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Hub · updated 1 November 2026

Free PLC training in the UK

EDWartens UK offers free PLC training online: 200+ free courses (PLC fundamentals, Siemens TIA Portal, Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 and more), a free browser PLC simulator and free job simulations for days 1 to 5. Learning is free and needs no card. An optional verifiable certificate of completion costs £19 including VAT when you pass the final exam; it is not a regulated qualification.

Last updated 1 November 2026. By EDWartens UK (WARTENS LTD).

Start the PLC foundations pathBrowse free courses

What is free

WhatWhat you getCost
Free coursesVideo lessons, notes, module quizzes and a final exam, self-pacedFree
PLC simulator in the LabLadder logic practice in your browser, nothing to installFree
Job simulations, days 1 to 5A working day as a junior engineer at a simulated company, 30 to 45 minutes a day, with every task checked. Training, not employmentFree, no card
Certificate of completionVerifiable online, issued by WARTENS LTD when you pass the final examOptional, £19 including VAT
UK engineering job boardFree for jobseekersFree

Where to start

  • New to PLCs: the PLC foundations path, then ladder logic in the free browser simulator.
  • Want Siemens: Siemens TIA Portal (see the Siemens TIA Portal course page for the free and paid options).
  • Want Allen-Bradley: Allen-Bradley Studio 5000 and RSLogix 500.
  • An electrician or maintenance technician: the electrician to PLC path and the maintenance engineer path.
  • Preparing for an apprenticeship: the engineering apprenticeship preparation path (it is not an apprenticeship).

What free training does not do

  • A certificate of completion is not a regulated qualification and is not accredited. It records that you completed a free online course.
  • The software is not free in every case. Siemens and Rockwell sell licences; both have offered time-limited trials. The lessons do not need the software, and the Lab simulator covers ladder ideas in the browser.
  • No course here can promise a job or an interview.

When you want more than free

The Professional Module is a five-day live online class in Siemens TIA Portal (PLC, HMI and WinCC SCADA) with a resume session and a CPD certificate. It is paid; the course page has the current price and dates. Free courses stay free either way.

Questions

Quick answers

Is there really free PLC training in the UK?
Yes. EDWartens UK offers 200+ free online courses, including PLC, SCADA, HMI and electrical subjects, with no card needed. The only optional cost is the certificate of completion at £19 including VAT.
Is there a free PLC course with a certificate?
The learning is free. A verifiable certificate of completion is optional at £19 including VAT once you pass the final exam. It is not a regulated qualification.
Can I practise PLC programming online for free?
Yes. The EDWartens Lab has a free browser PLC simulator for ladder logic, with nothing to install. It covers the ideas; for a specific vendor tool, check that vendor's licence or trial terms.
Do I need any equipment?
No hardware. You need a computer with a browser. Siemens TIA Portal and Studio 5000 need Windows and a licence or trial if you want to use them, but the lessons and quizzes do not require them.
How old do I need to be?
You must be 16 or over to create a free account, and 18 or over to buy a course, a certificate or a job simulation. The free job simulations are written for people aged 16 and over; if you are under 18, ask a parent, carer or teacher first.
Does free PLC training lead to a job?
It can help you build skills and evidence, but we cannot promise a job or an interview. See the guide on how to become a PLC programmer in the UK for the routes employers use.

Sources

Where this comes from

Third-party facts are dated on this page. Check the source for the latest.

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