ILDA Accredited Professional Lasershow Company

ILDA is developing a number of accreditation and certification programs. The "ILDA Accredited Professional Lasershow Company" program is for companies, organizations and individuals doing laser shows and displays. It identifies those who have experience and competency in doing shows. It was developed by ILDA's Professional Status Committee. The goal of the committee was to allow outsiders to easily identify "professionals" who have a minimum experience base, from those who are less experienced or knowledgeable.

All ILDA certification and accreditation programs must address required elements such as autonomy, authority, rigorousness, due process, etc. These are discussed on a separate page.

Points system

The IAPLC program uses a system where points are gained for various activities such as doing laser shows or attending industry conferences. For each activity, there is a minimum number of points which must be earned. When the minimum has been earned in all activities, then the applicant can apply for accreditation.

It is important to note that supporting documentation is required. For example, it is not enough to state that a company did 15 laser shows. The shows must be listed along with some proof that the company did the show. The supporting documentation is mailed to ILDA for review.

The activity areas are:

• Professional Performance: Shows and awards
• Professional Experience: Years in business, letters of reference, association memberships
• Volunteer Service: To ILDA, entertainment industry, laser industry, and community
• Education and Professional Development: Educational history, participation and attendance in industry conferences
• Safety: Teaching, courses taken (including Laser Safety Officer), safety permits and variances held, service in laser safety groups
• Statement of Affirmation: Understanding and agreeing to safe laser practices

The Accreditation Form (spreadsheet)

ILDA has developed an Excel spreadsheet to make it easy to enter and review the required information. The spreadsheet has a Main Worksheet, plus 16 supporting worksheets where details about shows, awards, safety courses, etc. are listed. As information is entered, points are updated. When enough points have been reached in an activity, a cell turns green on both the supporting worksheet and on the Main Worksheet.

When all cells, in all activity areas, have turned green, then the applicant can submit the form. As noted above, the applicant also must submit printed documentation for most items as proof that the activity was done.

As of July 2009, the point system has NOT been finalized. The Accreditation Form is a draft. ILDA welcomes comments and suggestions about the points and categories. Keep in mind the goal of accrediting a company, organization or individual as being competent to do shows. This accreditation should not be too easy or too hard to achieve. It should fairly reflect what a "professional" laser show producer should have achieved.

Why such a complex process?

The process is detailed in order to be fair to the wide variety of laser show companies. Some companies do mostly large shows, others do a lot of small shows such as raves. Some companies have won a lot of awards; other companies have never entered awards programs. We have tried to design a system which is fair to all types of companies.

By requiring a minimum number of points, ILDA makes sure that a company has done at least some work in the activity area.

Minimum requirements

Not all companies may be immediately eligible for ILDA Accreditation. For example, the program requires that a company has to earn at least one award (e.g., Honorable Mention or better). This does not have to be an ILDA Award, but it does have to be an award for the laser show (e.g., not for lighting, sound or a non-laser field). Thus, some companies may need to enter their work in an awards competition -- and win something -- in order to meet this requirement.

Minimum requirements at this time are as follows. A company must:

• Have done at least 15 shows. Also, the shows must have a minimum level of technical complexity.
• Have won at least one award (Honorable Mention or better) OR have entered at least two entries into awards competitions (the entries do not have to have won).
• Have been doing shows for at least two years.
• Have three letters of reference from clients
• Have been in industry trade associations at least four years
• Participate in the industry and community via volunteer service
• Have a certain number of education points (e.g., high school, college, etc.)
• Participate and attend industry conferences
• Have at least one employee who passed a Laser Safety Officer course
• Have additional laser safety activities
• Affirm their commitment to basic laser show safety principles

The goal is not only that the laser company can do high-quality laser shows. The goal is that the laser company is an active participant in the laser display, entertainment technology, and/or laser technology industries, with a demonstrated knowledge of laser safety.

Changes since January 2009

The first draft, version 0.90, was released Jan. 6 2009. The latest version is 0.95 dated July 7 2009. The major differences are:

• Awards requirement relaxed. Previously, a company had to have won at least one Honorable Mention. Now, it is sufficient to have entered at least twice into an awards competition.

• Letters of Reference requirement relaxed: Previously, five Letters of Reference were required. Now, two are sufficient.

• Added a page "About ILDA, Accreditation and this form". This can be accessed from the second paragraph of the main form. The new page gives additional background information which may be useful to those filling out the form.

Accreditation costs, fees and policies

The costs, fees and policies for the ILDA Accreditation program have been discussed but have not been finalized. We welcome comments and suggestions.

• There will be an application fee, for reviewing and processing the Accreditation Form spreadsheet and accompanying documentation. There will also be a yearly Accreditation fee in order to keep the accreditation current and support the program.
• All ILDA Accredited companies must reapply for accreditation every 3-5 years. The exact number of years has not been determined.
• A company does not have to be an ILDA Member to receive accreditation. However, fees will be higher for non-Members.

Fees are used to support costs of developing the program, reviewing and maintaining Accredited companies, to market ILDA Accredited companies, and for ILDA general support. In addition, being willing and able to pay the fees for the program, is one way to differentiate serious "professional" companies from others who are not willing or cannot afford ILDA Accreditation.