FAQs

Enrollment & Participation

  • Hollywood CPR partners with select community colleges to offer below-the-line craft training courses taught by union professionals.

    Step 1: Students first enroll at a partner college and complete a certificate program, with classes taught by Hollywood CPR instructors. This college-issued certificate is the first step toward completing our union-track training. Once students are officially enrolled at a partnering college, they must also complete Hollywood CPR’s registration forms. This step is required to:

    • Confirm your enrollment (colleges do not share this information with us)

    • Sign a FERPA release, which allows us to communicate with your college if needed

    • Gain access to HCPR-exclusive events, workshops, and job opportunities

    • Your registration ensures we can track your progress, invite you to HCPR programming, and support your advancement through the program.

    Step 2: Students who earn a B or higher in their core craft class and are endorsed by their union instructors for their strong attendance and skillset become eligible to join Hollywood CPR’s Traineeship Roster—a second phase of training led directly by Hollywood CPR.

    As part of the traineeship, top students may be selected to interview with major productions for real-world, union-track job opportunities.

    To earn the Hollywood CPR Certificate, trainees must:

    • Complete 640 hours of hands-on training

    • Build a digital portfolio featuring 10 projects, supervisor evaluations, and a project log outlining all the projects they worked on for a total of 640 hours.

  • Step 1: Choose Your Pathway

    ▶ Set Dressing, Grip, Camera, Set Lighting, or Undecided:

    ▶ Costume Pathway

    ▶ Stagehand Pathway (Invite-Only)

    This pathway offers direct employment opportunities at the Hollywood Palladium through a specialized training track.
    To qualify, students must first complete either the Grip or Set Lighting pathway with strong performance. Eligible students will be invited to join the interest list.

  • Class start dates vary by college and semester. Most students begin in:

    • September (Fall Session A)

    • October (Fall Session B)

    • February (Spring Session A)

    • April (Spring Session B)

    • June (Summer Session A)

    • July (Summer Session B)

    You must complete FLM PRD 100 before enrolling in other Film/TV Production Crafts courses.

    If FLM PRD 100 isn’t offered during the session you're starting, contact a college counselor. They may be able to provide an access code that allows you to register for other required courses in the meantime.

    Check the college websites for the most up-to-date schedules:

  • Hollywood CPR partners with community colleges, so tuition is charged at the California community college rate of $46 per unit (for California residents). Most attend for free with financial aid (FASFA).

    • West Los Angeles College - Certificate in Film/TV Production Crafts ~ $1,058 tuition total

    • Los Angeles Trade-Tech College -
      Finished Costuming Certificate: ~ $782 tuition total

    Free Tuition: The LA College Promise Program provides two years of free tuition for first-time, full-time students who are California residents—no matter your income or age. Benefits include priority registration, transit passes, a Chromebook, and semester success stipends.

    • To qualify, simply enroll full-time, complete your onboarding requirements (like financial aid, orientation, and counseling), and commit to full-time enrollment. It's designed to help you finish faster, smarter—and debt-free.

  • Step 1: College Certificate (~ 1 year)

    • Takes just under 1 year of full-time enrollment at a partner community college (WLAC or LATTC).

    • Some students take longer depending on their schedule, their ability to secure production roles in their craft, and course availability.

    Step 2: Hollywood CPR Certificate (~ 3 months to a year)

    Because students can start logging hours while completing their college certificate, they’re not waiting until after graduation to begin the 640-hour requirement. This overlap can significantly shorten the time it takes to finish.

    As part of the College Certificate, students take a series of Cooperative Education courses for a total of 3 units, where they must complete at least 150 hours of hands-on production work. These hours:

    • Count toward the 640-hour requirement for the Hollywood CPR Certificate

    • Build the baseline skills and set experience needed to qualify for the Hollywood CPR Traineeship Roster

    Once students complete the College Certificate with a B or higher and receive approval from their Union Industry Professional, they gain access to HCPR’s Traineeship Roster.

    Important to know:

    • Being on the roster does not guarantee a major studio traineeship.

    • The goal is to complete your hours through a traineeship, but students are expected to continue seeking projects and logging hours independently while waiting.

    • How fast you finish depends on the connections you build and the opportunities you take.

    • Students should not depend on a traineeship to complete their hours.

    Bottom line: Your Cooperative Education courses jump-start your hours, but your initiative determines how quickly you reach 640 and complete the Hollywood CPR Certificate requirement.

