In today’s world of rapid change, everyone must be a lifelong student. 

The Education & Training Department facilitates and supports a culture of continuous education within the IATSE. Equally dedicated to leadership skills for union officers and craft skills and safety training for workers, the department sponsors and promotes union skills courses and workshops.

It also works closely with the IATSE Training Trust Fund, ETCP, USITT, and others to help workers keep abreast of new technologies, equipment, and styles of work. The Department operates outreach programs to high school and college students, creating a link to the workers of tomorrow.

By furnishing IATSE Local Unions and members access to training and education, we hope to continue to provide excellent representation and the best, most advanced, and highly-skilled workforce in the arts, media, and entertainment industries.

LEAP – Officer Institute – Trustee Training – IATSE Road Show – Webinar Channel – and more!

Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Free memberships and resources available through the IATSE TTF

OSHA-USITT-IATSE Alliance

Education for IATSE Members

UNION SKILLS TRAINING:

The IATSE Road Show: Why Unions Matter is an informative and enlightening presentation developed by the Labor Education Program at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and the IATSE.

The Road Show covers:

  • How are unions essential to a healthy political & economic democracy?
  • Who acts as the safeguard to corporate power?
  • What role do unions have in building an equitable future for all?

How Worker Power Builds an Economy That Creates Jobs, Raises Wages, & Promotes Economic Dignity for All.

Three versions are available: U.S. (English), Canadian (English), and Canadian (French).

REQUEST AN IN-PERSON ROAD SHOW STOP

If you would like to host this presentation in your city, please contact Jennifer Halpern at the IATSE General Office at jhalpern@iatse.net to receive more details and to schedule a date.

WATCH THE IATSE Road Show WEBINAR

To access a recording of Why Unions Matter, register here:

U.S. Locals https://iatse.co/May11whyunionsmatter

Canadian Locals https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3332091300754810635

Canadian Locals (French) https://iatse.co/PorquoiLesSyndicats

Education & Training Department webinars focus on several topics relevant to IATSE workers including leadership, union skills building, and craft skills and safety. 

Watch them all at https://www.gotostage.com/channel/iaeducationforall.

CRAFT SKILLS AND SAFETY TRAINING:

The IATSE Training Trust Fund is the primary source of craft skills and safety trainings for IATSE workers; however, the Education & Training Department works closely with the Training Trust Fund to provide IATSE workers with comprehensive trainings to promote safety and health in the workplace.

IATSE Training trust fund is the primary source of craft skills and safety training for IATSE workers.

The IATSE Training Trust Fund (TTF) is a joint labor-management training fund offering training opportunities for IATSE workers to achieve and maintain the skills, ability, and knowledge necessary to succeed in the ever-changing entertainment and exhibition industries.

The IATSE Training Trust offers a variety of educational resources and training opportunities to the IATSE workforce including No Fee Courses such as OSHA 10/General Entertainment Safety training, TTF Safety First! online courses, and free LinkedIn Learning subscriptions; Certification Reimbursement: ETCP, CTS, Mental Health First Aid; Audiovisual Training through the IATSE TTF/AVIXA Partnership; and much more.

Click here to visit the IATSE TTF’s Home Page →

The OSHA-USITT-IATSE Alliance is a coalition that works to improve and protect the health and safety of workers in the entertainment industry by both ensuring that entertainment industry work is represented and incorporated into health and safety regulations and providing better access to workplace safety and health tools and information, guidance, and training.

More information about the Alliance can be found on the official OSHA-USITT-IATSE Alliance webpage: https://www.osha.gov/alliances/usitt-iatse/usitt-iatse

Annual Alliance Events:

Information regarding upcoming IATSE-sponsored safety and health events will be published in the IATSE Bulletin or promoted through the IATSE Communications Department.

The IATSE TTF/AVIXA partnership includes Elite Membership access to free, online introductory AV training; a 25% discount on most classroom trainings; a 10% discount on most virtual classroom trainings; exclusive video content; CTS exam application discounts; free worldwide trade show floor access including InfoComm; free downloads of AVIXA Standards; and members-only events.

The IATSE TTF/AVIXA partnership is open to all IATSE workers. Apply today to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity with courses and content prepared just for you!

Click here to apply for the IATSE TTF/AVIXA Partnership 

IATSE workers who successfully pass the CTS certification or recertification exams may be eligible for Certification Reimbursement through the IATSE Training Trust Fund.

Click here to apply for Certification Reimbursement

Preparing for the AVIXA CTS test? Click here to download a primer for an effective study group.

