Have you been wanting to delve into the world of PLC programming, but found that you were spoiled for choice as you searched for a course online? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
We have put together a list of the best PLC programming courses available online.
Our list includes courses for beginners with no prior experience in this field, complete with certifications and several hours of video footage explaining various concepts in great detail.
We’ve ranked the following courses based on the highest number of 5-star ratings, student reviews, and instructor quality.
- The Best PLC Training Courses Online
- 1. PLC Fundamentals (Level 1) (Udemy)
- 2. Learn 5 PLCs in a Day-AB, Siemens, Schneider, Omron & Delta (Udemy)
- 3. Allen Bradley PLC Training – RSLogix 5000 Series (Udemy)
- 4. From Wire to PLC: A Bootcamp In Industrial Automation (Udemy)
- 5. Factory Automation using PLC Logics (Udemy)
- 6. PLC Programming – Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000 (Udemy)
- 7. Learn Siemens S7-1200 PLC & HMI from Scratch using TIA (Udemy)
- 8. Learning PLC Ladder Logic (LinkedIn Learning)
- 9. Free Online PLC Course (Automation Community)
The Best PLC Training Courses Online
1. PLC Fundamentals (Level 1) (Udemy)
This is the best PLC training course available online!
We have ranked this course as number one because it is the perfect course for beginners with no prior experience in PLC. This course will provide learners with the skills and essential tools necessary to create a PLC program from scratch.
Here is a list of some of what you’ll learn in this course:
- By the end of this course, you will be able to create a PLC program from scratch.
- This course’s primary and overall objective is to give a novice an understanding of PLC programming, ladder logic, and the inner workings of a standard HMI (Human-Machine Interface).
- The difference between digital and analog signals and how to bring them into a PLC, process them, and send them back out.
- A sufficient variety of ladder logic instructions to create a complete PLC program from scratch.
- Basic, standard control techniques for things like HOA control, level control, pump control, and (on at least an introductory level) PID control loops.
- An understanding of alarm and notification programming, and the relevant considerations to safety and operator usability.
- HMI development and how an HMI program works.
Paul Lynn teaches this bestselling course. His PLC and HMI experience includes projects from $10,000 up to about $40 million, primarily within the realm of chemical processing and filtration. He is also experienced in programming Rockwell, Siemens, and a handful of other smaller technologies.
Beginner-level students have praised the introductory-level content, Lynn’s simple teaching style, and the easily understandable language used. This course comes with over ten hours of video footage, 99 lectures, nine articles, three downloadable resources, access on mobile devices and television, and a certificate of completion.
This bestselling PLC training course has a 4.6-star rating on Udemy, and over 51,000 students have signed up for it.
Review by Gareth Davies:
I had no prior knowledge of PLC programming, and so I needed a course that started with the absolute basics, and this course seemed ideal. I like Paul’s teaching style, and by halfway through the course, I realized how much I had learned.
2. Learn 5 PLCs in a Day-AB, Siemens, Schneider, Omron & Delta (Udemy)
We would recommend this course to PLC programmers, production and maintenance engineers, and technicians interested in learning more about ladder logic programming, PLC wiring concepts, and troubleshooting. This PLC programming course includes a free PLC Simulation Software for practice.
Rajvir Singh teaches this course. Singh is a Mechatronic Engineer involved in Control circuit designing and flexible course designing in various elements of Automation like PLC, PID, HMI & Drives – VFD & Servo, Connect I/O, Home I/O, and Factory Automation.
Features of the Course:
- Over 32 hours of video footage
- 260 lectures
- 24 articles
- 36 downloadable resources
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of Completion
What You’ll Learn:
- Introduction to Delta PLC trainer
- Types of Timers in Delta PLC
- How to use internal memories of PLC
- Understanding Rising and Falling Edge – a critical command in many applications
- Delta PLC Application Projects
- Allen Bradley Analog Card Tutorials
- Understanding industrial sensors – principles, wiring, and examples
- Understanding encoders – incremental types
- PLC troubleshooting and maintenance
Over 17,000 students have signed up for this course, and it has a 4.4-star rating on Udemy.
Review by Aditya Sadhukhan:
This is an excellent course. I am a 3rd-year undergraduate student of Mechanical engineering & I didn’t have the basic concept of “Relay.” Now I have a clear idea about PLC. This course will be beneficial for beginners. Our instructor has introduced this course from a very basic level which helped me a lot. I learned so many interesting things that I would not have known if I did not take this course, especially the logic behind industrial automation. The second thing that I love about this course is using simulation software. Sharing thoughts is a great thing, and I definitely will share my knowledge with my classmates. I love this course. I will definitely take another online course in the future. Last but not least, the course is very informative, and it is a nice experience for me.
