ETCP Certification

ESTA - The Entertainment Services & Technology Association
ETCP - Entertainment Technician Certification Program

Links: ESTA Home, ETCP Home

ESTA is a non-profit trade association representing the entertainment technology industry dedicated to a core mission of Building the Business of Show Business. ESTA promotes professionalism and growth in the industry and provides a forum where interested parties can come together to exchange ideas and information, create standards and recommended practices, and address issues of training and certification.

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) is a new industry-wide program that is bringing together an unprecedented group of industry organizations, businesses and individuals to create a program of rigorous assessments for professional technicians.

Under the auspices of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), ETCP is being developed with the following organizations: Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), International Communications Industries Association (ICIA), The League of American Theatres and Producers, Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), and United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT).

Personnel certification is the voluntary process by which a nongovernmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has demonstrated certain abilities, skills and knowledge. ETCP will include the creation of exams based upon identified bodies of knowledge, the conducting of those examinations, the awarding of certifications, and re-certifying individuals.

ETCP will focus on disciplines that directly affect the health and safety of crews, performers, and audiences. Two key areas have been identified for initial development - electrical skills and rigging skills.

ETCP Re-Certification

Continued training and professional development activities are essential in the changing entertainment technology environment. Therefore, to maintain the ETCP certification, a Certified Entertainment Professional must accumulate 40 renewal credits of continued training/professional development OR retake the certification examination and accumulate a minimum of 10 renewal credits of continued training/professional development over the 5 year period following the examination. Documentation of these credits must be submitted in your Log Book along with the renewal fee and approved every 5 years from the date of initial certification.

Electrical Certification Renewal:

The Renewal Credit Hours Worksheet shows the maximum credit hours available per subject and is designed to help you keep track of the number of hours you earn in training towards your certification renewal.

See a list of ETCP Recognized Training Programs or ETCP Recognized Trainers

 Rigging Certification Renewal:

The Renewal Credit Hours Worksheet shows the maximum credit hours available per subject and is designed to help you keep track of the number of hours you earn in training towards your certification renewal.

See a list of ETCP Recognized Training Programs or ETCP Recognized Trainers

Local 122 - what the ETCP means to us

Certification and training is becoming an important part of our industry. Not only must we make sure that our technicians are trained and certified in our industry, but we must encourage other IATSE locals to do the same. The ETCP chose rigging and electrical certifications first for good reason: we all have to coordinate with those specialties and lives depend on those skills being implemented properly. Without question, it will be soon that there is government requirements on certifications within our industry. ESTA and ETCP are developing good certifications that are relevant to our industry so that when the time comes that government regulation becomes an issue - we will be able to demonstrate that proper certifications are already in place.

Certification also demonstrates a high standard for our industry that can be qualified. Across the country, as more IATSE members gain certification, we improve our base level of knowledge and allow employers to know that anywhere they go, they can find IATSE members with the skills and specialties they need for accurate and safe professionalism. It is important that we are directly involved with participation in these programs both as students and as calibrators.

Infocomm CTS Certification

InfoComm’s Certification Mission is to establish high standards of ethical and professional practice for the audiovisual industry through the development and administration of a credible credentialing program.

The mission of the Certification Committee is to provide oversight to the development and administration of credible Certified Technology Specialist certifications (CTS®, CTS-I CTS-D), and to assure the credentials meet high standards of ethical and professional practice for the audiovisual industry that assures the proficiency and competency of AV professionals.

Download The NEW Certification Brochure (PDF)

With nearly 7,000 certified professionals and an average of 100 newly certified every month, the InfoComm Certified Technology Specialist (CTS^®) designation is internationally recognized and supported by the industry. The CTS credential is the only AV certification that has been recognized by the National Certification Commission and approved for reimbursement by the Veterans Administration. InfoComm is currently seeking ANSI approval of ISO/IEC 17024 certification for the program. There are two levels of CTS: General and Specialized.

What's New with Certification
The Latest on the ISO/IEC 17024 Personnel Standard
As Administered in the U.S. by ANSI

Certification Renewal Form (PDF)
Specialized Certification Application Form (PDF).
Certification and Committee Mission Statements (PDF)