10 Best + Free PLC Programming Courses & Classes 2024

Do you want to step into the world of automation? If yes then take a look at our top free PLC programming courses and classes for 2024. This list is carefully curated with the aim of enhancing your skills in industrial automation.

Key Takeaways

• This topic lists the 10 best free PLC programming courses that are available online.
• These courses are not only designed for beginners but experienced learners as well, as they cover different aspects of PLC programming.
• In these courses, you will find topics ranging from basic ladder logic to advanced PLC programming.
• Best for those who wish to advance their career in the field of industrial automation and control systems.

What are the best free PLC programming courses available in 2024?

This list of top PLC programming courses contains courses like “PLC Programming From Scratch (PLC I),” “Learn 5 PLCs in a Day,” and “Free PLC Programming Course – Learning PLC Ladder Logic,” among others. Courses offer comprehensive training in PLC programming by explaining foundational concepts to practical applications in PLC systems.

Criteria for PLC Programming Courses Evaluation and Selection

Our selection process for the list of PLC Programming Courses consists of a rigorous analysis focusing on comprehensive curriculum coverage. Other factors considered are real-world applicability, and instructor credentials. We try to assess each course for its ability to offer practical skills in programming logic controllers. We make sure that learners gain proficiency in both foundational and advanced concepts. Following this approach guarantees that our recommendations stand at the forefront of industry relevance and educational excellence.

Best + free PLC programming courses:

Software Design and Architecture Specialization

• • • University of Alberta via Coursera
    • 64 hours of effort required
    • 20,192+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (2,487 Reviews)

PLC Programming From Scratch (PLC I)

• • • Paul Lynn via Udemy
    • 45,312+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (14,805 Reviews)

This Plc Programming course has been designed for newbies with no prior experience to gain a complete understanding of the basic tools that are necessary to create a PLC program from start to end. When you manage to complete this course, you will be able to create the best PLC program from scratch. The primary objective of this Plc Programming courses is to give you an understanding of what PLC programming is. With that, you will move to understand all about ladder logic and the inner workings of a standard HMI. Next, you will be taught the difference between digital and analog signals and how you can bring them into a PLC.

Then how you can process them and send them back out will also be learned. As you go further, you will be familiarized enough with a sufficient variety of ladder logic instructions. This will help you create a complete PLC program from beginning to end. Thus you will be exploring the basic and standard controls techniques from the course that will help with things like HOA control, level control, pump control, PID control loops, and much more.

Learn 5 PLCs in a Day-AB, Siemens, Schneider, and Omron & Delta

• • • Rajvir Singh via Udemy
    • 14,497+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (3,046 Reviews)

Nowadays PLC programming is being used in every process and manufacturing industry. Though it is very important to have a knowhow of wiring and connection. Yet, one must also know how to program a PLC. And for this purpose, we present to you this Plc Programming courses that will help you reach your goal. The course explains PLC programming of Allen Bradley, Delta, Siemens, Omron, and Schneider using live examples with HMI interfacing. All the topics of the Plc Programming courses are divided into different modules, and in every module, there is something challenging and interesting for you to learn.
At the end of the Plc Programming courses, you would have a complete understanding of what ladder logic programming is and its purpose. Similarly, the course will also talk about the different PLC wiring concepts and troubleshooting. The aim of this Plc Programming courses is to teach programming to all the technicians and engineers out there for whom it is important to learn PLC. That is why the course welcomes all the PLC programmers, engineers-production and maintenance, and the technicians out there to enroll in this course and learn all about PLC in just a few days.

I really loved this course as it gave me a practical experience to learn five different PLCs programming platforms. The instructor was great and explained everything professionally. I’d definitely recommend this course to everyone interested (Precious Kenneth Mbisa, ★★★★★).

Free PLC Programming Course – Learning PLC Ladder Logic

• • • Zahraa Khalil via LinkedIn Learning
    • 30,691+ viewers
    • Skill Level: Introductory

The programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are now been commonly used in the industrial automation sector and that is why its demand is increasing day-by-day. And for that, this course is what you need to learn everything there is to know about PLC ladder logic. The instructor of this Plc Programming Classes has covered all the basics of PLC ladder logic programming very beautifully in this course. You will be exploring fundamental concepts like rung operation, timer, counter instruction, and all the main types of input and output instructions used in the ladder logic programming. As you start and go further with the course, you will be learning through case studies that will help you grasp the real-world application of these concepts.

