Integrating a PLC Short Course Into Your Electrical Apprenticeship Program
The realm of smart manufacturing and automation is revolutionizing the foundation of the electrician’s role. Digital systems, robotics, and automation control integrated within the modern electrical systems includes PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controllers) technologies within the systems. PLC’s can be fully programmed, troubleshot, and solved by the modern electrician and is a valuable skill required within the Industry 4.0 work sphere.
Should I take a PLC short course while in training is a question that many electrical apprenticeship students seem to ask. The short answer, but strategically planned, is yes. Here is why.
What is a PLC and why is it important?
Programmable Logic Controller’s (PLC’s) are integrated control systems within industrial automation that digitally control machinery and processes. It uses control algorithms and various input signals from sensors and switches to determine control processes sequenced and routed to output control signals to devices that include motors, relays, and valves.
Every modern automation system includes a PLC. They are found in manufacturing plants, building management systems, water treatment facilities, power stations, and even theme parks. Precision, adaptability, and reliability are the hallmarks of PLCs. They allow systematic management of complex processes.
Knowing PLCs means knowing automation and its many career opportunities.
The Changing Role of the Electrician
In the past, the focus of electricians was manual wiring, maintenance, and electrical safety. However, the trade has changed. Nowadays, integration of computer networks, sensors, and programmable devices to electrical systems is the norm.
Take modern conveyor systems, for example. These systems do not simply run at the will of the operator. Complex programmable logic controllers (PLC) manage the systems, determining when to start, stop, and alter speed using input from several sensors.
In light of this, electricians have to acquire a decent understanding of control systems and applied automation. Being able to wire up a control panel is valuable, but understanding the panel’s programming and being able to troubleshoot PLC control faults is even more so.
Filling this gap with a PLC short course is a good idea.
The Benefits of Taking a PLC Short Course
a. Increased Employability
PLC short course certificates differentiate job seekers. There is a demand for electricians who can do the wiring and automation in integrated systems. Most employers will seek out apprentices who appreciate the value of automation in the trade.
Automation is highly depended on in sectors like manufacturing, food processing, mining, oil and gas, and renewable energy. Your skills in PLC programming can deepen your mastery and broaden career opportunities in comparison to someone with only foundational electrical skills.
b. Increased Potential Earnings
Higher pay comes with higher skills, and electricians with skills in PLC can become industrial automation technicians, control systems electricians, and maintenance engineers, all of which pay more than general electrical work.
Some experienced electricians even change careers entirely, entering PLC programming and systems integration with engineers and software programmers.
c. Advanced Troubleshooting and Critical Thinking Skills
Understanding how PLCs operate allows you to troubleshoot a system quickly and accurately. You no longer have to guess about whether the problem involves an electronic control or is caused by a motor fault in the system. You can use the control signals, observe the logic of the program and determine the problem quickly. It is a good boost for your productivity, saves you time and enhances your reputation for knowing a system inside and out.
When is the Best Time to Take the Course?
Adding a PLC short course to your apprenticeship can be beneficial, but you have to consider the timing.
When you are just starting in your apprenticeship, your most important priority should be learning the fundamentals of electrical work: wiring techniques, protection of circuits, laws, and safety. These are the most important foundational parts of your career.
Nevertheless, once you are competent with the fundamentals of electrical work, which is typically in your second or third year, that is an ideal time to do a PLC short course. At that point, you would have sufficient hands-on work that you would be able to connect classroom work with actual systems.
What Are PLC Short Courses Like?
Most PLC short courses are intended for beginners and can be taken in a few weeks, in person or online. Generally, they cover:
Basic PLC components (CPU, I/O modules, and power supply)
Wiring and installing PLC systems
Basic programming concepts like ladder logic, function block diagrams, and structured text
Development and testing of basic programs
Simulation software
Troubleshooting and diagnostics.
Some focus on specific industrial PLC systems, such as Siemens, Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation), or Mitsubishi. It’ll help you if you take a course that matches the systems in your area because these are common in the industry.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
The benefits are quite obvious, yet there are a few things to think about before enrolling in a PLC short course:
Investment: High-quality PLC training, particularly with hands-on lab time, can be pricey, which training resources should always be. The good thing is this will pay off quickly once you start earning.
Time: Apprenticeships can be very time-consuming on their own, so adding studying for a PLC course will require a significant amount of self-control and time management.