3. Allen Bradley PLC Training – RSLogix 5000 Series (Udemy)
We would recommend this next course to learners with no prior PLC programming experience. You will learn PLC programming from scratch using RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000. If you have been searching for a course teaching you about the complete setup and PLC controls in the RSLogix 5000 or Studio 500 software, then this course is for you! Additionally, if you have some knowledge of PLCs but you are looking for a few tricks of the trade, then you’ve come to the right place.
Shane Welcher teaches this course. He has 18 years of experience in the machinery automation industry with PLC and HMI interfaces. Welcher has also worked with Rockwell Automation software for 16 years.
Features of the Course:
- Over 21 hours of video footage
- 87 lectures
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- Understanding what RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000 are
- Setting RSLinx Driver for ethernet communication
- RSLogix 5000 Ladder Logic Programming
- Using a GSV without a UDT
- Function block programming with RSLogix 5000 and Studio 5000
- Structured text programming
- Sequential function chart programming
Over 2,000 students have signed up for this course, and it has a 4.3-star rating on Udemy.
Review by Tim Edwards:
This is the first Udemy course I have taken. I have 15+ years of experience with Siemens and have two years of experience with Modicon programming. I am being assigned to Rockwell PLC projects and want to start off with the best foot forward. What I have seen so far and how the course is laid out give me high hopes of being a success.
4. From Wire to PLC: A Bootcamp In Industrial Automation (Udemy)
The next item on our list is another course aimed at beginners interested in learning about building electrical automation systems from scratch, PLC programming, and HMI. However, if you have any basic knowledge in programming and circuits, it would be helpful but unnecessary.
Mouhammed Hamsho teaches this course. He is an electrical and electronics engineer with a passion for programming and systems integration. Hamsho has designed industrial automation projects from small machines to large production lines and automated factories and is experienced in programming control panels for PLC/DCS, HMI, and SCADA. Additionally, he has experience with programming platforms from Schneider, ABB, Siemens, Delta, and Allen Bradley.
Features of the Course:
- Over 17 hours of video footage
- 30 articles
- Six downloadable resources
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of Completion
What You’ll Learn:
- Design Factories Automation from A to Z
- Design Automation Electrical Panels
- Draw Schematics for Electrical panels
- Calculation of cable sizes for any project
- Design Motor driving control circuits
- Get knowledge and hands-on experience in using VFD
- Learn to program PLC in Ladder Diagram (LD)
- Learn to program PLC in Functional Blocks (FB)
- Learn to program PLC in Structured Text (ST)
- Learn to program PLC in Continuous Flow Chart (CFC)
- Design Human User Interface (HMI)
- Design protection for electrical panel
- Learn about the different sensors that exist in the industry
Over 11,000 students have signed up for this course, and it has a 4.7-star rating on Udemy.
Review by Gregory Davis:
Great Course. I highly recommend anyone take this course if you desire to go into Industrial Automation. You get a solid foundation that will give you the confidence to start your job. This course is worth 200x the amount that I paid. It covers Power Distribution all the way to the PLC. You get CAD and Programming with this course. The 16 hours covered are VERY FAST and well worth the time invested.
5. Factory Automation using PLC Logics (Udemy)
This course is one we’d recommend to mechatronics engineers, electrical or electronics engineers, instrumentation technicians, and engineering students. As mentioned in the course description on Udemy, This course has been created for the users who want quick learning on real-time industrial applications like Sorting, Packaging, etc. The creators have used high-end software like FACTORY I/O and CONTROL I/O to explain PLC Logics.
Factory I/O is the world’s first flexible 3D simulation software that simulates industrial systems to a new level. Factory I/O immerses users in a realistic 3D industrial environment with state-of-the-art graphics, physics, and dynamic sound. With this real-time sandbox, users can edit pre-built industrial systems or build new ones. All designs are completely interactive and can be controlled by a wide range of technologies.
Rajvir Singh also teaches this course. Singh is a Mechatronic Engineer involved in Control circuit designing and flexible course designing in various elements of Automation like PLC, PID, HMI & Drives – VFD & Servo, Connect I/O, Home I/O, and Factory Automation.
Feature of the Course:
- Over six and a half hours of video footage
- Nine articles
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- To learn how to build Industrial Automation System as per the application
- Understanding the mechanics of installing sensors and actuators in machines
- Simulating your industrial system with PLC Logics
- Testing and analyzing the feasibility of the project.
This course is one of the highest-rated PLC courses on Udemy. It has a 4.6-star rating, and over 3,000 students have signed up for it.
Review by Haiany Christine Abreu:
A very good course! The instructor is very clear and careful with the little things. Introduces every single component of Factory IO and then starts the practical exercises.