The things you will be learning from this Plc Programming Courses  will be understanding input and output instructions. Then you will learn about field devices and program instructions. Similarly, you will also learn how you can add multiple inputs using AND and OR methods. Then you will learn to add multiple outputs and then understand what branching exactly means in ladder logic. Moreover, what is a timer and counter instructions, how to use latch/unlatch output instructions and much more will be learned. If you’re interested in Python Specialization courses then click here.

PLC Programming – Training from Scratch on RSLogix500 & 5000

• • • Vladimir Romanov via Udemy
    • 3,627+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (868 Reviews)

Want to land a job as an entry-level PLC technician or an engineer? Learn all the skills required for this job with the help of this course. The course aims to help you learn PLC programming from scratch through a controls engineer equipped with PLC systems-Allen Bradley RSLogix 500. Different topics will be covered in this Plc Programming courses like what a PLC is used for and how it receives and processes inputs and outputs. The instructor takes a much deeper dive with hands-on labs that are accompanied by practice sessions. This will help you get an idea of dealing with real-world scenarios related to work. You will learn different tips and common pitfalls that can help you solve real-world problems. You might also be interested in Free Online Programming Courses.

All the lessons in the course have been designed to strengthen your knowledge of PLCs and give you the edge you need during the interview. You will understand how a programmable logic controller (PLC) works to its full. Next, you will understand how to program an efficient PLC. After that, you will be taught how you can showcase several completed projects to your employer and pass a technical PLC interview. When you complete each section, you will be given a quiz that you have to solve. It is to test yourself on the material you have learned so far and evaluate how well you have understood them. All you need is some basic computer skills, hardware understanding, and Mathematics skills and then you are all set to learn from this highly detailed Plc Programming courses.\

Practical PLC Programming (PLC II)

• • • Paul Lynn via Udemy
    • 21,795+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (2,533 Reviews)

If you are an intermediate-level student who needs to gain the experience necessary to originate complex and logical solutions, then taking this course will be the wisest thing you can do to yourself. Completing this course will help you become capable of originating complex ladder logic applications. The course has been designed with a primary objective of giving you a rigorous and practical experience in creating unguided and original ladder logic. As an intermediate, you already have a good understanding of PLC programming.

Using all these instructions and techniques, you will create real-world solutions to problems that are defined throughout the course. Using the Rockwell software RSLogix 500, RSLinx, and RSLogix 500 Emulate, you will get an explanation of each program and then expect you to write each one of them from scratch. To be able to make the most out of the course, you need to have Microsoft Excel. Other software required is available for free and the links to each of them will be provided. Lastly, you must all complete the “PLC Programming from Scratch (PLC 1) before taking this course, and then you are all set to learn from the best.

Process Visualization (Level 3)

• • • Paul Lynn via Udemy
    • 15,055+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (1,496 Reviews)

To be an effective PLC programmer, there are two sides to the coin that you need to know to get the job done. And these two sides of the coin are PLC and HMI. Thus with this course, you will learn HMI/SCADA hands-on by developing your very own love interfaces for a running system. You will get all the information, tips, techniques, and what not to help you create HMI. You will be using various technologies that will allow operators to interact with a live and running system. The information available in the course will be the basis for creating fully-functional graphical interfaces to monitor the process, visualize alarms, provide control and even log periodic and on-demand data that you can store into an SQL database. You can also check out Computer Science for Web Programming.

With that, you will also be working hands-on with InduSoft, EasyBuilder 5000, and AdvancedHMI, and hands-off with FactoryTalk view studio and C-More. Therefore, when you complete the whole course, you will actually have a good understanding and work experience with what today’s people are using in the world of automation. So buckle up now and enroll in this challenging course and become an effective programmer at your ease and pace and for free as well.

PLC Programming without a PLC – Entry PLC Project

• • • Generalist Programming via Skillshare
    • 227+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (4 Reviews)

Having trouble learning what PLC programming coures is, then getting started with this PLC programming class is what you need to do. This class is going to cover very interesting topics related to PLC programming that will remove all your ambiguities about how to use PLC programming. The instructor is going to start on a project where he will show you how you can simulate a PLC with software and then you will get the necessary guideline to build your first PLC program and project. The instructor will be using free software in the project to get you started. You will learn to set up a PLC simulator and then write your first PLC program in the class.

