– Early Access: PLC-5 Programming Level 1
Learn everything you need to know to setup, use, and program PLC-5 PLCs, including:
| ✓ What PLCs make up the PLC-5 Family | ✓ Which software license is require to program |
| ✓ How to identify different hardware models | ✓ How to choose system components | ✓ How program and I/O scans work | ✓ How to setup RSLinx drivers |
| ✓ Creating programs in RSLogix | ✓ How to upload existing programs |
| ✓ How to download programs to a PLC | ✓ How to download programs to Emulate |
| ✓ How to force I/O on and off | ✓ How to write and test simple programs |
| ✓ How to write programs for common applications | ✓ And much more! (see free Lessons 1.0-1.2) |
📢 Now in Early Access
The new PLC-5 Programming Level 1 online course is now in Early Access! Details about this course and the currently available lessons can be found by reviewing the lesson listing and free preview lessons to the right.
Note: Enrolling three or more people? Contact us here to learn about our group enrollment program.
At a Glance
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- Early Access: new lessons added regularly
- Skill Level
- Basic PLC knowledge required
- Access
- Lifetime, no expiration
- Certificate
- Yes, with PDHs
- Starting Price
- Level 1: $99
- Content Last Reviewed
- November 11, 2026
On This Page
What You’ll Learn:
Learn everything you need to know to set up, use, and program PLC-5 PLCs, including:
- ✓ What PLCs make up the PLC-5 family
- ✓ Which software license is required to program
- ✓ How to identify different hardware models
- ✓ How to choose system components
- ✓ How program and I/O scans work
- ✓ How to set up RSLinx drivers
- ✓ Creating programs in RSLogix
- ✓ How to upload existing programs
- ✓ How to download programs to a PLC
- ✓ How to download programs to Emulate 500
- ✓ How to force I/O on and off
- ✓ How to write and test simple programs
- ✓ How to write programs for common applications
- ✓ And much more! (see free preview Lessons 1.00–1.02)
What You Receive With Your Purchase:
- ✓ Immediate online access
- ✓ Early Access to new lessons as they’re added
- ✓ Currently includes enrollment in PLC Basics Second Extended Edition
- ✓ Online instructor support
- ✓ PLC App Simulator for Win10 & 11
- ✓ No expiration date
- ✓ Take lessons in any order
- ✓ Retake lessons as needed
- ✓ Completion certificate with PDHs
- ! PLC hardware & software is NOT included
Proudly Serving Thousands of Individuals and Companies
Who Should Take This Course
Anyone who has basic PLC knowledge and wants to learn how to set up, program, and troubleshoot Allen-Bradley’s PLC-5 line of PLCs.
Who This Course Is NOT For
- Complete beginners who don’t know what a PLC is, or how ladder logic works — start with PLC Basics Extended Second Edition (currently included with this course), then come back to this one
- Experienced PLC programmers looking for CompactLogix or ControlLogix (Logix) training — see our Compact Basics and PAC Basics courses instead
- Anyone looking for training on other PLC platforms — this course covers the Allen-Bradley PLC-5 family and RSLogix 5 only
- Anyone who only needs HMI screen-building skills, without PLC programming
- Anyone looking for lessons on basic electricity or basic wiring skills
- Anyone who feels the need to complete the optional hands-on exercises, but is unable or unwilling to use one of the free or low-cost options covered in free preview Lesson 1.02. This is rarely a problem, but obviously some initiative is required of students who wish to complete the optional hands-on labs on their PC.
Meet Your Instructor
Shawn Tierney
Industrial Automation Instructor
Founder of The Automation School, The Automation Blog, and host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Hi, I'm Shawn Tierney, and I've spent more than 35 years helping electricians, technicians, engineers, and programmers learn how to setup, program, and troubleshoot industrial automation products and systems.
During my first 25 years I attended over fifty weeks of Rockwell Automation training, and earned several certifications, including becoming a Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist.
And since 2015 I've focused full-time on creating practical online and in-person training courses to help people like you build and maintain real-world PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
Throughout my career I've trained thousands of automation professionals in manufacturing, OEM, and system integration environments. Every course I create is based on practical field experience, emphasizing techniques you can immediately apply on the plant floor.
