Free course · PLC programming
Siemens S7-1200 with TIA Portal: The Tutorial Series
Every S7-1200 instruction, one short video at a time: bits, edges, timers, counters, comparators, maths, MOVE, conversion, analog scaling, jumps and shift registers.
Free to learn. Verifiable certificate £19 when you pass the final exam (optional, VAT included).

Sample certificate. Optional, issued when you pass the final exam.
- Level
- Beginner
- Modules
- 9
- Video
- 5 hours
- Price
- Free
Outcome
What you will be able to do
Set up an S7-1200 project with its HMI, write and download ladder logic, use every everyday instruction group (bit logic, edges, timers, counters, comparators, maths, MOVE and conversion, NORM_X and SCALE_X, jumps, shift and rotate) and explain what each one does.
- Create an S7-1200 project, add an HMI and connect the two
- Write NO, NC, set and reset logic and download it to a PLC
- Use P_TRIG, N_TRIG, R_TRIG and F_TRIG edge instructions correctly
- Build timers, counters, comparators and maths into working logic
- Move, convert, normalise and scale values including analog inputs
- Control program flow with jumps and use shift and rotate registers
Software
TIA Portal V21 trial (21 days) with S7-PLCSIM V21, on 64-bit Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise; any version from V15 on covers what this course teaches
Hardware
None, everything runs in simulation
Syllabus
9 modules
Each module has video lessons, notes and a short quiz. The final exam closes the course.
- TIA Portal Environment, PLC and HMI Selection, Modules and Communication3 lessons
- Program Blocks, NO and NC Contacts, Set and Reset, Upload and Download3 lessonsLab
- Latching Logic and Edge Detection: P_TRIG, N_TRIG, R_TRIG and F_TRIG3 lessonsLab
- Timers and Counters2 lessonsLab
- Comparators and Maths Instructions2 lessonsLab
- MOVE and Conversion Instructions2 lessonsLab
- Analog Scaling with NORM_X and SCALE_X, and Program Control Jumps2 lessonsLab
- Shift and Rotate Registers1 lessonLab
- Final Assessment1 lesson
How it works
How this course works
- Watch the video lessonsOne module at a time, at your own pace.
- Take the module quizA short quiz at the end of each module shows what stuck.
- Keep your notesWrite in My notes beside each module and ask the trainer if you are stuck.
- Practise in the labOptionalTry a task from the module in the EDWartens Lab, in your browser.
- Sit the final examPass it once you have been through the modules.
- Certificate, if you want oneOptionalPaid, and only after you pass. Anyone can check it online.
EDWartens Lab
Practise this in the EDWartens Lab
Write and test the same ladder logic in the Lab's PLC simulator, go online and force inputs. The Lab uses a vendor-neutral editor, so brand software stays in the course.
Works alongside Siemens S7-1200 with TIA Portal: The Tutorial Series. The Lab is plc programming practice in your browser: no install, no hardware, free to use. Sign in as a learner and it opens with your account.
Levels to try with this course
PLC-01 · PLC lab
Motor start/stop with overload
Open in the lab (opens in a new tab)PLC-04 · PLC lab
Batch counter on a packing line
Open in the lab (opens in a new tab)PLC-06 · PLC lab
Pedestrian crossing
Open in the lab (opens in a new tab)PLC-07 · PLC lab
Parcel sorter
Open in the lab (opens in a new tab)
Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.
Why practise in a lab
Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.
- Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
- The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
- Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.
Certificate
An optional certificate when you pass
Learning is free. Pass the final exam and you can have a certificate for £19, including VAT, with a number employers can check online. It records that you completed a free online course; it is not a regulated qualification or a CPD certificate.
- Your name, the course, its study time and your final exam score
- A unique certificate number and a QR code to its verification page
- Issued by Wartens Ltd; add it to your LinkedIn profile in one click
- Pay now or after you pass: it is issued the moment you pass the final

Credits
Who made the lessons
The video lessons belong to their creators. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, quizzes and the final exam.
- The Automation Craze
the numbered Siemens TIA Portal S7-1200 tutorial series
Questions
About this course
How is this different from the Siemens TIA Portal foundation course?
Do I need an S7-1200?
Is the course really free?
What certificate do I get, and is it a Siemens qualification?
Who made the video lessons?
How long does the course take?
What will I be able to do when I finish?
Want a live class and career support?
The Professional Module is five live days of Siemens PLC, HMI and SCADA with an instructor, then a resume session and a CPD certificate.
