If you can afford a S7-1500 PLC starter kit, get one with HMI. Then you can install libraries provided by Siemens, example applications provided by Siemens, and modify them to suit your imagination.

The trick is to learn to read the online F1-help provided by the various parts of software, keep up with the current firmware revisions, software revisions (using SUS license updates).  If you find yourself in an airport or train station waiting to depart, you can read lots of forum posts, and if you have the time, attempt to solve some of the presented problems yourself.

When you can solve many of the problems yourself, time to look for another job making PLCs do useful things.

anhy123

I was , or at least I tried ,to be a plc programmer for about a year and a half . My contract was not renewed after 31 of July so I had to look for a new job . I had a big offer from a company to be a travelling support technician , but after some hesitation I gave up and had to opt for the web programming work that I did before programmer plc . I did not have the courage to accept the offer of travelling support technician because I have a dream , I would have a family and the prospect of being out one month and a week at home , it was not the greatest . I wanted to thank everybody for the help given me in this year and a half . The last ( for now ) question is the follow, is there a way or something that comes close to be able to maintain training as a programmer plc ? Some exercise or something ? I mean serious exercises. Thank you all. 

Hello anhy123,

welcome to our Technical Forum.

Have you heard about SITRAIN – Digital Industry Academy?
Maybe the trainings offered by Siemens will be of interest for you.
The following information I have received from the SITRAIN Team:

SITRAIN

SITRAIN offers a lot of options to learn about SIEMENS products. Please select your country to get detailed information about the learning options within your region: SITRAIN Countries

Just this spring SITRAIN we have started our new digital learning platform SITRAIN access. We are in the rollout phase. It will be available within more and more countries step by step. To get some first information, please check this page: SITRAIN access

In case SITRAIN access is not available yet in your country, you may check our other online trainings: Online-Training

SITRAIN classroom courses are now temporarily available in digital form. More information and dates: Digital Classroom Training

SITRAIN is looking forward to welcome you as one of our learners.