My goal is simple: help you become more confident, more productive, and more valuable as an automation professional.
- 35+ Years in Industrial Automation
- Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist
- Instructor to Thousands of Automation Professionals
- Creator of The Automation School
- Author of The Automation Blog
- Host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Learn more about Shawn at The Automation Blog.
Course and Bundle Pricing
| Feature | PLC-5 Programming Level 1 |
A-B Mega Bundle Save 45% |
A-B Ultra Bundle Save 45% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99 | $699 | $899 |
| Instant & lifetime access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PLC App Sim (Win 10/11) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lesson Q&A support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live Q&A (Lesson 1.11) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Completion certificate with PDHs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Intermediate lessons | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bonus videos | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MicroLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Micro800 courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| CompactLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| ControlLogix courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| PanelView Plus / FTViewSE courses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| CCW VFD Quickstart | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mastering PLCLogix / Factory I/O | — | — | ✓ |
| SLC-500, PLC-5, SLC-100 & DeviceNet | — | — | ✓ |
| Enroll | Buy Online Course | Buy 11 Course Bundle | Buy 17 Course Bundle |
Note: Enrolling three or more people? Contact us here to learn about our group enrollment program.
Student Reviews
All students who complete the course are invited to leave a review, and you can see all the existing student reviews on the Reviews tab above.
Course Requirements
Requirements to follow along and/or complete any optional exercises
Students who wish to complete any optional exercises, or just follow along with the instructor as he teaches, will need the following:
- An internet connection to take this online course, and to optionally download the free PLC programming and emulation software from Rockwell’s website
- To write programs, an installed copy of RSLogix Micro Starter Lite (free) or better
- To use a physical PLC in place of the free PLC emulator, RSLogix Micro Starter Lite can be used with either a MicroLogix 1000 or 1100, plus a programming cable compatible with your PLC and PC
- A Windows PC compatible with the above software (see below) and PLC
- Optionally, any input (push buttons, switches, etc.) or output (pilot lights, relays, etc.) devices you’d like to use with your PLC-5 — a list of the devices we use is provided
- Note: this course does not include lessons on basic electricity or basic wiring skills
Note: Currently, Rockwell states their free RSLogix PLC and emulation software supports these Windows versions:
- Windows XP Pro SP3 32-bit
- Windows Vista, Home or Business
- Windows 7, Home or Pro
- Windows 8, Home or Pro
- Windows 10 & 11 (unofficial, instructor tested)
Course Pre-sales Questions
Have a question about this course? Send it to the instructor below.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What does Early Access mean?
It means you can enroll and start learning now, while new lessons continue to be added to the course.
To see which lessons are currently available, review the lesson listing and free preview lessons on this page.
And since enrollment in this course currently includes enrollment in PLC Basics Second Extended Edition, you can also take all of its lessons while the new course is being completed.
Is this course beginner friendly? Do I need previous PLC experience?
If you already have basic PLC knowledge and know how to use a Windows PC, then you’re ready to take this course.
That said, if you’re completely new to Programmable Controllers, I encourage you to start with the PLC Basics Extended Second Edition, then come back to this one.
Who is this course designed for?
I designed this training for electricians, technicians, and engineers who want to learn how to set up, troubleshoot, and program Allen-Bradley’s PLC-5 family of PLCs.
Do I need physical PLC hardware and/or a physical PLC trainer?
No. You do not need a physical PLC-5 controller or hardware trainer to complete this course.
All hands-on exercises are optional, and I cover several free and low-cost ways to complete them without purchasing hardware, including:
- The free editions of Allen-Bradley’s MicroLogix programming and emulation software, RSLogix Micro Starter Lite and Emulate 500
- My PLC Application Simulator for Windows 10 and 11 (Lesson 1.05)
- Factory I/O with the MicroLogix (Lesson 1.06)
- PLCLogix 500 (Lesson 1.07)
And for those who’d prefer to learn with a physical PLC, I provide a list of the parts used to build the affordable, homemade PLC trainer used in this course.
