How do I become a member of Actra?

1. Apprentice Membership:
   
   A Performer can join ACTRA as an Apprentice after being contracted for a speaking or stunt role in an ACTRA-signatory film, TV series, or movie-of-the-week, or alternatively a speaking or silent on-camera role in an ACTRA-signatory commercial. These types of roles earn you an ACTRA "credit" (not to be confused with credits that roll at the beginning or end of a production). After purchasing a work permit for the role, the Performer is invited to join ACTRA, and has 4 weeks from the date of that invitation to join.
   
   Upon becoming an Apprentice Member, the Performer has to accumulate five additional qualifying credits – not from background roles – or two additional qualifying work permits if he/she is a visible minority or physically challenged in order to be eligible for Full Membership. Apprentice Members are required to pay $75.00 in annual dues, plus fees for each work permit that they purchase. If you allow your dues to lapse, you will be sent a final notice before your Apprenticeship is cancelled and all of your qualifying credits are revoked.
   
   When an Apprentice earns his/her final qualifying credit, the Performer qualifies for Full Membership and must contact the local branch to be initiated as a Full Member. The one-time initiation fee for Apprentice Members who become Full Members is $450.00, plus $175.00 annual dues. If the Apprentice Member has fulfilled their qualifications for Full Membership and neglects to join before their next role, their credits become void and their Apprenticeship will be cancelled.  They can re-apply for the Apprenticeship program upon their next credit but none of their previous credits will be reactivated.
   
   When an Apprentice Member becomes a Full Member, ACTRA reviews their work history for the previous two years and creates an RRSP account for them with any retirement plan deductions that were made from their paycheques.  Full Members continue to build their RRSPs as they work in ACTRA's jurisdiction.
   
   
2. Being a Member of a Sister Organization:
   
   If you are already a Full Member in good standing of Canadian Actors Equity Association (CAEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, you can apply for Full Membership with ACTRA.
   
   CAEA members are obliged to join ACTRA upon being cast in their first ACTRA gig; they pay a discounted one-time initiation fee of $225 and annual dues of $175.00.  ACTRA members are similarly obliged to join CAEA upon obtaining their first role in CAEA jurisdiction.  For more information, please view the CAEA/ ACTRA Reciprocal Agreement.
   
   SAG and AFTRA members who are Canadian citizens or landed immigrants can join ACTRA by being cast in a role (speaking part, stunt or silent-on camera in a commercial) in Canada and paying a one-time $900.00 initiation fee, along with $175.00 annual dues.
   
   Rather than purchasing work permits, Full ACTRA members pay 2.0% of their gross earnings to a maximum of $3000.00 per year as Working Dues (AKA "Dues Checkoff").