You will go through different inputs and outputs in ladder programming that will give you the basic guideline to start doing more advanced PLC programming projects on your own. First, you will get a complete introduction to PLC’s and then know what real PLC is. Then you will do a comparison between PLC analog and digital. After that, your next topic will be about how you can interact with a PLC. Similarly, other topics like power supplies and wiring, wiring a PLC, installing the PLC software, and more will be discussed.

Siemens TIA Portal – PLC Programming Basics

• • • Hans Schrynemakers via Udemy
    • 57+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (17 Reviews)

Plc Programming courses that is very suitable for beginning programmers to learn about creating a PLC application in TIA. The course has a variety of lectures and other learning material that will help you learn all of TIA Portal’s fundamentals. This will help you establish a strong understanding of the concepts that are behind each step of creating a structured and well-written TIA PLC application. At the end of each section, you are going to have to participate in different programming exercises that will help you put your new learned skills into practical use instantly. You will learn to create, structure, and program your first PLC application in TIA through a thorough guide.

Furthermore, you will also be able to cut your programming time in half using TIA specific tools and best practices. Similarly, how you can build reusable function blocks using ladder logics, and global data structures using data blocks and user-defined datatypes will be learned as well. The requirement for enrolling in this course is to have a basic knowledge of PLC and ladder programming. If you have prior knowledge of these two, then you will be able to make the most out of this course easily. So hurry up and enroll now to learn from this free course.

Allen Bradley Micrologix PLC Programming (PLC-SCADA-1)

• • • Goeduhub Technologies via Udemy
    • 1,761+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★☆ (128 Reviews)

To successfully survive in the modern competitive business era, it is mandatory for you to learn to use the latest technology. Also you need to understand the modern industrial requirement to improve the quality and quantity of the product that has to be manufactured as well. It is because automation technology provides us with an integrated, flexible, and low-cost system platform that supervises, monitors, and controls the industrial process. To know all about this, you need to enroll in this Plc programming  courses that will give complete practical training on Allen Bradley Micrologix series PLC. The instructor will fill your mind with the latest technical knowledge that is related to industrial automation. The skills you will gain from this course can help you take a step towards establishing a career in various manufacturing fields.

Plc Programming courses have various topics covered in quite a detail. First, you will know about the history and working of a programmable logic controller. After that, you will learn the PLC programming basics. Similarly, other topics like timers, counters, compare block, math blocks, move blocks, and latch unlatch output, and many other topics are a part of this course. All those students who have an interest in this field or working professionals are invited to join this course. T=It is because this course is the key to enhance your knowledge in industrial automation.

IEC Paradigms (Level 4)

• • • Paul Lynn via Udemy
    • 10,272+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (689 Reviews)

Suppose you are that person who knows how to program a PLC and make it do whatever you want using ladder diagrams. But do you think learning all this means you have learned it all and there’s nothing else left to be learned? If you think that way then you are mistaken because there are several other paradigms out there that are used to create logic. These paradigms or programming languages are also important to learn. That is why in this course, you will be learning different paradigms and develop a comfort level with a few other development environments besides RSLogix 500.

On reaching the ending line of the course, you will be able to program nearly any modern PLC regardless of the mfg. With that, you will also develop a good understanding, knowledge, and experience in all five IEC programming paradigms. You will be given a complete set of instructions as to how you can layout a complex PLC program and much more from these Plc Programming courses. To make the most out of these courses, you need to have first completed the “PLC programming from scratch (PLC 1) and then you are all ready to learn in a fun way from this course. You can also check out the courses with certificate of completion at takethiscourse.net platform.

CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science

• • • Harvard University via edX
    • 9 Problem Sets (10 to 20 hours each), 1 Final Project
    • 2,264,350 students enrolled!
    • 12 weeks (6-18 hours weekly) of effort required
    • ★★★★★

Introduction to Self-Driving Cars

• • • University of Toronto via Coursera
    • 35 hours of effort required
    • 55,568+ already enrolled!
    • ★★★★★ (1,138 Reviews)

So these were the details of all the 10 PLC programming courses and classes that are not only the best but also available for anyone to take and for free. All these Plc Programming courses and classes are instructed by highly experienced professionals who have years of experience in this field. Furthermore, the learning material in each of the courses and classes are also up-to-date. Thus whatever you choose for yourself, a class, or a course, we guarantee it will be worth your time and effort. So decide which Free Online Course with Certificate of Completion you want now and become a professional PLC programmer from the comfort of your home. And don’t forget to stay home, stay safe, and never stop learning.