INTIMACY COORDINATOR TRAINING PROGRAM

 

INTIMACY COORDINATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

IPA-trained intimacy coordinators undergo a rigorous training program that involves a combination of lectures on best practices, experiential exercises, and more. Acceptance to the training program is selective and only a handful of trainees are chosen each year to participate. Small cohort sizes allow for a higher quality and more individualized training experience. Our program is accredited by SAG-AFTRA, which is considered the gold-standard in the industry for IC training.

IPA’s training program goes above and beyond the training requirements to become an IC as set forth by SAG-AFTRA, and all areas of training are examined through an intersectional lens. Some of the topics covered in the program include:

  • Consent, Boundaries, and Power Dynamics

  • Intimacy Coordination Protocols

  • Communication and Conflict Negotiation Skills

  • Union Guidelines for Intimate Scenes

  • Closed Set Protocols

  • Nudity Riders

  • Choreography and Movement Coaching

  • Race, Power, and Intimacy

  • Mental Health and Trauma Awareness

  • Sexuality and Gender Literacy and How to Be an Advocate and Ally to LGBTQIA+ Cast and Crew

  • Sexual Harassment

The program consists of 17 consecutive weeks of online classes that will be delivered over the course of approximately 4 months. Classes are held every Sunday on Zoom and are approximately four hours long. Once the online portion of the program is complete, students will be required to participate in a five day in-person choreography workshop. The location of this workshop changes each year depending on where the majority of the cohort is based in order to increase accessibility.

Applicants with prior experience working on professional TV and/or film sets are prioritized. Experience working in a field related to sexuality and/or advocacy (e.g. therapist, social worker, sex and relationship coach, etc.) is a plus.

IPA offers a handful of work-study positions each year and prioritizes giving these spots to applicants from diverse backgrounds to increase training accessibility for underrepresented groups in the field of intimacy coordination. We also offer a variety of payment plans for accepted students that are available for anyone who is accepted, and these can be combined with work-study if a student is selected to participate in the work-study program.

INTIMACY COORDINATOR core training - International Winter CLASS OF 2025

Applications are now open for the winter class of 2025! We have put together a Training Program Information Sheet that covers all of the details of this year’s program, the application process, and frequently asked questions. If after reviewing the info sheet you still have any questions about our training program, please feel free to reach out to training@IPAinternational.org and we will do our best to respond to your query promptly.

Please see below for information related to the upcoming training:

Application Due Date: December 20, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific Time

Classes Start: March 2, 2025

Link to International Program Application Portal: Click here to access the application portal

Application Fee Payment: You will be prompted to submit payment for your application fee via credit card at the end of the written application form. The application fee is $70 per person.

Applicants who are accepted to the program will be notified by January 29, 2025 of their selection and training will begin March 2, 2025. You can also sign up for our newsletter to receive reminders about the application process or if you’re interested in applying for the program next year and to stay up to date on our other offerings.

Please note: this year we are implementing a new policy in regards to applications, which is that we will accept one application per person per calendar year for our IC Core Training Program. This means that if you have already applied for training once in 2024, you cannot apply again until an application cycle opens in 2025. We are implementing this policy so that applicants have enough time to implement the feedback we give on applications and to give you the best chance of succeeding in your next application.

Looking to Improve Your Application?

Last year we recorded an application clinic to answer the most commonly asked questions about applying to the IC Training Program and to answer your burning questions about how to improve your application and make it as competitive as possible. If you would like to watch the recording of this event you can purchase access for just $10 here. You will be sent a link to access the recording upon purchasing a ticket and will have access to the recording until the application season ends on December 20, 2024.

Intimacy coordinator Advanced Training

IPA offers training in advanced topics in intimacy, such as BDSM, kink, and working in unscripted content. Participants in these workshops will receive a theoretical background in the topics, as well as coaching on how to navigate and choreograph these specialized topics on set. Advanced training is for intimacy coordinators who are already working in the field and are looking to add specialties and new skills to their practice.