Lighting Technician onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
Verify required credentials: ETCP Entertainment Electrician, ETCP Rigger (as applicable)
Prepare equipment and access: lighting consoles such as ETC Eos or grandMA; moving and LED fixtures; dimmers and power distribution; DMX cables
Assign a buddy or preceptor
Enroll the new hire in Lighting Technician training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
Use fall protection at heights
Install safety cables on fixtures
Follow electrical safety and lockout
Wear gloves with hot fixtures
Shadow an experienced lighting technician through a full shift
Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

Supervised practice: hang and focus a light
Supervised practice: program a lighting cue
Supervised practice: troubleshoot a dead fixture
Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

Hang and focus lighting fixtures: independently
Run cable and power distribution: independently
Program lighting consoles: independently
Operate cues during shows: independently
Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
Begin cross-training on a secondary task
Agree on a credential goal (for example, ETCP Entertainment Electrician)
Discuss the career path: Stagehand → Lighting Technician → Programmer or Gaffer
90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or task	Trained	Observed	Signed off
Hang and Focus a Light
Program a Lighting Cue
Troubleshoot a Dead Fixture
Lighting fixtures
DMX and control systems
Console programming
Electrical safety

How to measure onboarding success

Time to first independent project
Revision rounds per project
On-time delivery rate
90-day retention

How Lighting Technician training maps to this plan

Introduction to the Lighting Technician Role
A Day on the Job
Essential Lighting Technician Vocabulary
Core Duties and Responsibilities
Common Tasks, Step by Step
Tools, Equipment and Technology
Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
Skills Employers Look For
Launching Your Lighting Technician Career
Final Knowledge Check

Get team pricing

Lighting Technician Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)