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Light technician education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a light technician. Light technicians usually study photography, theatre, or business. 45% of light technicians hold a bachelor's degree, and 22% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 3,870 real light technician resumes to see exactly what light technician education sections show.
The most common colleges for light technicians are the Full Sail University and the Full Sail University.
There are also many online light technician courses to help get the education required to be a light technician.
There are certain light technician certifications that you should consider. These light technician certifications include Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma).
What education do you need to become a light technician?
What degree do you need to be a light technician?
- Bachelor's, 45%
- High School Diploma, 22%
- Associate, 22%
- Diploma, 6%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a light technician?
- Photography, 12%
- Theatre, 10%
- Business, 9%
- Other Majors, 60%
Most common colleges for light technicians
| Light technician common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Full Sail University | 35.56% |
| New York University | 6.11% |
| University of South Florida | 5.00% |
| Brigham Young University | 3.89% |
| University of Nevada - Las Vegas | 3.89% |
Best majors for light technicians
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photography | 11.8% |
| 2 | Theatre | 9.8% |
| 3 | Business | 8.8% |
| 4 | Electrical Engineering Technology | 8.8% |
| 5 | Communication | 8.2% |
Best colleges for light technicians
The best colleges for light technicians are Loyola Marymount University, Johns Hopkins University, and Purdue University.
A light technician with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for light technicians. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become light technicians.
1. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,686
Enrollment
11,139
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
3. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,816
Enrollment
21,047
4. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$10,555
Enrollment
30,360
5. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
6. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$9,101
Enrollment
23,708
7. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$15,094
Enrollment
32,974
8. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Enrollment
33,495
9. University of Georgia
Athens, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,830
Enrollment
29,474
10. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$11,870
Enrollment
53,194
20 best online courses for light technicians
Advertising disclosure
1. Cinematic Lighting
The art of dramatic lighting, for cinematographers of independent films...
2. Bob Davis' Professional Photography Lighting Techniques
Digital photography expert Bob Davis shares his professional lighting techniques and the various types of light he uses...
3. The Art of Finding Light: Photography for the artist in you
Spotting great lighting is not a gift, it is Skill. Become a photographer who knows how to find great light...
4. Set Up A Photography Studio With Equipment - On A Budget
Learn How To Set Up A Photography Studio On Any Budget: Location, Room, Backgrounds, Lighting, Props And More!...
5. LIGHTING for Film and Television
Learn to tell stories with light in a 6-hour, immersive, funny course with sketch comedy and two complete short films...
6. Photography for Beginners: Composition, Posing and Light
Creative Photography: Improve your photography through light, composition and posing!...
7. Unreal Engine 5- Beginner Lighting, Fog, and Post Processing
I'll teach you the basics of lighting scenes in UE5, in this beginner friendly game development course!...
8. Automate and Animate Your Holiday Lights Using RGB Pixels
Create your own animated light display using low-voltage, computer-controlled LED lights (RGB Pixels)...
9. How to Use Lighting Design to Transform your Home
Learn How to Use Lighting in your Interior Design Like a Pro...
10. Photography Composition & Portrait Photography Masterclass
Creative Photography Masterclass - Learn How To Compose Images & Observe Light - Studio / Portrait / Street Photography...
11. Learn Arnold - Fundamentals of Shading and Lighting
Become an expert in Shading, Lighting and Rendering with Arnold for Maya, Katana, Cinema4d, Houdini and other 3D render...
12. Unity 5: Lighting Fundamentals
This course takes a look and new and existing lighting features in Unity 5 from the perspective of a novice student...
13. Cinematography Masterclass: The Complete Videography Guide
9 Steps to Setup, Light, Record Audio & Shoot Your Videos Like a Filmmaking Pro...
14. Facade Lighting Design Techniques
Mastering facade lighting design using Dialux evo and Photoshop software...
15. KATANA Mastering LookDev & Lighting for the VFX industry
Advanced Insights to Workflows and Techniques using Arnold...
16. How to Shoot Food Photography: Complete Guide for Beginners
Food Photography basics, Composition, Lighting effects, Color Theory, Props and Styling...
17. Unreal Engine 4: Beginners Guide to Lighting
A practical guide to understanding lighting in Unreal Engine 4...
18. Master Digital Photography for DSLR Photography Beginners
DSLR Photography course for beginners. Perfect for all photography levels: Beginner - Advanced Photography Lighting...
19. Video Production Masterclass: Beginner to Pro Video Creation
Create Stunning Videos as a Youtuber, Filmmaker, Vlogger, Journalist or Cinematographer. Learn Sound, Lighting & More!...
20. Product Photography: Beginner's Guide to Captivating Visuals
Learn About Digital Camera Settings, Lighting Techniques, Composition Guides, Storytelling, Props, and Styling...
Top 10 most affordable universities for light technicians
The most affordable schools for light technicians are Brigham Young University, purdue university, and university of puerto rico - mayaguez.
If the best universities for light technicians are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for light technicians.
1. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
2. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
3. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Mayaguez, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$4,094
Cost of attendance
14,302
4. Haskell Indian Nations University
Lawrence, KS • Private
In-state tuition
$480
Cost of attendance
9,077
5. New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$6,686
Cost of attendance
17,885
6. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$7,292
Cost of attendance
20,387
7. SUNY Buffalo State
Buffalo, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,210
Cost of attendance
21,413
8. Inter American University of Puerto Rico Bayamon
Bayamon, PR • Private
In-state tuition
$5,940
Cost of attendance
13,508
9. University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM • Private
In-state tuition
$7,633
Cost of attendance
19,235
10. Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, MN • Private
In-state tuition
$8,184
Cost of attendance
19,883
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for light technicians
The hardest universities for light technicians to get into are Loyola Marymount University, Johns Hopkins University, and Purdue University.
Some great schools for light technicians are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for light technicians based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,321
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions rate
58%
SAT average
1,309
4. American University
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,320
5. Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY • Private
Admissions rate
66%
SAT average
1,319
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
Admissions rate
64%
SAT average
1,324
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI • Private
Admissions rate
52%
SAT average
1,365
9. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA • Private
Admissions rate
30%
SAT average
1,339
10. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC • Private
Admissions rate
47%
SAT average
1,336
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for light technicians
The easiest schools for light technicians to get into are Towson University, long island university, and trevecca nazarene university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a light technician without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for light technicians.
1. Towson University
Towson, MD • Private
Admissions rate
79%
SAT average
1,131
2. Long Island University
Brookville, NY • Private
Admissions rate
76%
SAT average
1,167
3. Trevecca Nazarene University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
64%
SAT average
1,121
4. Alabama A & M University
Normal, AL • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
957
5. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
Admissions rate
55%
SAT average
1,056
6. Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
1,070
7. University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY • Private
Admissions rate
96%
SAT average
1,202
8. South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,149
9. Washington State University
Pullman, WA • Private
Admissions rate
77%
SAT average
1,123
10. Northwest University
Kirkland, WA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
1,138
Average light technician salary by education level
| Light technician education level | Light technician salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $38,015 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $42,334 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $40,667 |
Light technician education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025