SkillsUSA

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a national student organization that helps high school students prepare for the workforce by building technical, leadership, and career-readiness skills. Through competitions, hands-on training, and leadership opportunities, students gain confidence, teamwork, and real-world experience that set them apart in college and careers. The organization is important because it connects classroom learning with industry standards, giving students valuable skills and certifications that make them more competitive in today’s job market.

SkillsUSA Framework

SkillsUSA’s mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics. The foundation for everything we do, the Framework is the blueprint for career-readiness. It’s a common language for students to explain to their peers, employers, school administrators and parents what they gain from SkillsUSA.

A total of 17 “Essential Elements” are divided among the Framework’s three components. What’s an Essential Element? It’s a specific skill identified as crucial to success by the more than 1,000 industry partners who helped create the Framework.

Competitive Events

SkillsUSA competitive events give students the chance to show off their skills at both the state and national levels. At the state competition, students compete in events that test technical knowledge, hands-on ability, and leadership skills across a variety of career fields. Winners then move on to the national level, where they compete against the best students from across the country in the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. These competitions not only highlight students’ talents but also connect them with industry professionals, scholarships, and career opportunities.