The Entertainment Technology Certification Program (ETCP) is an industry-wide program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the highest levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities in specific entertainment technology disciplines. By providing a thorough, independent assessment of aptitude, ETCP strives to the enhance the health and safety of crews, performers, and audiences while also providing due recognition to the professional skills of entertainment technicians.

You may become certified through ETCP in the following areas: Rigger – Arena, Rigger – Theatre, Entertainment Electrician, and Portable Power Distribution Technician.

ETCP is ran by the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA). For more information, visit: https://etcp.esta.org/

IATSE workers who successfully pass ETCP certification exams may be eligible for Certification Reimbursement through the IATSE Training Trust Fund: https://www.iatsetrainingtrust.org/certification-reimbursement

Preparing for the ETCP or AVIXA CTS test? Click here to download our primer for an effective study group.

Behind the Scenes (BTS) is an industry charity that provides financial assistance to entertainment workers requiring it due to serious illness or injury. In the fall of 2019, in response to concerns about the rising number of suicides and the prevalence of alcohol/substance misuse within our industry, BTS began work on a suicide prevention and emotional wellness initiative. The goal of the initiative is to provide easily accessible education and resources to members of the entertainment technology industry.

For more information, visit the BTS website: btshelp.org/mentalhealth   

Mental Health First Aid is an international training program that was created in Australia in 2000 and is now available in 24 countries around the world, including the United States and Canada. Upon completing the course, you will become a certified Mental Health First Aider which is valid for three years.

Mental Health First Aid is a training course that gives workers the skills they need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem, or experiencing a crisis, and help connect them to the appropriate care.

This valuable training is offered to entertainment industry workers in the United States through the Behind the Scenes Foundation: btshelp.org/mhfa, and to workers in Canada through the Actors Fund of Canada: https://afchelps.ca/mhfa/

IATSE workers who successfully complete the Mental Health First Aid training through Behind the Scenes in the U.S. or Actors Fund Canada are eligible for Certification Reimbursement through the IATSE Training Trust Fund: https://www.iatsetrainingtrust.org/certification-reimbursement

Preparing for the ETCP or AVIXA CTS test? Click here to download our primer for an effective study group.

Education for Local Union Leaders

The IATSE’s Labor Education Assistance Program provides reimbursement money to local unions whose officers enroll in qualifying Labor Studies Courses.. The program covers all Officers, Officials, Trustees, and Executive Board Members of all local unions, who are eligible to be reimbursed for one (1) labor studies course each calendar year. Now every representative has access to a broad range of educational opportunities to help them better represent the workers in their jurisdiction.

Educational opportunities exist to fit every schedule and level of education and cover a spectrum of topics. IATSE-sponsored LEAP participants have participated in workshops sponsored by the AFL-CIO, Canadian Labour Congress, and the Labor Arbitration Institute; studied a wide variety of topics, including collective bargaining, organizing, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, and contract writing at skillstraining seminars on college campuses; and attended United Association for Labor Education (UALE) Women’s Schools and Regional Young Worker programs. Many people have also begun to take advantage of online learning classes, which allow freelance workers with unconventional schedules to learn on their own time in degree courses, short workshops, and one-time webinars. Local officers are encouraged to avail themselves of this tool in order to expand their labor knowledge and better represent their workers.

HOW TO APPLY FOR LEAP

Representatives from local unions may, with pre-approval, have tuition and reasonable housing expenses reimbursed for qualifying labor studies courses and courses that aid in the performance of their duties as union leaders (such as Excel or Parliamentary Procedure). The request must contain the name of the course and teaching establishment, along with the cost of instruction and any anticipated housing expenses, and be submitted to the International President, in writing, on the local’s letterhead. This pre-approval process is essential to guarantee reimbursement of educational expenses, which will be provided via check to the local union upon the receipt of proof of successful completion of the course. The International will pay for course tuition and for pre-approved housing expenses for short courses lasting less than one week. Not included is transportation, which will be the responsibility of the individual or the Local Union.

Click here for a sample LEAP application letter (PDF).

HELPFUL LINKS

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

SOLD OUT – February 26 – March 1, 2024 – Linthicum Heights, Maryland – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

June 17 – 21, 2024 – Chicago, Illinois – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

November 11 – 15, 2024 – Los Angeles, California – FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

The IATSE Officer Institute is a five-day, intensive certification program that will be delivered in multiple cities. The week’s courses range from Labor Law and Collective Bargaining to Union Finance, to managing day-to-day challenges and dealing with conflict. Instructors are experts in their fields and classes will provide hands-on, practical tools to be brought back to the local. Officers will earn a certificate and must attend all classes to graduate.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

IATSE Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

FINANCIAL SUBSIDY PROGRAM

For Local unions with smaller treasuries, the International has a subsidy program to make attendance feasible. Local Unions are also encouraged to contact their District Secretaries, as many IATSE Districts are also offering financial assistance to students at the Officer Institute.