6. PLC Programming – Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000 (Udemy)
This PLC programming course will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to land a job as an entry-level PLC technician. The lectures in the course cover essential topics such as what a PLC is used for and how it’s able to receive and process inputs and outputs. Additionally, there are hands-on lab and practical sessions, where the instructor will give you specific scenarios to work with, along with helpful tips. The end of each section includes a quiz, allowing you to test your knowledge. We would highly recommend this course to electricians and electrical engineers, technicians, and learners interested in learning more about how an industrial process works.
Vladimir Romanov teaches this course. He has been in the electrical industry for five years, programs PLCs, HMIs, Robotics, and Vision Systems.
Features of the Course:
- Over 14 hours of video footage
- 91 lectures
- Six articles
- Five downloadable resources
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- Understand how a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) works
- Understand how to program a PLC
- Showcase several completed projects to an employer
- How to pass a technical PLC interview
Over 5,000 students have signed up for this bestselling course, and it has a 4.5-star rating on Udemy.
Review by Michelle Fugleberg Jensen:
I have an M.sc degree in energy, where we learned a little about the PLC and SCADA and how it was connected to the real world. But that was about it, except for a little hands-on experience with a Siemens PLC block. After the end of my education, I felt in the job description that I needed more experience within the field of PLC to get a job. That’s why I am taking this course, and so far, it is very understandable and has good examples of why the PLC is important.
7. Learn Siemens S7-1200 PLC & HMI from Scratch using TIA (Udemy)
This next course is specifically for the people who want to kick start their training in Siemens PLC & HMI. It uses Siemens S7-1200 PLC and KTP 400 HMI and Siemens TIA- Total Integrated Automation software for making tutorials. You will find high-quality video tutorials along with a copy of the presentation and PLC code used in the course. To successfully complete this course, you will need to have a basic fundamental knowledge of electronics. We would recommend this course to industrialists, engineering students, and working engineers.
Rajvir Singh teaches this course as well! Singh is a Mechatronic Engineer involved in Control circuit designing and flexible course designing in various elements of Automation like PLC, PID, HMI & Drives – VFD & Servo, Connect I/O, Home I/O, and Factory Automation.
Features of the Course:
- Over 17 hours of video footage
- 95 lectures
- 21 articles
- 42 downloadable resources
- Access on mobile devices and television
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- Learn how to communicate PLC with PC using Siemens TIA
- Learn how to convert standard circuits to PLC Circuits
- Learn fundamentals commands of Siemens S7-1200 in TIA
Over 9,000 students have signed up for this bestselling course, and it has a 4.5-star rating on Udemy.
Review by Muruganandam Manickam:
The course is very well organized, and the teacher is fantastic. It is a perfect course for me to get to know PLC programming. Using the Factory I/O has helped me to understand the actual application in this course. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in PLC programming.
8. Learning PLC Ladder Logic (LinkedIn Learning)
This beginner-level course covers the basics of PLC ladder logic programming. You will explore fundamental concepts such as rung operation, timer and counter instruction, and the main types of input and output instructions used in ladder logic programming.
Zahraa Khalil teaches this course. She is a content author for LinkedIn Learning and has teaching experience at Mohawk College, where she was an instructor in the Electrical Engineering department. Khalil taught labs, PLC programming, instrumentation and control, digital systems, Arduino programming, and C++.
Features of the Course:
- Over 2 hours of video footage
- Access on phone and tablet
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- PLC Programming
- Ladder logic basics
- Rung operation
- Timers and counters
Over 83,000 students have signed up for this course. The cost of this course is $24.99.
Try the course at LinkedIn Learning
9. Free Online PLC Course (Automation Community)
The last item on our list is another beginner-level course teaching you all about the basics of PLC. You will be introduced to concepts like ladder diagrams, inputs and outputs, and relay instructions. We’d recommend this course to engineering students, industrial professionals, and graduate engineer trainees.
Features of the Course:
- Enrolment validity: lifetime
- Completely free
- Quizzes
- Certificate of completion
What You’ll Learn:
- PLC Overview
- Input-Output
- Processor Unit
- Programming Devices
- Memory Organization
- Ladder Diagrams
- Number Systems
- Relay Instructions
- Basics of Programming
- Counters
- Timers
- Professionalism
Over 2,000 students have signed up for this course, and it has a 4.4-star rating.
Review by Mojalefa:
Extremely good introductory course for beginners.
Try the course at AutomationCommunity
The world of PLC programming is unbelievably interesting, but finding a course that teaches you what you’re looking for can be a bit challenging.
Thankfully, the list we’ve put together is going to make life much easier for you! Click on one of the links above to sign up for a PLC programming course now, so you can either kickstart a new career, or boost an existing one.
