About the Program
The Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) certificate program is offered at the Penn State Berks Campus in an evening study program. Classes are hands-on and provide students with the skills needed to become experts in automation design.
Certificate Requirements
Students seeking to be awarded the PLC for Industry Certificate must complete the following required courses with a final minimal grade of “C”:
- PLC Basics – EE 7320
- PLC Intermediate: PanelView – EE 7319
- PLC Intermediate: Loop Control – EE 7321
- PLC Intermediate: Drives – EE 7318
- PLC Advanced – EE 7317
Career Potential
Multiple manufacturing companies throughout the Reading, PA area are looking for applicants with PLC skills. Job titles include Mechanical Technician, Maintenance Technician, and Controls Engineer.
Source: Burning Glass Technologies’ Labor Insight™ Real-time Labor Market Information tool.
Meet the Instructor
Frank Kaczmarcyzk earned a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University and has worked as an Electrical Engineer for over 25 years. He is the lead instructor for the PLC classes at Penn State Berks for over 20 years.
Course Offerings
PLC Basics – EE 7320
This introductory course will teach basics involved with Allen-Bradley PLCs and Programmable Logic Controllers with RSLogic software, but the concepts taught apply to the PLCs of other manufacturers.
Dates: Tuesdays, August 30 - October 18, 2022
Times: 6:30-9:30 pm
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $650
PLC Intermediate: Loop Control – EE 7321
This course is designed to introduce students to the PID algorithm with emphasis on tuning the loop. Students will gain knowledge and practice on the methods of tuning.
Dates: Tuesdays, October 25 - November 15, 2022
Times: 6:30-9:30 pm
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $325
PLC Intermediate: Drives – EE 7318
The introduction to digital drives will teach students configuration and set-up, downloading and uploading, choosing a drive, communications and control for remote I/O and Device Net.
Dates: Tuesdays, November 22 - December 13, 2022
Times: 6:30-9:30 pm
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $325
PLC Intermediate: ControlLogix – EE 7010
This introduction to ControlLogix is for users already familiar with RSLogix500 or RSLogix5 and need to understand the basics of the ControlLogix processor. Students will have hands on practice with a Compact and will be introduced to all programming modes along with Data Structures, aliasing, and I/O.
Dates: Coming in Spring 2023!
Times: TBD
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $325
PLC Intermediate: PanelView – EE 7319
The introduction to PanelView will teach students communications, creating screens, downloading, uploading, tag organization, pushbuttons, message displays, alarm messages, alarm banners, and importing user-developed objects.
Dates: Coming Spring 2023!
Times: TBD
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $325
PLC Advanced – EE 7317
This course is designed to expose students to the next level of understanding with the Allen-Bradley PLCs, SLC-500 Programmable Logic Controllers and CompactLogix Controllers. Students will concentrate on Ethernet communications, structure programming, file organization techniques, data table organization techniques, indirect addressing, maximizing scan time, SLC-500 block transfers, PIDs, STIs, sequences, alarming annunciation shortcuts, and serial communications.
Dates & Times:
April 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26 from 7:30PM-9:00PM (Mon. & Tues.)
May 2 & 3 from 5:00PM-8:00PM (Mon. & Tues.)
May 9, 16 & 23 from 5:00PM-8:00PM (Mon)
Room: Gaige 114
Cost: $650
Registration is Closed