Through this program, costs of the Officer Institute are split: Local Unions are responsible for transportation, hotels (unless a subsidy application has been awarded), and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Rules of the Subsidy Program are as follows:

  1. Subsidies are only available for the Officer Institute 1.0, not the Advanced 2.0.
  2. Local Unions who submit a Form LM-4 or LM-3 (or, in the case of Canadian locals, those with gross yearly receipts totaling less than $250,000) are eligible for a hotel subsidy for the Officer Institute. (The application form asks subsidy applicants to confirm their local falls within this category.)
  3. Once awarded, the subsidy will pay for up to five nights lodging at the designated IATSE hotel, and will be paid directly to the hotel. No funds will be paid directly to the student or the local union. Subsidy recipients must stay at the designated IATSE hotel.
  4. Ten (10) individual subsidies will be available for each session of the Officer Institute, and will be awarded subject to eligibility and on a first come, first served basis to qualifying local union leaders. Each qualifying local union may receive subsidies for no more than two officers in a calendar year.
  5. Subsidy applications must be received at least six (6) weeks prior to the first day of the applicable Officer Institute session.
  6. Transportation, meals, and incidentals are the responsibility of the local union and/or the individual students.
  7. The subsidy request form should be submitted together with an officer’s regular application to the IATSE Officer Institute. Both forms must be signed by an authorized representative of the Local’s Executive Board

    Download subsidy application

PRE-REQUISITE: You must currently hold office in your Local Union as Secretary or Treasurer or (regardless of office) be a graduate of a prior IATSE Officer Institute.

This training offers advanced work in issues of Financial Record Keeping, IATSE procedures, Fiduciary Responsibility, Fraud Prevention, Taking Minutes, and more. Content will be tailored for both Canadian and U.S. local leaders who have graduated from the IATSE Officer Institute and/or currently hold office as Secretaries and Treasurers in their local unions.
The 2023 session of the Secretary-Treasurer 2.0 has concluded. Check back to this page regularly for updates and announcements.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the Officer Institute are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

UPCOMING TRAININGS:

April 18 – 19, 2024 – New York, New York – FOR U.S. AND  CANADIAN LOCALS

IATSE Local Union Trustees may attend this two-day course designed specifically for IATSE Local Unions. The instructors are Certified Public Accountants and IATSE Staff, and are experienced educators and experts in their field with considerable experience overseeing audits and investigations, working with Labor Unions, and assisting clients with system implementation and analysis. After sessions on Fraud Prevention, the Role of the Trustee, and Planning an Audit, the class will conduct a mock audit.

Trustees must attend the full two days of class to graduate and earn a certificate.

Only members who serve their local unions as Trustees responsible for periodically auditing their locals’ books and records are eligible for this training. There is no other prerequisite. This training in NOT applicable for Benefit Fund or Training Fund Trustees.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the application form and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the class are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Leadership Development Week is an opportunity to customize your leadership training.

The 2023 sessions of Leadership Development Week have concluded. Check back to this page regularly for updates and announcements.

HOW TO APPLY

Fill out the Leadership Development Week application and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to: 

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the class are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem, and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

UPCOMING TRAINING:

This 4-day course includes: Labor Law and the Mechanics of an Organizing Campaign; Best Practices and Tactics; Targeting and Strategy; Messaging to the Public, Unrepresented Workers, and to the Membership; Developing a Blueprint, and more.

Local Unions are encouraged to send candidates who have the power to move an action forward in their Local which fosters growth and strength.

The 2023 session of the Organizing 2.0 has concluded. Check back to this page regularly for updates and announcements.

HOW TO APPLY:

Fill out the application form that corresponds with the Officer Institute you wish to attend and return the completed application via email to officerinstitute@iatse.net or by mail to:

I.A.T.S.E. Officer Institute
207 West 25th Street
Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10001

Costs of the Officer Institute are split: local unions are responsible for transportation, hotels, and per diem and the International Union will pay for the program and instructors.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

Essentials of Union Leadership: An online IATSE Officer Institute leadership series developed in partnership with and administered through the University of Wisconsin School for Workers. The series focuses on effective leadership principles and tools to help attendees build a high-capacity local union, effectively represent workers, communicate clearly, and set and achieve long-term goals.

Each course is designed so students can engage independently and learn at their own pace and on their own schedule for a total time of approximately 6-8 hours over the course of a week. Each module includes short readings, videos, recorded PowerPoints, quizzes, and discussion boards where reflective questions are discussed among the instructor and classmates. Courses do not need to be taken in any particular order.

