Funding for Locals

Course Reimbursement

We offer reimbursements to local unions setting up their own safety and craft skills courses. Reimbursements are intended to help cover a part of the costs of providing group trainings requested by local workers or signatory employers making contributions to the TTF. Course reimbursement is limited to make funds available to as many locals as possible, and we may not be able to support your application at the full amount requested.

What types of courses are REIMBURSABLE?

This program reimburses local unions that organize and present group safety and craft skills training for IATSE workers. This year we provided reimbursement for the following courses: A1: Audio Mixer, Advanced Fly Rail, Advanced Machine Sewing (Zippers), Advanced Rigging Fundamentals, Aging and Dyeing, Theater Rigging, Arena Rigging, Background Extras Payroll, Backstage Wardrobe, Balloon Light Technician, Bank Reconciliations, Barbering: Every Cut is Customized, Basic AV Set-Up, Basic Camera, Basic Dressing for Theatre, Basic Fly Rail, Basic Life Support for Providers, Basic Lighting, Basic Math for Electricians, Basic Prosthetic Application, Basic Stagecraft, Basics of Car Rigging, Boom Operator, CASHét cards, Color Theory, Control Systems, Networking and Programming, Cosmetology: Behind the Scenes, Cosmetology: Intro to Theatrical Make-Up, Cosmetology: Wig Sets & Styling, Cost Reporting Basics, DGA Payroll, DMX Control for Lighting and Set Lighting, Dolly Grip, Electrical Math, Electrics Hang and Focus, ETCP Electrics, Fall Protection, Firearms Safety & Awareness, First Aid/CPR/AED, First Responder and Crimes Scenes, Followspot, Food Styling, Forklift Operator, Fronting & Refronting a Wig, Fundamentals of Aging for Film & TV, Gold Leafing & Metallic Mediums, Ground Fault Protection Strategies, Ground Rigging 101, High Angle Rescue-Rope Technician, Hoisting, How to Create Faux Marble for Film, How to Set Up a Broadway Show Track, Incipient Fire (Extinguisher), Intermediate Audio, Intermediate Props: Weapons, Intro to Out of Kit Professional Makeup, Intro to Sound, Introduction to the Rigging Programmer, Lighting Programming, Locations 101, Martin Parsons Updo Class, Mental Health First Aid, MEWP Operator, Mold Making, On Set Distressing, On-Set Sewing, OSHA 10-Hour Construction with Focus on the Entertainment Industry, OSHA 10-Hour General Industry with Focus on the Entertainment Industry, OSHA 30-Hour Construction with Focus on the Entertainment Industry, Out of Kit Effects , Out of Kit Professional Makeup, Outdoor Rigging, Painting on Fabric, Perspectives in Sound, Perspectives of a Prop Master, Platform Construction, Portable Power Standards and Practices, Practical Rigging, Preparing Graphics for the Vendor, Repairing & Repurposing Hats, Rescue and Open Beam Rigging, Rescue and Theatrical Rigging, Resistive Neutrals, Rigging Essentials: Counterweight Systems, Rigging Fundamentals, Rope Rescue, Rough Terrain Forklift Operator, Run of Show Purchase Orders, S.M.A.A.R.T. Operator, Set Costumer 101, Set Dec Basics, Set Etiquette, Shoe Maintenance, Soft Goods Fly Rail and Loading Bridge, Sound Utility, Soundmixing, Spotlight, Stage Electrics: Hang and Focus, Stagecraft Skills 101, Supervising for TV & Movies, Sync on Set, Teamster Payroll, Theater Electrics Workshop, Trail Balance and General Ledger, Truss & Hoist Rigging, URSA Sound, Vectorworks: Intermediate and Advanced, Vectorworks Beginner-Intermediate, WGA Payroll, Whole Hog 4 Console, Wig Crew Basics, Wire Rope Rigging 101, Wire Rope Rigging 102, Women's Welding Workshop, Wood Graining for Film, Working in the Art Department, and Working When Weapons are on Set.

The courses listed are only examples of the types of courses that are eligible for reimbursement. Locals are not limited to these specific courses and may seek reimbursement for other safety and craft skills courses relevant to their craft.

