ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the responsibilities typically associated with a variety of lighting professionals and how these positions fit into the overall chain of authority for an organization. It provides a brief introduction to several of the professional societies, certifications, and unions that represent different areas of the lighting profession. The technician who plays the most important supervisory role in the lighting department is the master electrician (ME). The specialized field of lighting that relates to architectural installations is called illumination engineering. An associate lighting designer operates at a level of authority just below the lighting designer. An architectural lighting designer should also have a keen awareness of additional design parameters that entertainment designers rarely have to consider. The program for electricians is coordinated by the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP). Most lighting certifications are found in architectural practices and are either earned through an exam or are conferred by professional societies.
