SkillsUSA Overview

Mission: SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work including high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.

Programs: SkillsUSA programs include local,
regional, state and national competitions in which students demonstrate
occupational and leadership skills. At the annual National Leadership
and Skills Conference (NLSC), over 6,000 students compete in 100
occupational and leadership skill-aligned events. One thousand students competed in the 2024 State Championship.

SkillsUSA programs also help to establish industry standards for job skill training in the lab and classroom, and promote community service. SkillsUSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and is cited as a “successful model of employer-driven youth development training program” by the U.S. Department of Labor. 

Colors
The colors red, white, blue and gold represent the national SkillsUSA organization.
Red and white represent the individual states and chapters.
Blue represents the common union of the states and of the chapters.
Gold represents the individual, the most important element of the organization.

Creed

I believe in the dignity of work I hold that society has advanced to its present culture through the use of the worker’s hands and mind. 

I will maintain a feeling of humbleness for the knowledge and skills that I receive from professionals, and I will conduct myself with dignity in the work I do. I believe in the American way of life I know our culture is the result of freedom of action and opportunities won by the founders of our American republic, and I will uphold their ideals. 

I believe in education I will endeavor to make the best use of knowledge, skills and experience that I will learn in order that I may be a better worker in my chosen occupation and a better citizen in my community. 

To this end, I will continue my learning now and in the future. 

I believe in fair play I will, through honesty and fair play, respect the rights of others. 

I will always conduct myself in the manner of the best professionals in my occupation and treat those with whom 

I work as I would like to be treated. 

I believe satisfaction is achieved by good work I feel that compensation and personal satisfaction received for my work and services will be in proportion to my creative and productive ability. 

I believe in high moral and spiritual standards I will endeavor to conduct myself in such a manner as to set an example for others by living a wholesome life and by fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen of my community.

Official SkillsUSA Attire:

Wearing the official SkillsUSA attire adds a sense of unity and identification, as well as enthusiasm, to meetings, ceremonies, presentations and activities. Members are encouraged to strictly follow the guidelines for official attire during ceremonies, visits with dignitaries, officer campaigns and similar occasions. Official Attire for women: Red SkillsUSA blazer, windbreaker, sweater or black SkillsUSA jacket White collarless or small-collared blouse or white turtleneck, collar not to extend over the blazer lapel or the sweater, windbreaker or jacket Black dress skirt (knee-length) or black dress slacks Black sheer (not opaque) or skin-tone seamless hose Black shoes Official attire for men: Red SkillsUSA blazer, windbreaker, sweater or black SkillsUSA jacket White dress shirt Plain, solid black tie Black dress slacks Plain black socks Black dress shoes 

To order official clothing and work uniforms for competition, go to the SkillsUSA Supply Service.

Emblem:

The shield represents patriotism The shield denotes our belief in democracy, liberty and the American way of life. The gear represents the industrial society The gear, symbolic of the industrial society, denotes the interdependence and cooperation of the individual working with labor and management for the betterment of mankind. The torch represents knowledge The flaming torch reflects the light of knowledge, which dispels the darkness of ignorance. In the light of the torch, progress will be made toward the vocational goals of the individual. The orbital circles represent technology The circles represent the challenge of modern technology and the training needed to accept and master the challenge of new technical frontiers and the need for continuous education. The hands represent the individual The hands portray a search for knowledge and our desire to acquire a skill. In the process of attaining knowledge and skill, we will develop a respect for the dignity of work and become productive and responsible citizens.

Here are products available to students and advisors: 

The Career Readiness Curriculum (CRC) can help ensure that you prepare your students for workplace success. CRC supports the SkillsUSA Framework, which includes personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics — all essential to a successful, student-oriented career and technical education program. This curriculum includes 29 lesson plans based on Common Core State Standards. It infuses 21st-century skills into student engagement activities and is considered the first building block of the SkillsUSA Professional Development Program. The Career Readiness Curriculum is a free member benefit as part of SkillsUSA professional membership dues. 

SkillsUSA updated and improved the Professional Development Program (PDP). The end result is a completely new online curriculum called “Career Essentials” Created to facilitate the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills in students, it is the next level of instruction after the Career Readiness Curriculum (CRC). The important PDP employability competencies and skills are still in the new curriculum, only now they are easier to deliver and much more relevant and engaging for students. 

The Personal Leadership Inventory is a series of self-assessments SkillsUSA members may use to evaluate and grow important skills for life and career. The self-assessments included in the Personal Leadership Inventory focus on the following roles students play: team member, leader, employee, citizen and being an effective individual. Use one or all of the self-assessments in the inventory and start planning for growth today! 

SkillsUSA and CareerSafe have joined forces to provide students with online youth-safety training authorized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Through this affordable, informative and innovative online training, students learn to recognize potential safety and health hazards pertaining to all 16 national career clusters that can prepare students for college or a career pathway. 

SkillsUSA offers Student2Student Mentoring as a national mentoring program that provides a way for our members to participate in America’s Promise Alliance. Mentoring is a voluntary relationship between two people: a middle school, a high-school or college student and a younger student (usually one in middle school). The aim is to encourage younger students to explore future careers and make decisions that will lead to marketable skills and productive futures. SkillsUSA is known for providing real-life application of skills.

The Workforce Ready System, developed in partnership with more than 600 corporations, labor unions, trade associations and businesses, provides an on-ramp to other professional certifications and paves the way ahead for America’s future workforce. 

The SkillsUSA Work Force Ready System provides Skill Connect Assessments for career and technical education that are supported by industry, education and policy leaders. The system helps instructors prove the benefit of their programs, and helps young people find rewarding careers.