POLICIES

1. The application must be completed, signed, and submitted by an officer other than the individual listed as a trainer on the application and must include a course description, topic outline, and instructor bio.

2. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and all requests must go through the approval process. We can't consider applications for past courses. Approval emails detailing approved expenses and amounts will be delivered within four weeks after receiving all application materials.

   • PLEASE NOTE: We always review ALL applications no matter when they are sent in as long as it is before the course, it just may take us a little bit longer to review. Please try to submit applications with as much advance notice as possible.

3. Courses need to take place within the year in which they are approved. Funds can't be transferred to a different course or year. If you need to change the date of a course after it's approved, please contact us as soon as possible. If you aren’t holding a course that was approved, please let us know so we can redistribute the funds.

4. Courses must meet the five-student minimum requirement. Additional student minimums may apply. Attendance will be uploaded to the Training Tracker.

5. We can’t reimburse costs associated with renting from member loan-out companies if a local officer is the owner of said loan-out company. This includes kit rental.

6. The maximum instructor rate is $750 for a full day of instruction (8 hours). The minimum course length to receive the full daily rate is five hours. Courses less than five hours long per day will be reimbursed at a pro-rated hourly rate based on the full eight-hour day.

7. Effective June 8, 2023, per-person cost limits for Forklift Operator, MEWP Operator, and CPR/AED have been lifted.

What Else Should We Know?

The TTF does not evaluate or certify trainers in any capacity. The local is responsible for verifying trainers' competency, certifications, quality of work, and suitability to their workers' training needs. The local is responsible for confirming participants’ Beneficiary status and making all course arrangements including securing a training venue, equipment, and supplies and paying for all course expenses.

We suggest you get a quote from the instructor or vendor before the training to help you describe and itemize expenses on the application. List only the expenses for which you seek reimbursement. We may not be able to support your application at the full amount requested. Course funding is limited to make funds available to as many locals as possible to help support their training.

If we approve your Course Reimbursement Application, we will email you the amount of approved funds and explain the process for submitting supporting documentation after the course occurs. After the training, your local will submit the TTF expense report, instructor invoice, itemized receipts, and TTF-provided daily sign-in sheets for processing. Reimbursements are based on itemized receipts, so if the amount spent is less than the pre-approved amount, only the actual amount spent is reimbursed. Expense reports that do not include daily sign-in sheets, instructor invoice, or receipts clearly listing incurred costs will need to be resubmitted.

Course Reimbursement funds are available for safety and craft skills group trainings of at least five students. We encourage you to accept as many students as possible to your courses to maximize funding and resources. You are not obligated to accept IATSE workers from outside your local, but it can be an effective way to fill a course and ensure you meet the minimum requirement of five students. We may not be able to reimburse your local for courses that do not meet the five-student minimum requirement.

Application Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. To ensure your application is reviewed and approved without delays, make sure your submission is at least 30 days before the course date and meets the requirements:

• The Course Reimbursement Application must be submitted by the local union president, secretary treasurer, BA, or training coordinator. Applications cannot be submitted by the individual listed as a trainer on the application.

• A description of the course content, an outline of topics covered, and an instructor biography are attached to the application.

• The application and supporting documents are submitted by the target date or well in advance of the course to allow time for review and processing.

New, complete applications are reviewed within two weeks after they are submitted. However, depending on the time of year and the volume of submissions received, it may take longer. Please allow up to four weeks for processing. If your application is missing any documents, you will be asked to resubmit your application.

Applications received within the 30 days before the course will still be reviewed, but we may not be able to respond immediately to your request. We cannot consider applications for courses that have already occurred.

HOW TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION

Download and save the fillable PDF form, fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader, and save your completed and signed form. Include the course description, outline, and instructor bio when you email the completed application to funding@iatsetrainingtrust.org.

For the best user experience, download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader, and avoid Mac Preview, which corrupts PDF forms. Please note that you must first describe and itemize expenses before you can unlock the amount fields. You will not be able to enter an amount unless you first describe that expense.

Click here to download a checklist to guide you through the required steps for reimbursement ↓

Click here to download a course description and outline template ↓

Click here to see a sample completed Course Reimbursement Application ↓

Is Your Course Reimbursement Application Complete?