Fully online technical training designed around real industry demand, so you can specialize at your own pace.
10/31/2026
Start Date
2 months
Duration
100
Total Hours
6 Modules
Program
Duration
Total Hours
Program
Start Date
ICTESS’s PLC Programming (ST, FBD, Ladder) Training Course is designed to train specialists in developing programs for industrial programmable logic controllers. The program covers the three most widely used programming languages in industrial environments: Structured Text (ST), Function Block Diagram (FBD), and Ladder Diagram (Ladder Logic).
You’ll learn to structure automation projects from defining tags and variables through implementing complex logic with timers, counters, and state machines. You’ll develop reusable function blocks, manage production recipes, run simulation-based testing, and perform real-time diagnostics with an online connection to the PLC. The course includes a capstone project where you’ll apply everything you’ve learned to a complete industrial automation project.
The industrial automation sector is seeing growing demand for PLC programmers who can build efficient solutions for production lines, special-purpose machinery, and process control systems. Manufacturers need professionals who can work across multiple programming languages and implement robust control logic tailored to each specific application.
The course’s purpose is to train professionals who can develop complete PLC programs, from functional analysis through commissioning. You’ll learn to structure projects following industry standards, program in all three main languages based on each application’s needs, implement state machines for complex sequences, manage recipe systems for flexible production, and diagnose faults using online monitoring tools.
The training also covers professional development environments such as TIA Portal, Codesys, or RSLogix, and culminates in a capstone project where you’ll develop a complete automation project applying every skill acquired across the technical modules.
The PLC Programming (ST, FBD, Ladder) Training Course prepares you for specialized technical roles at industrial automation companies, systems integrators, machine builders, and plant maintenance departments. You can work as a PLC programmer, an automation technician, a control systems integrator, or a commissioning lead for automated installations.
The training prepares you to develop complete programming projects: performing functional analysis of the application, structuring the program with modular, reusable blocks, implementing control logic with timers and counters, developing sequences through state machines, and running thorough testing before actual commissioning.
You’ll also build the skills to troubleshoot faults in automated systems, modify existing programs for upgrades or improvements, document projects to industry standards, and train operators on recipe systems. The hands-on approach lets you apply what you learn directly to real-world industry projects.
Study from anywhere with no commuting required. Balance your technical specialization with your current professional career.
Organize your study schedule around your own availability. Move through modules at the pace that works best for you and revisit anything you need extra practice with.
Learn with TIA Portal, Codesys, and RSLogix, the same programming environments used by industrial integrators.
Technical video lessons, up-to-date downloadable materials, forums with specialized instructors, and hands-on programming exercises.
With ICTESS, you’ll get specialized technical training focused on professional practice and designed to help you master the skills the industrial automation sector demands. Learn with an up-to-date methodology and real programming tools.
What you'll achieve
Structure automation projects by defining tags, variables, and memory areas according to industry standards to ensure organized, maintainable programs.
Program in Ladder, FBD, and Structured Text, selecting the optimal language for each application based on complexity, readability, and maintenance requirements.
Implement reusable function blocks, timers, and counters to develop modular control logic that applies across multiple industrial projects.
Develop state machines and recipe systems to automate complex sequences and manage flexible production with parameterized format changes.
Execute simulation-based testing, run online diagnostics, and apply debugging techniques to confirm correct operation before commissioning.
The industrial automation sector continues to grow steadily, driven by the digitalization of production processes and Industry 4.0. Manufacturers are modernizing their facilities to boost productivity and competitiveness, creating steady demand for PLC programmers who can build efficient, up-to-date control systems.
A Shortage of Multi-Language Programmers: The job market faces a shortage of technicians who can work confidently across Ladder, FBD, and Structured Text at the same time. Many professionals only know basic Ladder logic, which limits their ability to take on complex projects that require advanced algorithms or integration with higher-level systems.
A Shift Toward Structured Programming: Today’s industrial projects demand programs that are modular, documented, and maintainable. Skills like state machine design, parameterized function blocks, and recipe management are increasingly valued over traditional linear programming, which makes maintenance and expansion harder.
