PLC Training Programs Compared: Prices, Credentials and Who Each Suits
One table comparing named PLC and industrial training programs (Rockwell, SITRAIN, FANUC, Penn Foster, Tooling U, NIMS, NOCTI, TPC, RealPars and more) by format, published price, credential and best fit, with links to each full review.
Short answer: PLC training programs fall into a few groups:
- Vendor courses (Rockwell, Siemens SITRAIN, FANUC): about $2,300–$3,900 per multi-day class.
- Industry credentials (NIMS, NOCTI): an assessment, not a course, from about $80 per NIMS test.
- Accredited online schools (Penn Foster).
- Low-cost online libraries and courses (Tooling U, RealPars, PLC Dojo).
- Equipment-based school labs (Festo Didactic, Amatrol).
Pick by what you need at the end:
- an employer-recognised vendor certificate: vendor course;
- a portable credential with a hands-on check: NIMS;
- an accredited diploma: Penn Foster or a community college;
- skill at the lowest cost: low-cost courses plus a lot of hands-on practice.
Every price below is as published on the program's own site or a named distributor, on the date in the linked review. Follow the link for the sources and details.
Ownership disclosure: PLC Programming and PLC Simulation Software are run by the same team. Our product is listed in the table with its prices and limits.
The comparison table
| Program | Format | Published price (example) | Credential | Best for | Full review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Automation | Instructor-led classroom or virtual; e-learning | CCP146 $2,325 / 2 days; CCP143 $3,200 / 4 days (US distributor) | Logix Programmer or Maintainer Certificate of Achievement | Allen-Bradley plants, employer-funded | Rockwell training cost |
| Siemens SITRAIN | Classroom, online, self-paced subscription | TIA-PRO1 €2,990 / 5 days (Germany); $3,850 / 4 days (US distributor) | Siemens Certified Programmer (practical exam) | Siemens plants, especially in Europe | SITRAIN review |
| FANUC America | Classroom, virtual, eLearning | HandlingTool $2,340 / 4 days; eLearning from $220 | FANUC certifications built with NOCTI, via CERT schools | FANUC robot cells | FANUC training courses |
| NIMS ITM | Credential: hands-on check plus online theory exam | $80 per test; $125 one-year subscription | NIMS Industrial Technology Maintenance credentials | Maintenance students and employees | NIMS certification |
| NOCTI | CTE assessment: written plus performance | Not published; ordered by schools | NOCTI Job Ready results | CTE students | NOCTI test prep |
| Penn Foster | Online, self-paced school | Residential Electrician $1,139 list; Industrial Electronics degree $1,769 for the first semester | DEAC-accredited diploma or degree | Cheap, flexible accredited credential; thin on PLCs | Penn Foster review |
| Tooling U-SME | Online class library; instructor-led for companies | $79 every 30 days (individual) | Completion certificates; prep for SME and NIMS exams | Structured manufacturing and PLC theory | Tooling U review |
| TPC Training | Online courses, 2–3 day seminars, onsite | $85 online PLC course; $1,495 per 2-day seminar | IACET CEUs | Maintenance teams | TPC Training review |
| Electro Mechanica (South Africa) | 1-day classroom courses | Not published (quoted, excl. VAT) | CPD points | SA electricians on Delta hardware | Electro Mechanica review |
| Festo Didactic | Lab equipment, Festo LX e-learning | Quote-based | Festo Industry 4.0 certification; SMSCP partner | Schools building physical labs | Festo Didactic alternatives |
| Amatrol | Trainers, eLearning, curricula | Quote-based | Prepares students for SACA and other third-party certifications | Schools building physical labs | Amatrol alternatives |
| RealPars | Online video library | $60/month or $600/year | Completion certificates | Broad automation video learning | RealPars alternatives |
| SolisPLC | Online courses and tutorials | Subscription; check their site | Completion certificates | Plant-floor Allen-Bradley and Siemens depth | SolisPLC review |
| myPLCtraining | Online academy | $127/month or $997/year on its sales pages | Completion certificates on premium courses; states IACET CEUs | Studio 5000-focused learners | myPLCtraining review |
| PLC Dojo | Online video courses | $12 PLC Fundamentals; bundles $40–$245 | Completion certificate | Beginners on a tight budget | PLC Dojo review |
| SkillCat | Mobile app | $10/month | SkillCat completion certificates; strongest for HVAC and EPA 608 | Trade basics on a phone | SkillCat review |
| PLC Simulation Software (our product) | Browser lessons, graded scenarios, fault-finding labs | Free tier; Pro $29/month or $249/year; Class $49/student/year (10 minimum); Teams $199/seat/year (5 minimum) | None accredited; not a vendor certificate | Daily hands-on practice, alone or alongside any program above | Start free |
Udemy also sells many low-cost PLC courses. Udemy's own help pages say course prices vary through promotions by region and learner, so check the live price for each course.
How to choose
1. Start from the credential you need, if any.
- Your employer or a job ad names a vendor certificate: Rockwell or SITRAIN. Usually employer-paid.
- You want a portable, hands-on-checked maintenance credential: NIMS, through a school or employer.
- You're a CTE student: your program decides; NOCTI is common.
- You need an accredited diploma or degree: Penn Foster or a local community college. Check how much PLC content it really has.
2. If you don't need a credential yet, spend on skill. The cheapest effective route is:
- a low-cost structured course (Tooling U, PLC Dojo or a free course);
- several hours a week of hands-on programming and troubleshooting practice;
- a vendor course later, once you can use the class time well.
3. Budget for practice, not just instruction. Every program above teaches concepts. Fluency in reading, writing and fault-finding ladder logic comes from repetition. Our PLC practice exercises are a free place to start.
4. Schools and training centres. Compare equipment buyers (Festo Didactic, Amatrol) with a blended lab that adds per-student practice. Our main site's teacher page describes the Class plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest PLC training program?
Free tutorials and free tiers cost nothing. Among paid options with published prices on the review dates, PLC Dojo's $12 PLC Fundamentals course and SkillCat's $10/month app were the lowest. Low cost rarely includes much hands-on practice, so add a practice tool.
Which PLC training program gives the most recognised credential?
It depends on the employer. Allen-Bradley plants recognise Rockwell's certificates; Siemens plants recognise SITRAIN and the Siemens Certified Programmer exam. For maintenance roles across employers, NIMS credentials combine a hands-on check with a theory exam.
How much does official PLC vendor training cost?
On the review dates, Rockwell's CCP146 was listed at $2,325 for 2 days through a US distributor, Siemens' TIA-PRO1 at €2,990 for 5 days in Germany, and FANUC's HandlingTool course at $2,340 for 4 days. See each linked review for sources.
Is an online PLC course enough to get a job?
On its own, usually not. Employers look for people who can read, modify and troubleshoot real programs. Combine a course with regular hands-on practice, and with a credential if your target employers ask for one.
Related reading
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Ownership disclosure: PLC Programming IO and PLC Simulation Software are operated by the same publisher.
