myPLCtraining Review: Courses, Cost, Software and Alternatives

Short answer: myPLCtraining (myPLCtraining.com, LLC) is an Allen-Bradley-focused PLC training business founded by Stephen Gates, a licensed electrical engineer. It sells two kinds of product:

• A coaching programme, "The Confident PLC Programmer Accelerated". You apply through a form, and no price is published. This is what the main site promotes.
• Self-paced courses. These include the Confident PLC Programmer Method / myPLCtraining Academy (a sales page lists $127/month or $997/year) and a $37 "Program PLCs From Scratch" course. Paid courses carry a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The training teaches Studio 5000 / CompactLogix workflows without requiring you to own a PLC. Long-term access to Studio 5000 is still something you will need to solve.

Reviewed October 25, 2026 from myPLCtraining's own pages (sources at the end). Its Academy prices appear on sales pages that are not linked from the main navigation and carry no date, so treat them as "listed on their site", not a confirmed current offer. Confirm at checkout or on a call.

Ownership disclosure: PLC Programming and PLC Simulation Software are run by the same team. Our product appears among the alternatives, with its prices and limits stated.

Who runs myPLCtraining

myPLCtraining's about page says founder Stephen Gates:

• "spent nearly a decade designing and programming PLC-based control systems for switchgear, generators and substations"
• graduated in electrical engineering in 2011
• became a licensed PE in 2019

The company describes its audience as "electricians, technicians and engineers" and says plainly: "This is not PLC training for advanced programmers. We start with the extreme basics."

What the training covers

The Confident PLC Programmer Method (Academy)

The Academy sales page lays out nine modules in three phases:

The page says the work "should be done with Studio 5000 Logix Designer software" and that you will finish with "a fully configured project with a CompactLogix or ControlLogix controller." The membership also lists quizzes, programming exercises, challenges and a community forum. New lessons are added "every other month, sometimes less often."

Coaching programme

The homepage asks, "Want us to help you become a paid PLC programmer in 6 months?" It links to an application for the coaching programme, which promises help moving into controls work. No price or syllabus is published; you talk to the team first. The Academy page itself says, "I'm not promising you'll get a job in automation."

Smaller courses and free content

• Program PLCs From Scratch: "One Payment $37" with lifetime access to resources. Bonus material uses Rockwell's free Connected Components Workbench and Micro800 emulation.
• Robotics and vision trainers: a FANUC ROBOGUIDE trainer ($497, 12 months' access) and a Keyence vision trainer ($97, 12 months), both as interactive simulations that need no software or hardware.
• Free material: a free two-video mini course, a cheat sheet, an ebook, blog tutorials (RSLogix 500 addressing and similar), a YouTube channel and a podcast.

How it handles Rockwell software

This is the most important practical question for any Allen-Bradley course, because Studio 5000 is paid software.

• The Academy FAQ answers "Do I need to buy software…?" with: "No! I'll give you the free Rockwell software used in the 'Programming Foundation' training AND I'll give you the Studio 5000 Logix Designer software 7-day trial."
• The course FAQ covers Micro Starter Lite (which it notes "only supports MicroLogix 1000 and 1100 controllers"), RSLogix Emulate 500, RSLinx Classic, Studio 5000 and Logix Emulate.
• The sales page also says the founder will share his licence "so you can refresh the built-in software demo period as many times as you like." The course FAQ describes doing this remotely with TeamViewer and FactoryTalk Activation Manager.

What this means for you: you can follow the lessons without buying hardware or a licence up front. After the course, you will still need your own route to Studio 5000, such as an employer licence, a school licence or a purchase through a Rockwell distributor. Ask myPLCtraining exactly how software access works before you buy.

Price, refunds and certificates (as published)

• Academy: "$127/mo or $997/yr" on the sales pages. Access lasts "as long as you allow your card to be charged monthly," and you can cancel any time. The page offers a full refund within 30 days.
• Coaching: no published price.
• $37 course: 30-day money-back guarantee, "No questions asked."
• Certificates: myPLCtraining's FAQs say premium courses include an emailed certificate of completion. The homepage says myPLCtraining is accredited by IACET and offers IACET CEUs. We could not confirm a current listing through IACET's provider directory, so check it yourself if CEUs matter to your employer. A completion certificate is not a Rockwell certification.

What myPLCtraining does well

• Clear focus on Allen-Bradley. That matches what many US maintenance and controls job postings ask for.
• Starts from zero. It is aimed at electricians and techs, not programmers.
• Covers the hard topics. Structured text, troubleshooting and communications are named modules, not afterthoughts.
• Practitioner founder. Gates is a PE with years of controls design work.
• Low-risk trial. The 30-day refund terms are published on the sales pages, and the $37 course is a cheap way to test the teaching style.

Things to check before you pay

• Which offer you are buying. The coaching programme, the Academy membership and the smaller courses are different products with different prices.
• Price currency. The Academy prices sit on undated sales pages; confirm them at checkout.
• Software after the course. Studio 5000 access during lessons relies on trials and the founder's licence arrangement; plan your own route afterwards.
• Ongoing cost. A membership at $127/month adds up quickly. Compare the annual price with how many months you will realistically study.
• Testimonials. One sales page still contains template testimonials unrelated to PLCs. Rely on the refund window and the free mini course rather than marketing quotes.

Alternatives to compare

See also PLC training cost for what different formats really cost, and best PLC training programs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does myPLCtraining cost?

Its sales pages list the myPLCtraining Academy at $127 per month or $997 per year, and a "Program PLCs From Scratch" course at $37 one-time. The coaching programme has no published price; you apply and speak to the team. Confirm current pricing at checkout.

Is myPLCtraining worth it?

It can be if you want Allen-Bradley/Studio 5000-focused instruction from the basics up and will use the membership consistently. Make sure you understand which product you are buying and how you will access Studio 5000 after the course. The published 30-day refund window lowers the risk of trying it.

Do I need a PLC or Studio 5000 to take myPLCtraining?

No, according to its FAQ. It provides free Rockwell software and the Studio 5000 7-day trial, and describes refreshing that trial using the founder's licence. Plan your own long-term software access.

Does myPLCtraining give a certificate?

Its FAQs say premium courses include a certificate of completion, and it states IACET accreditation for CEUs. Neither is a Rockwell Automation certification.

Sources

• myPLCtraining homepage and about page
• Confident PLC Programmer / Academy sales page
• Course FAQ and general FAQ
• Program PLCs From Scratch ($37)
• Coaching programme page
• Free mini course
• Terms and conditions

Related reading

• How to get a PLC job with no experience
• RSLogix 500 vs RSLogix 5000 (Studio 5000) compared
• PLC simulator software guide