How We Ranked PLC Training Programs
We reviewed each college's official catalog or program page on October 2, 2026. A program is included if it awards an associate degree and its published curriculum or learning outcomes name programmable logic controller coursework. Certificate-only programs are covered on a separate page, and programs whose pages did not name PLC content were left out. The order of the list is computed from the site's seven-factor score (accreditation, program leadership, pathways, delivery, employer signal, cost, and reputation) using the same formula as every other ranking here, with no hand adjustment. A PLC course in a catalog is not a vendor certification. Read the linked catalog for prerequisites, schedules, and current costs.
Read our program comparison methodology for sourcing and editorial standards.
PLC Coursework in Associate Degrees Compared
| College | Degree Length | PLC and Related Coursework |
|---|---|---|
| Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) | 64 credits | Robotics and PLCs in Process Automation, Applied PLCs and Mechatronic Systems |
| Dallas College | 60 credit hours | PLC I and PLC II, motor control, fluid power |
| East Central Community College | 60 to 61 hours | PLC course in the technical certificate, plus control systems and robotics |
| Cincinnati State Technical and Community College | 64 credits | PLCs, motors and variable drives, robotics and servomechanisms |
| San Joaquin Delta College | 60 units, 29.5 in the major | Ladder logic, electric motors, robotics, industrial control systems |
| Solano Community College | 36 to 37 unit major | PLC programming, SCADA, process control, alarm management |
PLCs in the First and Final Semesters
1. Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
AAS in Smart Manufacturing, Mechatronics
- 64 Credits
- Two 5-Credit PLC Courses
- Cleveland, OH
- Program Score 70 of 100
PLCs appear at both ends of this 64-credit plan. Robotics and Programmable Logic Controllers in Process Automation opens the first semester, and Applied Programmable Logic Controllers and Mechatronic Systems closes the fourth. In between come industrial motor controls, Industry 4.0 and vision systems, and industrial networking. A related Tri-C bachelor's degree is listed for continued study.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Good for someone who wants early PLC exposure and a capstone course that ties controllers to full mechatronic systems.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
At 64 credits with heavy networking and CAD content, it is broader than a PLC-only focus, so compare it with narrower options.
Read Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)’s AAS in Smart Manufacturing, Mechatronics Details →Two Required PLC Courses
2. Dallas College
AAS in Electro Mechanical Technology
- 60 Credit Hours
- Two PLC Courses
- Dallas, TX
- Program Score 68 of 100
The degree plan lists Programmable Logic Controllers I and Programmable Logic Controllers II as four-credit courses in the third and fourth semesters, after DC and AC circuits. That order lets you learn the hardware before you program it. Dallas College offers the degree at the Eastfield and Mountain View campuses only.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Choose it if you want a two-course PLC sequence built on a full electrical and fluid power base.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Only two campuses offer it, and PLC courses arrive in the second year, so plan your schedule and transportation early.
Read Dallas College’s AAS in Electro Mechanical Technology Details →Stacking Career and Technical Certificates
3. East Central Community College
AAS in Automation and Control Technology
- 60 to 61 Hours
- 45-Hour Technical Certificate
- Decatur, MS
- Program Score 67 of 100
East Central stacks its credentials. A 30-hour career certificate covers wiring, motor control, fluid power, and an introduction to robotics. The 45-hour technical certificate adds a Programmable Logic Controllers course, Control Systems II, Solid State Motor Controls, and Industrial Robotics. The associate degree then reaches 60 to 61 hours with general education and technical electives.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Suited to someone who wants to earn a credential at each step and stop or continue as work allows.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The PLC course sits in the second tier, so finish the first-tier courses before you expect to reach it.
Read East Central Community College’s AAS in Automation and Control Technology Details →PLCs With Motor Drives and Co-op
4. Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
AAS in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Automation
- 64 Credits
- Co-op Terms
- Cincinnati, OH
- Program Score 67 of 100
A three-credit Programmable Logic Controllers course arrives in the second semester, followed by Motors, Motor Controls, and Variable Drives and Robotics and Servomechanisms later in the plan. Two co-op or transfer terms can put you on an employer's floor. The college lists Duke Energy, Mazak, and Procter and Gamble among co-op sites and says graduates are prepared to continue to a bachelor's degree.
Who Should Consider This Program?
