Los Angeles, CA – January 18th, 2008 – The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is the first major west coast convention center to take the lead on requiring all its rigging supervisor hires to be certified under Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP). In an effort to enhance client and patron safety while meeting the challenges of ever increasing technical demands, LACC has revised its criteria that companies must meet in order to qualify for placement on their list of approved rigging contractors. One of the qualifications is that all rigging supervisors and managers must be ETCP Certified. New vendors must meet these qualifications immediately to be considered for placement, while previously approved vendors have until the end of 2008 to certify their lead riggers.
Thomas Fields, Building Superintendent of Show Operations at the
There are three ways employees can be tested to receive certification. The exams are available for computer based-testing and a candidate can make arrangements to take the exam at one of 190 testing centers around the U.S and in
If companies are looking to hire a competent rigger or entertainment electrician who is dedicated to safety on the job, the list of Certified Entertainment Technicians on the ETCP website is searchable by name, city, or certification type. Not only did these technicians pass a rigorous assessment, they also signed an agreement to abide by the ETCP Certified Entertainment Technician Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.
2 comments:
With the ETCP certification available, I think this is the direction that all major entertainment centers will be heading. Employers want a standard, and in this business that is hard to formulate. But by having one test, it reassures employers that these people have all the skills required when they go to hire. I just wonder how this test works with the Union. If maybe IATSE will require members to become certified, or if they wont. Hummm.
I think this is definitely a good thing. I guess as the certification becomes more widespread this will probably become the case more and more. The only thing I see to prevent all crew members from being certified is the years of work experience required.
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