Can I learn PLC Programming Online?

Every now and again, I get a message on LinkedIn asking mesome variation of the question, “Can I learn PLC programming online?”.

In this post, I will do my best to answer that question in afair and balanced way by explaining the pros and cons of online learning.

For full disclosure, I am an advocate of learning PLC programming online and I teach PLC programming online.

To start with, let’s compare traditional learning with learning online.

Traditional Versus Online Methods

Before online learning was available, most people learned PLC programming through on the job training, or manufacturer led training in person.

These methods required time and money. In the case of manufacturer led training, a typical course from Rockwell Automation can cost 1500 euro and takes 5 days.

Obviously, it is difficult for an individual person to justify spending 1500 euro for 5 days training that may or may not help them to get a better job in the future. Because of the price, training was largely reserved for people who were already working in the industry and had employers who were willing to invest in their training.

In recent years, several companies have started to offer independent online training that is targeted at individuals that want to learn PLC programming but don’t have large budgets to spend on training. Companies like KB Controls are smaller and have lower overheads so they can offer training courses at much more affordable prices than manufacturers. For example, a KB Controls membership costs less than 50 euro a month and gives students access to all of our courses covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced Studio 5000 Logix Designer content.

Now that we know that there are alternatives to traditional methods to learning PLC programming, let’s talk about the advantages of learning PLC programming online.

Advantages of Learning PLC Programming Online

Affordability

As I’ve already mentioned in the previous section, the main advantage of learning PLC programming online using independent courses is that it is more affordable.

There is some great free content on blogs and YouTube to get you started with PLC programming.

When you are ready to take your learning to the next level, companies like KB Controls offer premium courses at an affordable price. We even offer a free PLC Bootcamp mini-course that teaches you the basics of PLC programming using Studio 5000 Logix Designer.

Flexibility

With traditional manufacturer led courses, you have to be available for 5 consecutive days to follow a course.

In contrast, online courses are always available so you can follow them in your own time and at your own pace. This makes it easier to fit learning into your schedule and means that you can return to sections of courses to refresh topics at a later date.

It also means that you don’t have to follow the courses from a single location making it ideal for people who want to develop their skills while on the road.

Community

If you follow a manufacturer led course, you will meet a few people in a room. Most likely, these people live in your local area and you may already know them from other professional events.

In contrast, online platforms tend to have more members with diverse backgrounds. Since these members are paying to be part of the community, they are often open to sharing knowledge and supporting each other.

So a membership to an online learning platform like KB Controls doesn’t only get you access to learning products, it also gives you access to a community that can provide peer to peer support and support with job hunting and more.

Now that we know the upsides of learning PLC programming online, let’s talk about some of the drawbacks.

Disadvantages of Learning PLC Programming Online

Limited Access to Hardware

PLC programmers are expected to do more than write software. Typically, a PLC programmer will have to travel to site, download their project to a physical PLC and commission the machine that they have developed the software for.

This requires experience with hardware and comfort with basic wiring and troubleshooting. Unfortunately, these are not skills that you can develop online. Eventually, you will need access to a physical PLC to develop these skills.

I’ve discussed this topic a lot in a previous post. My view is that you can learn a lot by following online courses and working with PLC emulators running on your computer but eventually, you will need access to hardware to round out your skillset.

Lack of Formal Certification

Many online courses like those offered by KB Controls can’t offer an industry recognized certification. Unfortunately, certificates of completion issued by us do not carry the same weight as certificates issued by Rockwell Automation.

However, in my experience, companies care a lot less about certificates and qualifications than they do about experience. If you can show a potential employer a portfolio of projects that you have built and talk about your experience, then a lack of formal certifications becomes irrelevant.

Motivation

Unlike in person training, online training is driven by you and you are the only person keeping yourself accountable.

If you are a person who loses motivation easily, it can be hard to commit to online training and to make time to go through the courses that you want to follow.

One way to mitigate this disadvantage is to team up with a friend or colleague and keep each other accountable by committing to a learning plan.

Conclusion

In this post, I have explain my views on learning PLC programming online by comparing online learning to traditional in-person courses and discussing the pros and cons of learning PLC programming online.

Ultimately, I believe that you can learn PLC programming online and that the skills you learn from online programming courses will be more than enough to get your first job as a PLC programmer or to get a promotion to the next level in a company.

If you are interested in learning PLC programming online, check out our courses which cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced PLC programming with Studio 5000 Logix Designer.

If you are just starting out with PLC programming, you can follow our PLC Bootcamp mini-course to get started for free and see if PLC programming is something that you will enjoy.