These virtual complements to the Officer Institute are open to officers, officials, trustees, and board members of IATSE Local Unions. There is a limit of three individuals per local union per class.

Choose one course or take all four!

Register Now!

March 13 – March 21, 2024 | Strategic Planning explores the process organizations undertake to do long-range planning. Students learn the components of a strategic plan and the process for developing one, with an eye toward constructing elements of a strategic plan relevant to their own situations. All of this lays out considerations for work in every local and with any team to incorporate essential elements of a plan for progress.

To register for this course, send an email to officerinstitute@iatse.net with the Subject line: “Application for 1/29/24 Foundations of Union Leadership”.  Include the following information in the body of your email:

  • First and Last Name
  • Phone Number
  • Email Address that you would like to use to log into the course
  • Local Union
  • Mailing Address
  • Position at Local Union

Please copy your Local Union’s Secretary-Treasurer on your application email. If you are the Secretary-Treasurer, please CC one of your local’s other primary officers. We will verify your application. There is a limit of three (3) individuals per local union. You will be notified within 3 business days of your acceptance. When the class is full, additional students will be placed on the waiting list.

Save the Dates:

April 9 – 17, 2024 | Building Capacity: Internal Organizing is designed to make every local stronger within – where members are connected to each other, to the local union and to the community in strategic ways that build connections for member strength, security, and growth.

Please contact officerinstitute@iatse.net with any questions.

The IATSE Road Show: Why Unions Matter is an informative and enlightening presentation developed by the Labor Education Program at the University of Arkansas Little Rock and the IATSE.

The Road Show covers:

  • How are unions essential to a healthy political & economic democracy?
  • Who acts as the safeguard to corporate power?
  • What role do unions have in building an equitable future for all?

How Worker Power Builds an Economy That Creates Jobs, Raises Wages, & Promotes Economic Dignity for All.

Three versions are available: U.S. (English), Canadian (English), and Canadian (French).

REQUEST AN IN-PERSON ROAD SHOW STOP

If you would like to host this presentation in your city, please contact Jennifer Halpern at the IATSE General Office at jhalpern@iatse.net to receive more details and to schedule a date.

WATCH THE IATSE Road Show WEBINAR

To access a recording of Why Unions Matter, register here:

U.S. Locals: https://iatse.co/May11whyunionsmatter

Canadian Locals: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3332091300754810635

Canadian Locals (French): https://iatse.co/PorquoiLesSyndicats

The IATSE Leadership Training Webinar Channel includes recordings on a range of topics, including Labor Law, The Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer and Trustees, Communication, Mental Health, Public Speaking, Resources of the IATSE Training Trust Fund, Leading Union Teams, and more!

For access to the Leadership Training Webinar Channel, email officerinstitute@iatse.net with the subject line “Leadership Training Webinar Channel”.

Education Calendar

This calendar lists online and in-person Leadership and Union Skills  trainings presented by the IATSE Education and Training Department. Click here to discover the IATSE Training Trust Fund’s robust craft training calendar.

Bystander Intervention Webinar

Do you know how to safely intervene if you see a co-worker being bullied or intimidated? Learn how to safely intervene and help make a difference in this free webinar […]

Applications

This section will be updated as new courses are announced and applications become available.

Officer Institute 1.0

FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

June 17 – 21, 2024
Chicago, IL

November 11 – 15, 2024
Los Angeles, CA

Local Union Trustee Training

FOR U.S. AND CANADIAN LOCALS

April 18 – 19, 2024
New York, NY

Labor Education Assistance Program (LEAP)

IATSE Racial Justice

21-Day Habit Forming Challenges

21-Day Challenges offer an opportunity for IATSE membership to expand our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
2021 Racial Justice Challenge (Documents from the Convention)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are union issues. Making sure that all workers can thrive in our unions and in our workplaces ensures that together we will rise.

2016 Winter GEB

The presentation below was used in the media and messaging education session during the Winter 2016 GEB meeting. Please feel free to download and distribute to your local. You can use the presentation as-is, or tailor it to fit the needs of your local, using the PPT (PowerPoint) file.

2015 Winter & 2014 Summer

The documents below were used in activism education sessions during the Summer 2014 and Winter 2015 GEB meetings. Please feel free to distribute to your local. You can use the materials as-is, or tailor them to fit the needs of your local.

Student Outreach

USITT – https://www.usitt.org/

Hidden Career Path Days

Produced jointly with the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Education Team, “Hidden Career Path Days” aim to showcase ‘behind the scenes’ careers, enhance students’ appreciation of and exposure to careers in technical theatre, and equip them with knowledge of the skills required and the pathways possible to pursue those careers.  Watch this short video to learn more.