A fit if you want PLC work early and paid, supervised experience before you graduate.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The program is a generalist electro-mechanical degree, so PLCs are one strand among several rather than the whole focus.
Read Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s AAS in Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Automation Details →Ladder Logic as a Stated Outcome
5. San Joaquin Delta College
AS in Automation Technology, Mechatronics
- 60 Units
- 29.5 Major Units
- Stockton, CA
- Program Score 63 of 100
San Joaquin Delta College names PLC programming in its learning outcomes: graduates should be able to create a ladder logic diagram to control a programmable logic controller. The major also covers electric motors, introductory industrial control systems, and two robotics and automation courses, in a 29.5-unit major within a 60-unit degree.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Fits a student who wants PLC skills tied to a stated, testable outcome and a compact major.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
The catalog lists general education patterns for transfer, so confirm with a counselor which pattern fits your plan.
Read San Joaquin Delta College’s AS in Automation Technology, Mechatronics Details →PLC Programming With SCADA
6. Solano Community College
AS in Mechatronics
- 36 to 37 Unit Major
- 60 Unit Degree
- Fairfield, CA
- Program Score 63 of 100
Solano Community College lists PLC programming alongside digital electronics, process control, robotics, and SCADA systems, which are the supervisory screens used to monitor a plant. The same 36 to 37 unit major earns a Certificate of Achievement, and adding general education and electives brings it to a 60-unit degree that also supports transfer.
Who Should Consider This Program?
A solid option if you want PLCs plus the supervisory software that shows what the controllers are doing.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Every major course needs a grade of C or better, so budget time for the electronics courses early in the plan.
Read Solano Community College’s AS in Mechatronics Details →Why Learn PLC Programming in an Associate Degree?
A PLC does not work alone. It reads sensors, switches motors and valves, and talks to robots and screens. A degree plan teaches those pieces together, so you can find a fault in the wiring, the program, or the machine.
The tradeoff is time. A certificate can get you into controllers in a semester or two, while a degree takes about two years and adds general education. If you already work in maintenance, a certificate may be enough; if you are starting from scratch, the degree gives a fuller foundation.
What Do PLC Courses Usually Cover?
Expect most PLC coursework to include:
- Ladder logic, the diagram style that resembles relay wiring
- Inputs and outputs, timers, counters, and basic troubleshooting
- Motor starters, drives, and sensors that the controller operates
- Human-machine screens and supervisory systems in some programs
- Which brand of controller the lab uses, since concepts carry across brands
Where Does PLC Training Lead?
PLC skills show up in several technician roles. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median of $73,900 for electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and technicians (May 2025). Read the mechatronics technician and automation technician profiles for duties, and the Siemens certification overview or mechatronics certifications guide for credentials to add.
Want to be paid while you learn? See mechatronics apprenticeships. To compare broader degrees, see the best AAS in mechatronics programs.
Questions About PLC Training Programs
Where Can I Get PLC Training?
Community and technical colleges teach PLCs inside certificates and associate degrees. Vendors and online course providers also sell training. College programs add lab time, electrical foundations, and credits that count toward a degree.
How Long Does PLC Training Take?
A single PLC course takes one term. A certificate takes a few terms, and the associate degrees on this list take about two years of full-time study. Your pace depends on your schedule and the program's course sequence.
Is a PLC Course the Same as a PLC Certification?
No. A college course or degree records that you completed that college's curriculum. An industry certification follows the issuing organization's own exam and rules. Some colleges prepare students for both.
Which PLC Brand Should I Learn?
Ask local employers which brand they use, then ask each school what controllers are in its lab. Ladder logic, timers, and troubleshooting habits carry over from one brand to another.
Should I Choose a PLC Certificate or an Associate Degree?
Pick a certificate if you need controller skills quickly and already understand electrical systems. Pick the degree if you want a broader technician foundation or may transfer to a bachelor's program later.
Official Sources and Review Date
Program and policy sources checked October 2, 2026.
- Dallas College: Electro Mechanical Technology A.A.S.
- San Joaquin Delta College: Automation Technology, Mechatronics AS
- Solano Community College: Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics
- East Central Community College: Automation and Control Technology
- Cuyahoga Community College: Smart Manufacturing, Mechatronics AAS
- Cincinnati State: Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Automation
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics