Competition Updates

Keep Your Skills Sharp

General Updates

If you have specific questions regarding Championships competitions to be held at NLSC 2024, please complete this form.

The SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards for specific competitions are revised and distributed each fall. There are times when competition updates need to be shared prior to national conference. Those updates are listed here, so it’s important to check this site often to ensure that competitors are prepared for the national competition.

Important: The competition updates listed below provide members with the latest information about themes, clarifications, professional development test study guide, national competitor online submission/testing requirements and more. A competition update covers anything that is not listed in the official SkillsUSA Championships Technical Standards and that a competitor and/or advisor needs to be aware of and bring and/or complete for the national competition. State-specific competition updates are not published on the national website.

SkillsUSA Competitor Keys to Success: visit our webpage to review the National Competitor Checklist that outlines important competitor resources and requirements.

Note: No live animals or biohazardous materials are allowed as part of any competition.

Note for competitors who have devices that connect to Internet: The Wi-Fi Internet access in the Georgia World Congress Center (where the SkillsUSA Championships are held) is predominately available only on the 5GHz band. Please ensure the device you are bringing for your competition can connect to a 5GHz band. It is recommended that competitors test their device prior to arriving for NLSC, and, if applicable, bring an appropriate 5GHz adaptor.

Online Submissions

SkillsUSA Championships national competitors must complete their online submission(s) by June 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. Check the current SkillsUSA Technical Standards and updates listed below to learn more about any required national pre-conference online submissions. The upload(s) will be completed via SkillsUSA’s secure platform, and the link to the online submission website will be published here on May 22, 2024. State-specific competition pre-conference requirements are not published on the national website.

SkillsUSA Professional Development Test

The SkillsUSA Professional Development Test for national competitors will be conducted pre-conference via the SkillsUSA Online Testing Platform. All national high school and college/postsecondary competitors are required to complete the SkillsUSA Professional Development Test, except for those entered in Action Skills, Building Maintenance, Community Action Project, and Employment Application Process. As a reminder, all middle school competitors are exempt from the national online resume and SkillsUSA Professional Development Test.

SkillsUSA Annual Theme

This topic is to be addressed by competitors in the SkillsUSA Chapter Display, Prepared Speech and Promotional Bulletin Board competitions. The SkillsUSA competition theme for the 2023-24 school year is: SkillsUSA: No Limits.

Competition-Specific Updates

The technical committee for Baking and Pastry Arts has released the following information in preparation for NLSC 2024.

  • Aprons will be provided by the technical committee. Official SkillsUSA aprons are not required.

2-23-24 Update

The barbering competition 2024 theme for the creative freestyle design is Ocean/Marine.


10-13-23
The technical committee provided the following clarification: Creativity is evaluated in the creative cut and beard design, while haircutting is evaluated in the recreation of men’s haircuts from a photograph. Competitors will be expected to duplicate a minimum of two (2) haircuts from a photograph. Each haircut and style must be completed within a 45 minute time limit.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The technical committee for the Career Pathways Showcase competitions has provided the following resource to assist in identifying the correct competition to enter based on the program of study and pathway.

The Collision Repair Technology (CRT) technical committee has released the following update for NLSC 2024:

Click the link to download the 2024 Commercial sUAS Drone competition guide.

The technical committee for Culinary Arts has released the following information in preparation for NLSC 2024.

  • Aprons will be provided by the technical committee. Official SkillsUSA aprons are not required.

 2-23-24 Update

  • A new online submission is being introduced in the 2024 national competition for full adoption into the technical standards in 2025. National contestants must submit an electronic copy of their current ANSI-approved food safety manager or food handler certification. The upload(s) will be completed via SkillsUSA’s secure platform, and the link to the online submission website will be published on the Competition Updates page on May 22, 2024. SkillsUSA Championships national competitors must complete their online submission(s) by June 6, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. Please note there is no penalty for this online submission requirement in 2024, as long as a copy of certificate is provided on-site in Atlanta.
  • In addition to the Professional Development test, competitors in Culinary Arts will complete one online third-party assessment and will receive enrollment links with instructions via email. SkillsUSA Championships national competitors will receive login credentials to access their online test(s) by May 21, 2024. National competitors will need to identify a proctor and complete the online proctor agreement prior to taking their online test(s). The online testing window is May 22 – June 6, 2024. All required online test(s) must be completed by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 6, 2024.