A Competitive Edge in the Hiring Process: Specialized training in multi-language PLC programming sets you apart significantly from generalist profiles. Demonstrating skills in project structuring, simulation, and online diagnostics positions you as a top candidate at automation and systems integration companies.
Completing the PLC Programming (ST, FBD, Ladder) Training Course positions you in a sector with strong demand for specialized programmers. Industrial automation keeps expanding across every production sector, creating steady opportunities for qualified professionals.
Versatility Across Multiple Programming Languages: Mastering Ladder, FBD, and Structured Text lets you adapt to any project or platform. Ladder dominates relay-style applications and is easiest to troubleshoot, FBD suits continuous process control with reusable blocks, and Structured Text handles complex algorithms and data processing more efficiently.
Immediate Employability in the Industrial Sector: PLC programmers who master multiple languages are sought after by systems integrators, machine builders, automation companies, and maintenance departments at large industrial operations needing technicians who can develop and modify programs.
Ability to Take On Projects of Any Complexity: You’ll learn to structure modular programs with state machines and reusable blocks, handling everything from small automation tasks to complete production lines with recipe management and multiple operating modes.
Recognized Professional Certificate: The ICTESS certificate validates your specialization in PLC programming, strengthening your job market position and confirming your skills to companies in the industrial automation sector.
This course is designed for professionals and technicians looking to specialize in programming industrial programmable logic controllers with fluency across multiple languages. Recommended profiles include:
Program details
The capstone project is the culminating stage of the program and represents the practical integration of every technical skill developed throughout the course. It involves developing a complete industrial automation project, from functional analysis through validation testing, applying the programming methods and structuring techniques used across the industry.
The project must implement a realistic industrial application that integrates all three programming languages according to the function of each part. You’ll define the tag and variable structure, develop reusable function blocks, implement a state machine for the main sequence, configure timers and counters to meet functional requirements, design a recipe system where applicable, and document the program to industry standards.
The project also includes fully simulating the program to validate its operation, documenting the tests performed, and preparing a diagnostic manual covering possible faults and how to resolve them using online tools. The final documentation must be presented with the technical depth and professional format industrial automation projects require, demonstrating your ability to deliver complete, structured, maintainable programs that could be deployed directly on a real installation.
ICTESS’s PLC Programming (ST, FBD, Ladder) Training Course includes hands-on training with professional development environments used across the industry. You’ll work with platforms such as Siemens TIA Portal, Codesys (an open standard compatible with multiple manufacturers), and Rockwell Automation’s RSLogix. You’ll learn to configure projects from scratch, define hardware, build programs in all three languages, use the built-in simulation tools, and run diagnostics through an online connection. Mastering these environments lets you adapt quickly to any PLC manufacturer, since the underlying concepts and programming techniques carry over between platforms under the IEC 61131-3 standard.
Yes, basic knowledge of electricity and control circuits is recommended to get the most out of the training. You should understand concepts such as NO/NC contacts, relays, digital and analog sensors, and basic combinational logic. The course focuses on programming the controller, not on the electrical installation itself, but you’ll need to read electrical schematics to understand how input and output signals connect to the PLC. If you have a background in electricity, electronics, mechatronics, or hands-on experience in industrial maintenance, you’ll have the foundation needed to follow the program’s technical content.
The ICTESS professional certificate validates your technical specialization in PLC programming and is recognized by companies in the industrial automation sector as high-level supplementary training. The certificate documents specific, in-demand technical skills: proficiency in Ladder, FBD, and Structured Text, the ability to structure professional projects, implementing state machines and recipe systems, and simulation and diagnostic skills. Systems integrators, machine builders, and maintenance departments especially value this hands-on training because it demonstrates real capability to develop and maintain PLC programs to current industry standards.
This PLC Programming (ST, FBD, Ladder) Training Course stands out for its multi-language focus and depth in structured programming techniques. While many courses teach only basic Ladder logic, this program covers all three main languages of the IEC 61131-3 standard, letting you choose the best fit for each application. The content includes advanced techniques used by professional programmers: state machines for complex sequences, parameterized and reusable function blocks, recipe management for flexible production, and testing and diagnostic methodologies. You’ll also learn to structure projects in a modular, well-documented way, a skill that sets a professional programmer apart from a self-taught one.
