What Entertainment Technician Certification Program does

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) administers professional certification examinations for entertainment technology technicians in three disciplines: Rigging (Arena and Theatre), Entertainment Electrician, and Portable Power Distribution Technician. ETCP is a wholly owned program of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), a non-profit trade association founded in 1987 and headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. ETCP celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 and has issued 1,000+ certifications cumulatively; certified technicians must satisfy ongoing recertification and continuing education requirements.

Underlying technology is centered on standardized examination administration against ANSI-recognized technical standards. ESTA's broader platform includes an ANSI-accredited Technical Standards Program (TSP, accredited 1996) that has produced 50+ E1-series standards spanning rigging, electrical power, control protocols, and safety. Distribution is via the public esta.org website, a member portal at my.esta.org, and a quarterly Protocol trade journal distributed to 20,500+ entertainment technology professionals globally, alongside event presence at NAMM, USITT, LDI, and PLASA Focus.

Revenue mechanics run through three streams: recurring membership dues from dealers, manufacturers, rental companies, production companies, and professional service firms; one-time and recurring certification and recertification fees from individual technicians; and advertising/subscription revenue from Protocol. Customer concentration is intentionally horizontal across rental companies, production companies, dealers, manufacturers, individual technicians, and venues, with named enterprise members Barbizon, Production Resource Group (PRG), and Vincent Lighting Services. Strategic partnerships include NAMM (GTM), USITT (INNOVA online learning), PLASA (ICOPER rigging code and regional events), and Netflix (PERG Equitable Workforce Initiative launched 2022).

Name

Entertainment Technician Certification Program

Legal name

Entertainment Services and Technology Association

Website

https://esta.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP), operated by ESTA, administers ANSI-aligned certification examinations for entertainment technicians in rigging, electrical, and portable power distribution, serving the global entertainment technology industry from Brooklyn, NY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Certification & Licensing Exam Management Platforms (EDAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD), Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC) (EDANAIAM), Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN)

Keywords

• Entertainment technician certification
• Rigging safety certification
• Electrical safety standards
• Industry standards development
• Trade association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ESTA generates revenue through membership dues from dealers, manufacturers, production companies, rental companies, and professional service companies in the entertainment technology industry
2. Certification Fees: ETCP certification fees for examination, recertification, and continuing education
3. Protocol Journal: Quarterly trade journal published and distributed to approximately 20,500+ entertainment technology professionals, with advertising revenue

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ETCP administers professional certification examinations for entertainment technicians in three disciplines: Rigging (Arena and Theatre), Entertainment Electrician, and Portable Power Distribution Technician. The program operates under the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) and provides ANSI-accredited, industry-recognized credentials that validate technical competency and promote workplace safety in the entertainment technology industry.

Product overview

The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) is a certification organization under ESTA that provides professional credentials for entertainment technicians. ETCP offers multiple certification programs including Rigging Certification (Arena and Theatre), Entertainment Electrician Certification, and Portable Power Distribution Technician Certification. ETCP celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025 and is governed by an ETCP Council that meets regularly to oversee certification standards and programs. The program is managed by dedicated staff and maintains an active presence through industry events and publications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ETCP Entertainment Technician Certification Program A professional certification program for entertainment technicians offering credentials in rigging, electrical work, and portable power distribution to validate technical competency and promote workplace safety in the entertainment industry.
• ETCP Rigging Certification Professional certification for arena and theatre rigging professionals, validating competency in rigging safety and technical practice for live entertainment settings.
• ETCP Entertainment Electrician Certification Certification for entertainment electricians covering electrical safety, equipment knowledge, and industry best practices for live event and theatrical electrical work.
• ETCP Portable Power Distribution Technician Certification Certification for technicians specializing in portable power distribution systems in entertainment settings, launched in 2016 to address power safety in live event production.
• Technical Standards Program (TSP) ANSI-accredited standards development program producing the E1 series standards for entertainment technology covering rigging, electrical power, control protocols, and safety. Over 50 ANSI-recognized standards have been produced.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ certifications issued
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• NetflixflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022PERG Equitable Workforce Initiative (EWI) launched in partnership with Netflix at the 2022 PERG General Meeting at NAB. Goal is to create opportunities for equity by building new talent pipelines and interpersonal networks within the rental community while providing training that prepares employees for a career in equipment rental and production.
• PLASA FocusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018PLASA Focus regional trade shows held in various US cities (Austin, Nashville, Stamford, Orlando, Baltimore, Kansas City) where ESTA participates and promotes its programs.
• NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017ESTA formed a new alliance with NAMM starting with the 2018 NAMM Show. ESTA offers education sessions at NAMM with many providing ETCP renewal credits with registration. Partnership provides access to NAMM Show for ESTA education and certification programs.
• PLASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ESTA and PLASA released the International Code of Practice for Entertainment Rigging (ICOPER). PLASA is an international organization for entertainment technology. ESTA also had a cooperative agreement with PLASA for standards development and PLASA Focus regional events.
• USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ESTA and USITT launched INNOVA for online, on-demand learning to fill a need for continuing technical education for the industry. ESTA introduced the New World Rigging Symposium in conjunction with USITT ahead of the 2018 USITT Conference and Stage Expo.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PLASA: UK-based international trade association for entertainment technology. PLASA is ETCP's closest peer with overlapping scope in standards development, member services, and industry events; ESTA and PLASA previously operated as a merged entity (PLASA North America) and jointly developed ICOPER.
• USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology): US non-profit serving designers, producers, technicians, and educators in performing arts and entertainment. USITT is a direct peer serving overlapping membership and is also a strategic partner that co-developed the INNOVA online learning platform and the New World Rigging Symposium with ESTA.

Broad incumbents

• AVIXA: Trade association for the audiovisual industry (formerly InfoComm) that runs the CTS (Certified Technology Specialist) credentialing program. AVIXA is comparable as a larger industry association offering certifications, standards work, and member services across the broader audiovisual production stack that overlaps with entertainment technology.
• NFPA (National Fire Protection Association): US standards developer and certifying body for fire and electrical safety (NFPA 70, 70E). NFPA is comparable as an ANSI-accredited standards and certification organization whose electrical safety standards overlap with ETCP's Entertainment Electrician and Portable Power Distribution credentials.
• CompTIA: Major IT certification body offering industry-recognized credentials (A+, Network+, Security+). CompTIA is comparable as a much larger ANSI-accredited certification organization operating a similar exam-based credentialing and recertification business model, illustrating what a scaled version of ETCP's certification engine could become in a different vertical.

Regional players

• NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants): US trade association for music products industry with global event footprint. NAMM is a strategic partner of ESTA (alliance formed in 2017) and offers overlapping trade-show distribution and continuing education channels, though its core members are music product retailers and manufacturers rather than entertainment technicians.

Emerging players

• Event Safety Alliance: US non-profit focused on event and venue safety standards, training, and the Event Safety Access certification. ESA is comparable as an emerging safety-focused credentialing body in adjacent live-event verticals, though its scope is broader than ETCP's entertainment technician focus.
• IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees): Labor union representing technicians, craftspersons, and performers in entertainment. IATSE runs its own training and apprenticeship programs that overlap with ETCP's audience of entertainment technicians, making it a partial competitor and channel for workforce certification in the same vertical.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ESTAmember
• Facebookfacebook.com/ESTAmember
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/etcp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Entertainment Technician Certification Program