For more detailed information about these options, please watch Lesson 1.02, which is available as a free preview before purchasing the course.
What software do I need to complete the optional hands-on exercises and labs?
You can use RSLogix Micro Starter Lite, Rockwell’s free MicroLogix programming software, along with the free editions of RSLinx and Emulate 500.
That said, if you would like to write PLC-5 programs, you need RSLogix 5, along with the free edition of RSLinx and either Emulate 5 or a physical PLC-5.
I cover this in more detail in lessons 1.02 and 1.03, and I show you how to download the free software in Lessons 3.05 and 4.11.
Is instructor support included?
Yes.
When you enroll in this course, you receive more than just the video lessons and downloadable materials—you also receive direct access to the instructor for lesson-related questions.
At the bottom of every lesson is a discussion area where students can post questions, and I personally answer them (see Lesson 1.10).
And if a written response isn’t enough to resolve your question, eligible students may also schedule a short Microsoft Teams meeting with me during office hours (see Lesson 1.11).
Note that the number of complimentary live meetings available depends on the course you’ve purchased, and these sessions are specifically intended to answer questions related to the course material, and not as a free consulting or tech support service.
For those students seeking assistance beyond the course content, paid mentoring services are also available for topics covered in my training (see Lesson 1.12).
Is the course self-paced?
Yes.
The course is completely self-paced, allowing you to progress through the lessons according to your own schedule, and in any order you like.
Because all of my courses include lifetime access, you can also revisit and review any lesson as many times as necessary.
Does the course include labs?
Yes.
This course includes optional hands-on exercises (see Lesson 1.03) that allow you to apply what you’ve learned throughout the video lessons and demonstrations.
For students who don’t own a PLC-5 controller, I also discuss several free and low-cost ways to complete the optional exercises in Lesson 1.02, which is available as a free preview before purchasing the course.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes.
Once you’ve passed all required quizzes and marked every lesson complete, a link will appear on the course homepage allowing you to view, print, and download your course completion certificate.
Your certificate also lists the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) you’ve earned while completing the course. Please note that time spent completing the optional hands-on exercises is not included in the PDHs listed on your certificate.
Practical Questions
Can I learn without access to a PLC?
Yes.
As explained in the hardware question earlier in this FAQ, you do not need a physical PLC or a paid software license to complete this course, since RSLogix Micro Starter Lite and Emulate 500 are free and I cover several other free and low-cost simulation options.
For more information, please refer to Lesson 1.02 or the previous hardware question.
Can I follow along using Emulate 500?
Yes.
The course shows you how to download programs to Emulate 500, and Lesson 1.02 covers the other simulation options available.
License Agreement and Permitted Use of Our Online Courses
This section covers the license agreement and permitted use of our online courses and course bundles, which also includes any course materials, code snippets, downloads, and provided software — taken together, referred to collectively as a “course.”
The purchase of a single copy of a course grants a single individual the right to use the course for personal instruction and reference only. Purchasing a course for yourself (or for another) does not grant anyone the right to distribute or share that work beyond the single individual who registers to take the course.
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This means the course and course materials may not be shared with friends, relatives, co-workers, students, or anyone else, as each sale is for an individual license to access, view, and take the lessons, quizzes, and exercises, and to download any course materials, documents, code, files, and software included with the course.
This per-person licensing helps ensure that the instructor — who created the course and exclusively holds its copyright — can cover the cost of creating it, keeping it available to new and existing customers, and answering ongoing student questions, while receiving fair compensation for a course licensed on a per-person basis.
It is unlawful to share this copyrighted course and course material even if you do not charge or profit from doing so — including for non-profit and governmental organizations — since this proprietary educational work is designed as a chargeable training resource, not one made freely available to the public.
Any unauthorized sharing of the course or course materials would reduce the potential for additional sales and licensing, directly impacting the instructor’s ability to cover costs, keep the course available, and support customers who purchased it lawfully.
If you have questions about the above, please contact us using the “Contact” link in the site menu.
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