The technical committee has provided a clarification about the competition resume found on page 8 of the technical standards that states, “EAP 1.0 — Prepare a one-page personal resume”. Per the competition guidelines the resume for this competition may have multiple pages and must include references. This update revises standard EAP 1.0 to now read “Prepare a personal resume”.

The 2024 Esthetics competition fantasy theme is Doll Face.

The technical committee has provided the following update to the resource for standard:

BOWL 1.0 — Answer questions from the academic foundations outlined by the National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE) Standards.

The national technical committee has provided the following update: National competitors have pre-conference submission requirements to upload a digital copy of both their resume and portfolio. The upload(s) will be completed via SkillsUSA’s secure platform, and the link to the online submission website will be published here on May 22, 2024.

  • The technical committee for Mobile Electronics Installation has provided the following resources to help prepare for the NLSC 2024 competition:

This video below provides an explanation for the new amp tuning station at NLSC. The video explains the process to be used at NLSC and the attached chart corresponds with the video.


1-17-2024 Update

The technical committee for Mobile Electronics Installation has provided the following update to help prepare for the national competition:

SkillsUSA NLSC Alarm Installation Guide


The national technical committee has provided the following update to provide study resources for the Mobile Electronics Installation competition at NLSC 2024.

For the Mobile Electronics Installation competition at NLSC 2024: The user will complete this form requesting access to study resources, and a link to the course and a coupon code will be emailed to them.

The game manuals for the 2024 Mobile Robotics Technology competition are available below:

The technical committee has provided an update for the survey resource referenced on page 5 of the technical standards that states, “The survey form in the technical standards may be used, or a customized survey prepared to fit a chapter’s specific needs may be used.” Teams seeking an example for the Shop/Laboratory Health and Safety Survey can reference the OSHA checklists available within the Small Business Safety & Health Handbook found on OSHA website at: https://www.osha.gov/smallbusiness

The technical committee for the Promotional Bulletin Board competition has provided the following update:

  • The last page of the binder should be a close-up picture of the final board. Note: this item will not be scored at NLSC 2024 but will be scored at NLSC 2025.

The technical committee for the Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue competition has released the following information in preparation for NLSC 2024.

  • For State Directors and Advisors: At Pitsco Education, it’s our goal to provide kids with an engaging and meaningful Robotics: Urban Search & Rescue competition at the SkillsUSA® Championships. Join us for updates on the event schedule, technical standards, skills challenges, and the main playing field.

10-26-2023 Update

Click the link to download the 2024 Robotics – Urban Search and Rescue Challenge Guide.

 

The national technical committee has provided the following update which shifts all required submissions to a digital format only and eliminates onsite printing.
Contestants will be responsible for creating an assembly drawing complete with appropriate views, balloons, and Bill of Materials. Multiple Detail Drawings will be required to accompany the assembly drawing. Detail Drawings will require appropriate orthographic views, annotations, notes, and tolerances in accordance with ANSI and ASME standards. Knowledge of GD&T will be helpful.
A maximum of 4 textbooks may be used for reference during the competition. A flash drive (USB) file storage will be required for turning in drawing sheets as PDF’s. No printing. Flash drives will not be returned for judging purposes.
A written exam of approximately 100-multiple choice questions will accompany the drawing portion of the contest.
Students will need to bring their own computer with CAD software, scientific calculator, and mechanical pencil with lead. Students should test print a .pdf from their CAD system on set-up day when setting up their computers. There will be no hardcopy prints but there will be standards for the contest to be submitted as a PDF in the correct sheet size.