  • All classes are held in person, as Hollywood CPR is a hands-on training program built to prepare students for real-world work on professional sets. Depending on your pathway, classes take place either at West Los Angeles College (WLAC) in Culver City or Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) in Downtown Los Angeles, where you must be enrolled to participate.

    While the majority of coursework is on-site multiple times per week, some classes include a limited online component. Students should be prepared with:

    • Basic computer and writing skills to complete online assignments and professional paperwork

    • Access to a computer and internet connection

    • The ability to create a digital portfolio as part of the Hollywood CPR Certificate requirements

    Important: Students should be prepared for an on-site commitment of up to 6 hours per day, 2–3 days per week, with some classes beginning as early as 7:00 a.m.

  • No. Hollywood CPR is the only IATSE-recognized training program of its kind.

    Our program was designed specifically for students without traditional film degrees, and we do not accept transfer credits from other colleges or film programs unless they are from one of our official college partners: West Los Angeles College (WLAC) or Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC).

  • While anyone is welcome to enroll and participate in our training, please note that a valid U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) is required to qualify for the job placements with our studio partners and to get placed on the union roster.

    These placements are a key part of what helps our students transition into long-term union careers in the industry. That said, it's ultimately up to you to decide if participating in the training without access to job or union placements would still be worthwhile for your goals.

  • Hollywood CPR classes and productions take place at multiple locations across Los Angeles, often with early call times or late wrap times when public transit is limited. To succeed in the program, students must be able to:

    • Arrive on time to classes, set builds, and productions (sometimes as early as 4:00 a.m.)

    • Transport required tools and materials for their craft

    • Travel between production sites and networking events as needed

    Reliable transportation is essential to meet the professional standards of punctuality and preparedness expected in the entertainment industry.

  • Attendance and punctuality are evaluated by your Industry Professional (IP) and are key factors in whether you advance in the program. While your college certificate may only require a passing grade, the film, television, and live events industries hold a much higher standard:

    • Productions expect you to arrive at least 30 minutes early to set and be ready to work every day — no exceptions. Students should treat attending classes the same way.

    • If you’re late or absent, the entire crew feels the impact.

    • Consistency and reliability are just as important as technical skill in building a lasting career.

    Put simply: in this industry, showing up on time is non-negotiable. Hollywood CPR weighs attendance and punctuality heavily because they mirror the real expectations you’ll face on professional sets. If you want to succeed long term, reliability is the foundation.

    We understand that life happens. However, if you know you’ll need to miss more than two classes in a session, you are encouraged to re-take the course in order to demonstrate commitment and be taken seriously for advancement in the program.

    This is one of the many factors that has made our program the gold standard recognized by major studios and IATSE.

Career Pathways & Union Membership

  • While Hollywood CPR cannot guarantee union placement for everyone who participates in the program; we do provide union-recognized training, hands-on experience, and industry exposure that significantly increase our students’ chances of qualifying for union membership. For example, over 550 alumni have gone on to secure union membership since our program started in 1997.

    • Industry-Specific Training – Hollywood CPR offers hands-on training in below-the-line crafts, ensuring students develop the skills required by unions like IATSE. 

    • Union Partnerships – Hollywood CPR collaborates with entertainment unions to align its curriculum with industry standards, making graduates well-prepared for union jobs.

    • Traineeship & Job Placement – Through partnerships with studios, students can qualify to gain entry-level positions or traineeships on major productions with other union members.

    • Networking Opportunities – Hollywood CPR connects students with industry professionals, union representatives, and alumni who can help guide them toward union membership.

  • Yes, many industry newcomers start by taking unpaid or low-paid positions to gain on-set experience, build connections, and develop their skills. However, Hollywood CPR focuses on training students for paid union work in the entertainment industry. While volunteering or interning can help you get your foot in the door, our goal is to prepare you for sustainable, paid career opportunities in film and television. You must demonstrate your ability to secure at least some paid opportunities as part of your portfolio.

  • Students can technically earn as many college-issued certificates as they want by enrolling in multiple programs at WLAC or LATTC over time.

    However, to qualify for the Hollywood CPR Certificate and Traineeship Roster, you must choose one pathway and complete it from start to finish.

    The only exception is for students who pivot into the Stagehand pathway after completing the Grip or Set Lighting courses, since those skills directly align with stagehand work.