Skills Upgrade

As of April 1, 2024 members will have a maximum reimbursement allotment of $500 yearly cap. This cap includes all requests for reimbursement for Skills Upgrade training and Software Reimbursements, combined into this singular amount.

This cap does not apply to approved Safety courses, or to in-house training offered through IATSE 891.

  • Members can take any skills upgrade courses that are directly related to IATSE Local 891 film work, and submit receipts to be considered for reimbursement for up to 50% of the course fee, up to maximum yearly cap of $500.
  • The Skills Upgrade Reimbursement Form must be filled out in its entirety for each skills upgrade course being requested for reimbursement.
  • Reimbursements related to Safety can be found on the Safety section.

Skills Upgrade Reimbursement Approval Guidelines

The following requirements must be met for a reimbursement approval, and will apply to all Skills Upgrade courses:

  • Member in good standing.
  • Worked 30 days in the last 3 years.
  • Course must be directly related to IATSE Local 891 film work.
  • Course must not involve consumption of controlled substances, including but not limited to alcohol and THC products.
  • Course must provide a certificate of completion and a receipt of payment, both of which must be presented with the reimbursement request.
  • Course topics must be respectful of IATSE 891’s Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Courses with topics against these principles will not be approved.
  • Only the course fee inclusive of taxes is eligible for reimbursement. Requests for reimbursement of shipping costs, software, materials, cancellation fees, travel or accommodations will be declined.
  • The same course must not have been taken within 12 months of the original course start date.

Reimbursement requests for subscription-based online training platforms will only be approved if they provide a certificate of completion.

  • For monthly billed subscriptions, each individual month being requested for reimbursement, members must provide a minimum of one certificate of completion from the subscription service.
  • For annually billed subscription reimbursement requests, members must provide a minimum of one certificate of completion from the subscription service.

Please note we DO NOT reimburse any courses that are not directly related to IATSE Local 891 film work. Some examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Courses to certify someone as an instructor.
  • Courses related to film work of other unions.
  • Courses members wish to take in order to change careers outside of IATSE Local 891 film work.

If you are unsure if the course you are interested in taking would be eligible for reimbursement, members are encouraged to use the Skills Upgrade Reimbursement Form to request pre-approval for reimbursement.

Questions may be directed to training@iatse.com.