Assess your learning style. Are you self-motivated? Can you learn easily from printed material or do you need to see a demonstration of the skill or action? Do you need help staying on task? Do you need someone of whom you can ask questions when you have a problem?
Assess your prior knowledge. Do you have some training or expertise with computers? Are you familiar with setting up automated systems in a home or business? Is this topic completely new, but one that would be useful to you if you were to seek a different job or a promotion?
Order home study materials to go with online self-instruction, if you are self-motivated and you are familiar with computers and with the area of industry in which you would be using a PLC. Two companies offering this training are Interconnecting Automation and Online Technical Training, a company that works in partnership with Canadian and U.S. colleges and universities.
Contact an online college or university if you need more guidance with your studies or more background training. Capella University and George Brown College are two established colleges that offer PCL training (see Resources). Though you will still be doing a lot of work on your own, you will have a professor and fellow students with whom to share information and questions.