Step One: All applicants going through the exam process begin with a standardized application facilitated through the SurveyMonkey Apply platform. Applicants begin the process by submitting the union application form and a non-refundable application fee ($75). Upon submission of these materials, the candidate’s eligibility for membership is verified by the USA 829 Business Office.

Step Two: The applicant then submits a comprehensive résumé detailing work experience, education, and relevant skills and three letters of recommendation from industry professionals (one of which must be from a USA 829 member in good standing). At this stage, candidates also pay the non-refundable exam fee ($125).

Step Three

Eastern Region [Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and members living abroad]

Applicants located in the Eastern Region will receive a Scenic Design Exam Date and Time Reservation form from the Exam Committee. In this form, the applicant selects which Scenic Design Category "Branch" they would like to schedule their Exam for - Scenic Designer for Film/TV (FTV), Scenic Designer for Live Performance (LP), or Scenic Designer/Storyboard Artist (SBA), and 3 Exam Cycle dates in order of preference. The applicant returns the signed and dated form to the Committee for preliminary scheduling. Scenic Design (SD) candidates will be asked to provide specific elements of their Scenic Design or Storyboard Artist work, based on which SD "branch" they are applying for, as well as a portfolio of other design work they wish the review panel to see. More information about the portfolio requirements can be found in the following branch information letters:

Key dates and deadlines for the examination process are determined by each regional examination committee. Please reference the information below.

Eastern Region (Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and members living abroad)

For additional details, please review the Eastern Region Scenic Design Exams Key Dates & Deadlines PDF

Central Region (Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and the Provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec)

Western Region (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan)

All application materials should be received by one of the following dates:

• March 1, 2026
• July 1, 2026
• November 1, 2026

The following resources have been prepared by the Eastern Region Examination Committee for Eastern Region applicants. If you are outside of the Eastern Region, please contact your appropriate regional examination committee for more information.