will offer hands-on experience with all five IEC paradigms, as well as the proprietary language, with the ability to simulate and run code in real-time.

The PLC Fundamentals course (Level 1) teaches the basics of programming using ladder logic, the most popular PLC programming language. Students are provided with software to create and run their own programs on their computer. The Applied Logic course (Level 2) offers progressively harder problem-solving tasks to develop competency in programming. Process Visualization (Level 3) covers five different HMI/SCADA development environments and students will create multiple visualization projects that can be run on their own computer. The IEC Paradigms course (Level 4) is the most challenging, with instruction in five programming languages plus one proprietary language, and multiple environments. The TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) is a culminating project where students will program a power plant using all five PLC programming languages in parallel, with a full HMI.

The course is divided into sections, including an introduction to programming paradigms and environments, a comparison between RSLogix 5000 and 500, instruction in programming with both connected components workbench and automation builder (CoDeSys), and a conclusion. The course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the paradigms and development environments used in PLC programming.

7. TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) by Paul Lynn (Udemy)

The TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) course is designed to teach learners how to create complete PLC and HMI solutions from scratch in TIA Portal through hands-on training. The course covers Siemens PLC and HMI programming end-to-end and top-to-bottom, focusing on creating a complete program for a theoretical system using various programming paradigms. The course also teaches learners how to create PLC programs, HMI projects, simulate both, and make them communicate with each other. The course is suitable for learners who have a basic understanding of digital and analog signals, PLC, HMI, and programming paradigms.

The course instructor, Paul Lynn, offers other PLC programming courses for learners who are not yet ready for Level 5. These courses cover PLC fundamentals, applied logic, process visualization, and IEC paradigms. The courses are designed to teach learners how to program with a focus on ladder logic, solve progressively harder problems unassisted, gain knowledge and experience in five different HMI/SCADA development environments, and program using all five IEC programming languages in multiple environments.

The TIA Portal Master Project (Level 5) course covers various topics, including the introduction, installation and setup, TIA Portal quick start, LAD, FBD, SCL, STL, and GRAPH programming fundamentals, HMI programming fundamentals, project overview, programming power plant IO, HOAs, alarms, system modes, operational sequences, control loops, hour meter, and HMI. The course concludes with debugging the HMI.

Learners are advised to have a fully-functional 21-day trial version of the software to follow along with the course. The course is available at a cost of ten dollars on PLC Dojo. The course is designed to help learners develop a high comfort level with Siemens technology and showcase their talents in an interview.

8. PLC Programming – Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000 by Vladimir Romanov (Udemy)

This course titled PLC Programming – Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000 is taught by Vladimir Romanov, a controls engineer equipped with PLC systems – Allen Bradley RSLogix 500. It covers the basic topics of what a PLC is and how it processes inputs and outputs. Additionally, students will participate in hands-on labs and practice sessions designed to simulate real-world scenarios and strengthen knowledge of PLCs. Quizzes are administered at the end of each section to ensure understanding of the material before moving on.

Although hardware and software are not required, practicing with an emulator or browsing through data sheets and manuals is highly recommended. The objective of the course is to prepare students for entry-level PLC technician positions. By the end of the course, students will have a good understanding of what a PLC is, be able to create basic ladder logic programs, troubleshoot complex ones, create simple Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens, and have a good understanding of manufacturing systems as a whole.

The course is targeted towards electrical engineers, electrical technicians/electricians, software engineers seeking to learn about controlling hardware, manufacturing operators looking to progress in their careers, and anyone interested in how manufacturing processes are executed. The course is divided into sections covering topics such as PLC hardware and software, ladder logic concepts and best practices, and HMI development on FactoryTalk View ME Edition.

In summary, this course provides a comprehensive introduction to PLC programming from scratch and is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions. It covers the basics of PLCs and offers ample opportunities for hands-on practice. Quizzes are administered to ensure students have a thorough understanding of the material before moving on to the next section. The course is recommended for anyone interested in controls engineering, manufacturing systems, and related fields.

9. Factory Automation using PLC Logics by Rajvir Singh, Rajvir Singh (Udemy)

The course Factory Automation using PLC Logics is designed for individuals who seek quick learning on real-time industrial applications such as sorting and packaging. The course is taught by instructors Rajvir Singh and Rajvir Singh. The course utilizes advanced software such as FACTORY I/O and CONTROL I/O to explain PLC Logics. FACTORY I/O is a state-of-the-art 3D simulation software that provides a highly realistic simulation of industrial systems. It has the capability to immerse users in a 3D industrial environment with high-quality graphics, physics, and dynamic sound. Users have the ability to edit pre-built industrial systems or create new ones. All systems are interactive and can be controlled by a wide range of technologies. The standard license for FACTORY I/O has limited/unlimited access to all drivers and the SDK, which enables inter-process communication between FACTORY I/O and the user’s own applications. With the Open (SDK), users can develop their own drivers and use CONTROL I/O.This course is an educational and training tool for individuals in industrial automation, industrial mechanics, industrial maintenance, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and mechatronics. The simulation is fully interactive, includes cutting-edge physics, and provides a realistic environment. FACTORY I/O uses an innovative technology that allows for an easy and quick creation of 3D industrial systems through a drag and drop approach. The course content consists of sections that cover the introduction to FACTORY I/O, understanding its essential parts, industrial conveyors, industrial sorters, industrial sensors and operators, pick and place actuators, elevators and cranes, building industrial systems, and simulating via Connect IO. The course also includes an exercise using Delta PLC.

10. Allen Bradley PLC Training – RSLogix 5000 Series by Shane Welcher (Udemy)

This course, titled Allen Bradley PLC Training – RSLogix 5000 Series, is designed for individuals with no prior experience in PLC programming. The course instructors, Shane Welcher, will guide participants through the fundamentals of Rockwell Automation PLC controls using RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000. The course aims to equip participants with knowledge on programming, troubleshooting, and understanding PLC controls.

The course boasts over 20 hours of video training on RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 controls. Shane Welcher operates a successful YouTube channel on PLC programming and runs a website called Online PLC Support, which provides free training resources. As part of his mission to continuously raise the bar, Shane plans to add revisions and videos to the course from time to time.

The course content is divided into several sections, including an introduction, understanding RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 Logix Designer, setting RSLinx driver for Ethernet communication, Ladder Logic programming, using a GSV instruction with a UDT, and setting up produced and consumed data. The course also covers topics such as making an Add-On Instruction, Jump To SubRoutine Parameter Passing, RSLogix 5000 FIFO instruction set, CPU health checking using the task monitor, fault capturing routine for processor faults, PID tuning and trending, flashing firmware on Control Logix processors, Function Block Programming, Structured Text Programming, and Sequential Function Chart Programming.

Overall, this course provides a comprehensive and detailed training program for Rockwell Automation PLC controls using RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the core values needed to program, troubleshoot, and have an in-depth knowledge of PLC controls. The course also provides free training resources through the instructor’s website and YouTube channel.