PLC Program FAQ
The total cost of the PLC Technician Certificate Program is $1700. There are two payment options.
Option 1 - Full Registration: $1700
Students register and pay for the complete program at initial registration.
Option 2 - Pay-As-You-Learn Registration
Initial registration is $440 (includes all learning materials, laboratory simulation software and access to the Module 1 exam) and registration for each of the remaining 18 modules is $70/module. Students may register for one or more modules at any time.
Yes, our PLC Technician Certificate program is credit-bearing. George Brown College is a fully-accredited post-secondary institution operating under the authority of the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in the Province of Ontario. The College received its Charter in 1967 and operates three campuses in Toronto, Canada with over 15,000 full-time and 64,000 continuing education students. All certificates, diplomas, and degrees conferred by George Brown College are done so under the power vested in its Board of Governors through the Government of Ontario. George Brown College is a member of the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CIC) which is Canada’s higher education sector leading organization consisting of over 200 post-secondary institutions.
Students entering this program must have a high school diploma with credits at, or above, the general level or hold an equivalent mature student status. PLC experience is also helpful, but not essential.
No, the PLC Technician Certificate program has open enrollment, with no predetermined time limits. That means you can start at your convenience and finish at your own pace.
The average completion time is approximately 32 weeks of part-time study. The program’s flexible computer-based modules are designed to fit into your schedule, not ours, so you can work at your own pace to complete the program.
The PLC Technician program provides a more basic introduction and is a foundation to PLCs in manufacturing and includes a lab simulator, PLCLogix 500 that emulates the Rockwell (Allen-Bradley) Logix 500 series PLC control software. The PLC Technician II program provides a more advanced study of PLCs in manufacturing and its simulator emulates Rockwell’s 5000 series of PLC hardware and software.
The answer depends on your specific needs and goals regarding the training. We recommend taking the the PLC Technician program if you have little or no background in PLC’s as the PLC Technician II is more challenging to learn since it uses tag-based addressing. Our Program Consultants can help you decide which program will best fit your needs.You can reach them toll-free at 1-888-553-5333.
Yes, there are exams. The exams are written online using a computer-based testing package. A timed, 90 minute exam is taken to complete each module of the program. The exams are downloaded by the student from our web site, completed by the student and then returned to us electronically for grading.
You must obtain a 60% or higher to successfully complete each module of the PLC Technician Certificate program.
No, the PLC and PLC Technician II Certificate programs are offered entirely by distance education.
The Interactive Learning Package includes;
- Web-based Curriculum
- Lab simulation software
- Software user manual
- Tutorial and Technical Support Access to additional online program resources
- Online Testing
- An optional textbook is available at an additional cost.
Our program curriculum products are now available by direct download. Once a registration is confirmed, we will provide new students with a download link from which to download and install the web-based curriculum software
While enrolled in the PLC Technician Certificate program, students receive technical and tutorial support from the program's Student Support Center. The Student Support Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 10:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm (EST) and can be contacted by calling 1-866-279-1457 or by email at [email protected]. We also have dedicated Discussion Forums, where students can seek assistance from other students, view tutorials on difficult program content or direct specific questions about the program to our online tutor.
The PLC Technician Certificate program uses a state-of-the-art simulator, PLCLogix 500, which acts as a real world tool. With the simulator you can design, test and troubleshoot PLC ladder logic circuits.
Students must have access to a personal computer with the following minimum configuration:
- Intel Core i3, i5, i7, AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or equivalent processor
- 4GB RAM
- 500 MB of available disk space
- Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 / Windows 10/ Windows 11
- 32 and 64 bit compatible
- Internet Access
- Email Account
Note: Our program software is strictly made for Windows Operating Systems and will therefore only run on Windows-based computers. It will NOT work on Apple computers running Mac Operating Systems such as Macbook, Chromebook computers running Chrome Operating Systems such as Google Pixelbook or any device running Linux Operating Systems.
To receive a tuition refund, a student must provide the Distance Education Support Services Center with a written Request to Withdraw letter no later than ten business days after receiving the course materials. There will be a $20 administration fee charged, per module, to process the refund.
Please note that there is no refund on the web-based curriculum.
Allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing and mail delivery of tuition refund checks. If you do not receive your tuition refund check within 6 weeks of submitting your Request to Withdraw letter please contact the Distance Education Support Services Center toll-free at 1-888-553-5333.
Please include the following information in your Request to Withdraw letter:
- Name
- Student Number
- Course Registration Number
- Reason for withdrawal
- Signature
A Request to Withdraw refund letter should be faxed to the Distance Education Support Services Center at (416) 415-4683 or mailed to George Brown College, Distance Education Support Services Center, PO Box 1015 Station B, Toronto, Ontario Canada, M5T 2T9.
Once enrolled in the PLC Technician Certificate program, you are responsible for obeying and supporting an honor system that prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing in relation to the academic practices of George Brown College. The honor systems also required you to refrain from conduct that significantly impairs the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the George Brown College community. You are expected to do your own work in all aspects of your program.
The PLC and PLC Technician II Certificate programs are eligible for Better Jobs Ontario funding. If you are resident in Ontario, Canada, you may qualify for Better Jobs Ontario support to receive skills training and funding. For more information, please visit GBCTechtraining Better Jobs Ontario.