P.L.C. Courses

[Oakleaf51]

I'm halfway through a basic introductory PLC course, covering basic programming and fault finding. The instructor said what a fantastic opportunity awaits people with PLC skills for the future. How can somebody get skilled in this area with a view to making it a career? (Thinking of my kids, aged 20 doing a university theology degree, age 18 doing 6th form college Health and Social care course, and age 17 just doing his GCSE's.) How long would it take to get a viable PLC qualification to get into industry?

[ACtheTROLL]

The instructor would!

The first question I'd ask would be do they introduce you to prospective employers? Good vocational training should always be linked to the industry it aims for ....
And conversely ... if the training is respected ... employers will recruit from companies who are in the best position to assess the employability of trainees.

I'm not excatly certain what you are thinking for your kids ...
Are you thinking to set yourself up to support them - or to get them into the industry

Doesn't sound like your kids are slow ... and it does sound like they have very diverse and worthwhile interests ... the first two don't particularly sound like IT fodder - the third must have some ideas.

From my own experience there is nothing worse than being steered into a good paying job that you hate ....
I'm lucky - my job is my hobby - so I haven't "worked" for many years now.

I still take the tools as often as possible ... (to keep my hand in) ...but mainly I teach (A+ & MCSE) engineers.

We are often approached by firms looking for ppl.
And I'd guess thet your first two will have access to careers advice closely related to the subjects they are reading.

[badlad.biz]

Its not just a case of a PLC Qualification. I would have thought an Engineering Qualification (min HNC) together with PLC programming would open a few doors.
I've been writing PLC programs for many years, and would be stuck without my Engineering past.