Relevance. Focus on how theoretical a course is. If it is too theoretical, it might not be good for your needs. In contrast, a course in practical programming and troubleshooting might be more useful.
Equipment Access. You need hands-on experience. Courses that have real PLC hardware or good simulation software to practice with will help you to understand more.
Getting the Most from the Experience
If you go through a PLC course, take advantage of the experience by:
Practicing often. Practice with simulation software — such as Siemens TIA Portal or RSLogix — that reinforce the skills you learned.
Asking questions in the workplace. If your employer uses PLCs, observe the use of the PLCs by different electricians and technicians to gather hands-on experience.
Creating small projects. Even creating a simple project, such as a basic traffic light sequencing project, can help solidify the material you leaned.
Staying intrigued. Automation technology changes fast, so being inquisitive about sensors, networking, and programs will keep you on top of automation technology.
The Future of Electrical Work and Automation
The future for electricians that understand PLCs is bright as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to advance. Electricians with PLC knowledge will be a vital part of the design, the installation, and maintaining of these complex processes.
You may reach a point, that being, just an electrician may not be enough in the coming decade, but being an electrician that has PLC knowledge will make you invaluable.
The Benefits of a PLC Short Course After Completing an Electrical Apprenticeship
Enrolling in a PLC short course after completing an electrical apprenticeship can have a significant and lasting impact on your technical ability, career direction, confidence in your skills, and employability. The skills developed in this online course will transfer beyond the theoretical concepts, as you will begin to see how the material will influence you as a tradesperson in various aspects of your thought processes, actions, and professional development.
Impact on Technical Skill Development
A PLC short course will give you a new level of understanding on how automation works with electrical systems. You will start to see sensing devices, actuators, and circuits operate together through logic-based control functions that help to interoperate the systems. You will develop a very different approach to your day-to-day work practices — you will begin to logically analyze your faults, predicting actions and behaviors of the design while coming to better decision making.
You will be going from simply wiring a circuit to thinking like a designer of the system you are working on.
Impact on Career Development
The market is looking for electricians who can capably operate around PLCs. Therefore, completing a PLC short course will demonstrate that you proactively took initiative, and you are a capable applicant among the other competing candidates. Many apprentices who have taken the PLC short course will find that they are moved directly into roles as maintenance technicians, automation assistants, or controls electricians.
As the short course leads to the qualification, you may find that you move to the specialized fields of industrial automation, robotics, and/or process control engineering — fields that have generally higher salary potential and job security.
Effect on Work Efficiency
Understanding PLC systems enables you to identify and resolve problems more quickly. This reduces downtime and increases productivity – a valued trait for employers. Part of your contribution to a more effective workplace is your knowledge about interpreting ladder logic, reading fault codes, or observing data concerning the system’s status. Trust and respect earned from your employer and co-workers are linked to your understanding of the automation involved.
Effect on Confidence and Problem Solving
When you learn how to program and troubleshoot PLCs, you start to develop a problem-solving mindset. Rather than viewing a challenge as a hindrance, you associate the challenge with a logical problem you want to solve . You carry this confidence to every aspect of your trade, whether it’s for electrical installations, various building systems, or complex automation projects. Your comfort with technology, a key component of modern industry, advances as well.
Effect on Future Learning and Development
The knowledge gained from a PLC short course serves as a platform for lifelong learning. After recognizing an interest in automation, many electricians continue with SCADA systems, robotic controls, or industrial networking. The short course has the ability to act as a gateway to advanced technical education and assures that your career remains viable and encourages you to pursue applicable learning to future developments in technology.
The influence of taking a PLC short course as part of your apprenticeship extends much further than just ticking a box on your résumé. It makes you into a better and more competent electrician, with more confidence and adaptability — someone who will flourish in a world that has the future of industry in automation.
Final Thoughts
Having a PLC short course while completing your electrical apprenticeship is one of the best moves for your career that you can make. It increases your employability, allows you to add to your technical capability, and it prepares you for the world of modern industries that is driven by automation.
The workload you will create for yourself in adding to your apprenticeship, and the money on the course may seem excessive, but the net benefit in terms of job opportunities, higher pay and understanding of modern systems will outweigh the effort.
If you can time it well, commit yourself and apply it, your PLC values will differentiate you from the rest and move you towards a very worthwhile and sustainable electrical career.