I’m looking for advice on learning about commercial lighting for someone just starting out. I work at a company that makes its own lighting products and sells others, including LED troffers, decorative chandeliers, and pixel-controlled sheets. We handle commercial and some high-end residential work.
My goal is to understand enough to be helpful when working with electrical contractors and other clients. I’m thinking about taking courses from ALA or IES and need input on what they offer. Are these courses good for beginners? Are there any better options? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Your company should ideally train you on its products, but if they don’t, start by learning CRI, TM-30, and dimming protocols. This will help you get familiar with the tech side of things. Your company should still teach you the specifics about your products, like features, benefits, and applications. Also, look at what your competitors are offering and figure out what sets your products apart.
@Pippin
We’re a small company, so we don’t have any formal training set up yet. I’ll likely create one in the future as we expand. I’ve been learning a lot from the owner and I’m comfortable with basics like CRI, CCT, and lumens. I try to learn as much as possible from others in the industry.
I’m looking for something more comprehensive to study on my own. IES and ALA seem like the best options, but I’m open to other recommendations too.
@Oaklan
It depends on what you want to focus on. To sell well, you need to know your product inside and out. Understand what makes it unique, what options it offers, and how it compares to others. Is the technology more advanced? Is it priced better? Does it provide better value? Listen to your clients’ needs and build your presentations around that. Answer their questions and showcase what your product can do for them.
Take any chance to listen and learn from the technical folks you work with. For basic training, look at NAILD courses. When you’re ready, aim for an LC certification—it’s well-respected in the industry. Keep up with news from Inside Lighting and Edison Report. Join LinkedIn and start networking. Best of luck!
@Merritt
I wouldn’t say an LC is equivalent to a PhD, but I’m a lighting designer so I might see it differently than those in other roles. Having an LC doesn’t mean someone is an expert, just that they put in the time to pass the test.
@Jesse
I agree. An LC is better than not having it, but it’s not the pinnacle. If you get the chance to visit a manufacturer for training, ask lots of questions and pay close attention—that’s often the best learning experience.
@Jesse
Fair point. I don’t have an LC myself, but I’ve been in the industry for 18 years in distribution and agencies. Most people I know with an LC had their exam fees and study time covered by their employer. Sylvania/Ledvance often included it as a preferred qualification. My own experience involved learning about layout software, controls, and tech through self-study and manufacturer training. Sorry if I made the LC sound more impressive than it really is.
I was an IES member for a few years, and while I paused my membership during COVID, I plan to rejoin soon. The local chapter activities can vary, but if yours is active, it’s a great resource for networking. The IES library and online education are helpful, especially if you like self-paced learning. If you plan to use more than a few documents, getting full access to their library is worth it. My company paid about $1600 for access to the learning library and an NCQLP study group—it paid off with all the resources I downloaded.
The IES has an ‘Intro to Lighting’ online course and an in-person ‘Fundamentals of Lighting’ if there’s one nearby. They also offer some free courses that cover lighting history and science. For newcomers, I suggest starting with ANSI/IES LS-2, which covers light basics and terminology. LS-8 explains visual interpretation and health impacts. Then, move on to LP-1 for a broader overview—it talks about how light is perceived, glare, color rendering, and more. It’s a lot to read, but not as difficult as it seems.
I don’t have experience with ALA, so I’ll leave that part for others to share.
Oaklan said: @West
Thanks for the detailed info! Any tips for learning more about electrical and controls?
IES has a document on controls that you might find useful. I attended some classes offered by IES and learned a lot by asking questions. For electrical knowledge, if you’re not doing installations, you just need to know the basics—voltage, current, wattage, etc. I’ve worked in lighting for 17 years and basic calculations have been sufficient for most situations.