Can I practise a DCS without a licence?

DCS software is licensed, so the courses are built to be followed closely and re-drawn; the free PID and Instrumentation courses provide the simulators for the control theory.

Can DCS be learned without the system?

The concepts, the engineering tools where trials exist (PCS 7, DeltaV Explorer demos, Experion documentation) and the operator workflows can. Hands-on configuration comes from the videos of real systems.

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Free DCS courses with certificate

Distributed control systems, free and complete: Emerson DeltaV from architecture and CHARMs I/O through Control Studio, PID and advanced control to DeltaV Operate and plant projects, with notes, quizzes and an optional verifiable certificate.

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5 courses · 57 modules · 73h 45m of video · Updated 27 September 2026

FreeDCSIntermediate

Emerson DeltaV DCS

The DCS in refineries, pharma and chemicals: architecture, controllers and CHARMs I/O, commissioning, Control Studio programming, analog and PID, advanced control, sequences, DeltaV Operate, alarms, history and full plant projects.

Explain DCS versus PLC and SCADA and draw the DeltaV architecture
Know controllers, S-series and PK, CHARMs and electronic marshalling
Commission a controller and configure I/O, including bulk edit

13 modules 12h 3mView course

FreeDCSIntermediate

Yokogawa CENTUM VP DCS

The DCS of refineries, petrochemical and power plants worldwide: architecture, FCS and HIS, function blocks, ST16 and LC64 logic, SEBOL, PID and advanced control, MC-2E device logic, HMI graphics, a full water-treatment project and ProSafe-RS.

Draw the CENTUM VP architecture: FCS, HIS, ENG, Vnet/IP, cabinets
Create a project and build AND, ST16 and LC64 logic, tested in the test function
Configure PVI, PBS5C, templates and project/FCS/HIS options

14 modules 23h 7mView course

FreeDCSIntermediate

Honeywell Experion PKS DCS: Engineering and Maintenance

The Honeywell DCS as a plant engineer meets it: C300 controllers and I/O, assets and control modules, simulation and forcing, HMI and trends, redundant servers, controller activation and replacement, networks and Experion HS.

Describe Experion PKS hardware, C300 and Series C I/O, and check health
Create assets and control modules, modify logic and build first-out detection
Simulate from a chart, force inputs safely and reconfigure channels by SOP

8 modules 4h 48mView course

FreeDCSIntermediate

ABB Ability System 800xA DCS

ABB's DCS in metals, cement, paper and power plants worldwide: what 800xA is, Select I/O and xStream engineering, Control Builder's control diagram editor with function blocks, structured text, SFC and PID, the 800xA training sessions, and the cyber security reference architecture.

Explain a DCS and where 800xA fits against PLC and SCADA
Describe Select I/O, xStream engineering and Edgenius
Build control diagrams with function blocks, structures, SFC, ST and PID in Control Builder

7 modules 5h 59mView course

FreeDCSIntermediate

Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 DCS

Siemens' process control system as refineries, chemical and power plants run it: components and buses, AS and OS configuration, the multi-project, CFC and run-time groups, STEP 7 blocks inside PCS 7, the MotL block and interlocks, custom logic, OS alarms, trends, logging and users, reusable charts, PID and voting, SFC sequences and control templates, and full projects from tank station to compressor anti-surge.

Explain PCS 7 architecture, stations and buses
Configure AS, OS and the multi-project
Build CFC charts with run-time groups and STEP 7 blocks

15 modules 27h 47mView course

Compare the DCS courses

Course	Level	Modules	Video	Brand
Emerson DeltaV DCS	Intermediate	13	12h 3m	Vendor-neutral
Yokogawa CENTUM VP DCS	Intermediate	14	23h 7m	Vendor-neutral
Honeywell Experion PKS DCS: Engineering and Maintenance	Intermediate	8	4h 48m	Vendor-neutral
ABB Ability System 800xA DCS	Intermediate	7	5h 59m	ABB
Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 DCS	Intermediate	15	27h 47m	Siemens

Questions

Can I practise a DCS without a licence?: DCS software is licensed, so the courses are built to be followed closely and re-drawn; the free PID and Instrumentation courses provide the simulators for the control theory.
Can DCS be learned without the system?: The concepts, the engineering tools where trials exist (PCS 7, DeltaV Explorer demos, Experion documentation) and the operator workflows can. Hands-on configuration comes from the videos of real systems.