Tooling U-SME Review: PLC and Maintenance Classes, Cost and Alternatives
What Tooling U-SME offers PLC and maintenance learners: its online PLC class catalog, the $79-per-30-days individual plan, credential prep for SME and NIMS exams, what it lacks, and the alternatives.
Short answer: Tooling U-SME is the training arm of SME, the manufacturing professional association, based in Cleveland, Ohio. It sells a large library of short, self-paced online classes on manufacturing topics, plus instructor-led training, apprenticeship programs and virtual labs, mainly to employers.
For individuals, on October 25, 2026, it listed an individual account at $79 every 30 days with unlimited online classes, which auto-renews. Searching its catalog for "PLC" returned 47 results, covering both general and Siemens-specific PLC topics.
It's a good-value, structured way to learn PLC and maintenance theory. It isn't a substitute for hands-on programming practice, and it doesn't issue an accredited credential on its own.
Researched October 25, 2026 from Tooling U-SME's catalog, order and certification pages (sources at the end). We did not take a Tooling U class.
Ownership disclosure: PLC Programming and PLC Simulation Software are run by the same team. Our product appears in the alternatives section, with its prices and limits stated.
Tooling U's PLC classes
Tooling U's online classes are short self-paced modules. A Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership training sheet describes them as about 60 minutes each. The PLC classes we saw in the catalog included:
Intermediate (200-level):
- Introduction to PLCs 201
- Hardware for PLCs 211
- Basics of Ladder Logic 221
- Numbering Systems and Codes 222
- PLC Inputs and Outputs 231
- Basic Programming for PLCs 241
- PLC Counters and Timers 251
- Networking for PLCs 261
- Introduction to Tags for PLCs 265
- Hand-Held Programmers of PLCs 280
Advanced (300-level):
- PLC Diagrams and Programs 300
- Overview of PLC Registers 305
- PLC Program Control Instructions 310
- Math Functions for PLCs 325
- PLC Sequencers Overview 335
- PLC Installation Practices 345
- PID for PLCs 350
- Data Manipulation 360
- Shift Registers 370
- Safety PLCs 372
- Reversing Motor Circuits 341 (Motor Controls)
Siemens track:
Six classes numbered 200–250, starting with Basics of Siemens PLCs 200 and covering hardware, data types, communication, I/O and HMIs.
Instructor-led offerings listed include Basic PLCs, Analog I/O, DeviceNet, VFDs, Introduction to Drives and HART.
Tooling U's catalog page reported 738 English results in total, and the site describes "over 600 unique online" courses.
What it costs
| Plan | Price (as published Oct 25, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Individual account | $79 every 30 days, unlimited online classes, auto-renews |
| Enterprise / company plans | Not published; quote-based |
One reseller, IMEC, lists a 365-day full-access bundle at $1,015 per user. That's a third-party price, not Tooling U's own.
Live mini-lab
Try it: press START, then STOP
A stop-dominant seal-in rung: START latches the motor output through its own contact, and STOP breaks the circuit.
Watch the output lamp: it stays on after START until you press STOP.
Free to start · runs in your browserOpens plcsimulationsoftware.com — same team
Credential preparation
Tooling U's certification page says its online classes prepare learners for:
- SME's Certified Manufacturing Technologist and Certified Manufacturing Associate exams
- exams from AWS, MSSC, SACA and NIMS
That's preparation for other organisations' exams. Tooling U's own classes give downloadable completion certificates, not an industry certification. If you're aiming at NIMS, see our NIMS certification guide.
What Tooling U does well
- Breadth. PLC, maintenance, machining, quality, safety and more in one library.
- Structured progression. Numbered 100/200/300-level classes make it easy to build a sequence.
- Price for individuals. $79 per 30 days for unlimited classes is low compared with seminars or vendor courses.
- Siemens and Allen-Bradley-style topics. Both appear in the catalog.
- Employer options. Instructor-led training, apprenticeship programs and virtual labs sit alongside the online library.
Where it falls short for PLC learners
- Knowledge, not practice. Short online classes explain concepts. Fluency comes from writing, running and debugging programs.
- No credential of its own. Pair it with an SME, NIMS or vendor exam if you need one.
- Few public reviews. We found no reviews on Trustpilot and none in the SHRM vendor directory, so there's little independent feedback to go on.
Alternatives and complements
| If you need… | Consider | Price (as published) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-on ladder practice with automatic checking | PLC Simulation Software (our product) | Free tier with no expiry; Pro $29/month or $249/year; Teams $199/seat/year (5-seat minimum) (product facts) | Browser lessons, graded machine scenarios, wiring and fault-finding labs. Complements Tooling U's theory. Not a certification. |
| Maintenance seminars with an instructor | TPC Training | $85 online PLC course; $1,495 two-day seminars | See our TPC Training review |
| Mobile trade basics | SkillCat | $10/month | See our SkillCat review |
| An accredited online diploma or degree | Penn Foster | From about $1,139 | See our Penn Foster review |
| Official vendor training | Rockwell or Siemens | Thousands per course | See Rockwell training cost and SITRAIN review |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tooling U cost?
On October 25, 2026, Tooling U-SME listed an individual account at $79 every 30 days, with unlimited online classes and automatic renewal. Company and enterprise pricing is quote-based.
Does Tooling U have PLC classes?
Yes. A catalog search for "PLC" returned 47 results, including Introduction to PLCs 201, Basics of Ladder Logic 221, PLC Counters and Timers 251, PID for PLCs 350, a six-class Siemens PLC track, and instructor-led PLC courses.
Is Tooling U accredited or a certification?
Tooling U classes give completion certificates. Tooling U says its classes prepare learners for SME, NIMS, MSSC, AWS and SACA exams, but the certification itself comes from those organizations.
Is Tooling U worth it for learning PLCs?
For structured PLC theory at a low monthly price, yes. To become job-ready, pair it with regular hands-on programming and troubleshooting practice.
Sources
- Tooling U-SME: individual account order page
- Tooling U-SME: catalog
- Tooling U-SME: certifications
- Tooling U-SME: for individuals
- IMEC: Tooling U full access, 365 days (reseller)
Related reading
Now run it · free to start
Follow a hands-on PLC training path
Move from contacts and coils to timers, sequences and troubleshooting with runnable lessons and objective checks. Free to start, nothing to install.
Ownership disclosure: PLC Programming IO and PLC Simulation Software are operated by the same publisher.