Go from zero to Siemens PLC programmer
Learn to build real industrial control programs in TIA Portal — motor controls, conveyor logic, timers, and more — guided step-by-step by animated exercises, whiteboard breakdowns, and a virtual instructor, no prior experience needed.Learn the fundamentals of Siemens PLC programming in TIA Portal through practical, step-by-step lessons designed for beginners.Build skills in PLC logic, motor control, timers, counters, conveyor applications, and more.🎓 Certificate of Completion issued after successfully completing the course.🏭 Exclusive Benefit: Participants qualify for our face-to-face practical PLC training at a discounted rate, giving you the opportunity to further develop your skills using real industrial equipment. We are based in South Africa
"I teach the machine first and the software second — because that's the only order that actually sticks."
— Innocent Mhlungu
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Read and write Ladder Logic (LAD) and Function Block Diagram (FBD) programs in Siemens TIA Portal from scratch
- Identify and configure Siemens S7-1200/S7-1500 hardware components including CPUs, I/O modules, and power supplies
- Correctly address PLC memory — bits, bytes, words, inputs, outputs, and data blocks — in a real Siemens project
- Build and troubleshoot industrial control programs including motor start/stop, forward/reverse, and conveyor logic
- Program and apply On-delay, Off-delay, and Pulse timers alongside Up/Down counters in practical timing sequences
- Structure complete PLC programs using Organization Blocks (OBs), Functions (FCs), Function Blocks (FBs), and Data Blocks (DBs)
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
0 modules · 0 lessons
Introduction to PLCs
Establishes what a PLC is, where it is used in industry, and how it compares to traditional relay-based control.
- 1.1What Is a PLC and Where It Is UsedIncluded
- 1.2PLC vs. Relay LogicIncluded
- 1.3Basic Automation ConceptsIncluded
Control Systems Fundamentals
Builds the foundational control-systems knowledge — open- and closed-loop systems, sensors, actuators, and signal types — required before touching PLC hardware.
- 2.1Open-Loop and Closed-Loop SystemsIncluded
- 2.2Sensors and ActuatorsIncluded
- 2.3Digital vs. Analog SignalsIncluded
Siemens PLC Hardware
Covers the physical components of the Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 families so students can identify and assemble a real PLC system.
- 3.1Overview of Siemens PLC FamiliesIncluded
- 3.2CPU, Power Supply, and I/O ModulesIncluded
- 3.3Identifying Siemens PLC System ComponentsIncluded
Introduction to TIA Portal
Gets students working inside Siemens TIA Portal — navigating the environment, creating a project, and mapping physical hardware.
- 4.1Navigating the TIA Portal EnvironmentIncluded
- 4.2Creating and Managing a New PLC ProjectIncluded
- 4.3I/O Configuration and TaggingIncluded
PLC Addressing and Memory
Teaches Siemens memory organization — bits, bytes, words, and data blocks — and the correct addressing syntax for inputs, outputs, and internal memory.
- 5.1Bits, Bytes, Words, and Double WordsIncluded
- 5.2Input, Output, and Memory AddressingIncluded
- 5.3Data Types in Siemens PLCsIncluded
Basic PLC Programming
Introduces Ladder Logic and Function Block Diagram programming languages, covering contacts, coils, logic operations, and program structure in TIA Portal.
- 6.1Ladder Logic (LAD) BasicsIncluded
- 6.2Function Block Diagram (FBD) BasicsIncluded
- 6.3Contacts, Coils, and Logic OperationsIncluded
- 6.4Program Structure — OBs, FCs, FBs, and DBsIncluded
Timers and Counters
Covers Siemens IEC timer and counter instructions — On-delay, Off-delay, Pulse, Up, and Down — applied to real timing and counting scenarios.
- 7.1On-Delay, Off-Delay, and Pulse TimersIncluded
- 7.2Up and Down CountersIncluded
- 7.3Practical Timing and Counting ApplicationsIncluded
Practical Exercises
Consolidates all course skills through five fully animated, voice-guided PLC projects that mirror real industrial control scenarios.
- 8.1Motor Start/Stop ControlIncluded
- 8.2Forward/Reverse Motor ControlIncluded
- 8.3Traffic Light SequenceIncluded
- 8.4Basic Conveyor Control LogicIncluded
- 8.5Tank Level ControlIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
Electrical apprentices
You're wiring panels and reading drawings — this course adds PLC programming to your skillset and makes you the apprentice who can do more than run conduit.
Engineering students
Your university covers control theory but rarely touches real Siemens software — this bridges that gap with hands-on TIA Portal practice before you graduate.
Career changers
Coming from a trade, IT, or another technical field, you need a structured on-ramp into automation — this is it, built from zero and grounded in real industrial scenarios.
Maintenance technicians
You already keep machines running; adding PLC programming means you can troubleshoot faults faster and stop waiting on an engineer to read the logic for you.
Tech-curious self-learners
You love knowing how things work and you've heard automation is the future — this course gives you a concrete, practical skill, not just a surface-level overview.
Experienced electricians upskilling
You know your way around a panel, but more and more jobs require PLC experience — this course gets you confident in Siemens TIA Portal without going back to school.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Innocent Mhlungu
If you've ever stood in front of a control cabinet, stared at the hardware, and thought "I have no idea where to start" — I built this course for exactly that moment.
Breaking into industrial automation isn't easy when everyone seems to expect experience you haven't had the chance to get yet. The theory in textbooks is dense. The software looks intimidating the first time you open it. And most online resources assume you already know what a data block is or why you'd use a Function Block over a plain Function. I remember that feeling, and it's the reason I wanted to build something different.
PLC Blueprint is designed to work the way good mentorship works on a real factory floor. We start with the machine — what it does, what controls it, and why a PLC is the right tool for the job. Only then do we open TIA Portal. Every new concept is anchored to something physical and practical before we go any deeper. You'll identify Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 hardware components, understand how inputs and outputs map to real sensors and actuators, and learn to address PLC memory correctly so your programs actually behave the way you intend.
The exercises in this course are the part I'm most proud of. Motor start/stop. Forward/reverse. Traffic light sequencing. Conveyor control. Tank level logic. These aren't made-up problems — they're the scenarios that show up in real automation roles, and working through them is how the concepts stop being abstract and start feeling like second nature. Timers, counters, and structured program blocks (OBs, FCs, FBs, DBs) will all make sense in context, because you'll have built something real with each of them.
I want to be honest with you: this course won't make you an expert overnight. What it will do is give you a genuine, solid foundation — the kind that lets you walk into an automation role, open TIA Portal without panicking, read existing ladder logic, and write your own. That's a meaningful head start, and it's exactly what this course delivers.
If you're ready to stop waiting and start building, I'll see you inside.
— Innocent Mhlungu
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- 8 modules, 27 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- 30 days of full access