Held in Washington, D.C., each September, SkillsUSA’s Washington Leadership Training Institute conference (WLTI) offers students and advisors from across the country unique opportunities to advocate for the skilled trades while receiving advanced leadership training.
Other WLTI events include tours of D.C.’s famous monuments and museums, panel discussions with government officials, a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and more.
However, the highlight of the four-day event is when student delegations conduct in-person visits with their elected officials on Capitol Hill to advocate for SkillsUSA and career and technical education. During those visits, students share the value and benefits of SkillsUSA participation through their own personal experiences. They also deliver passionate appeals for continued career and technical education support. Congressional leaders come away from these special visits inspired by the promise of a new generation, and students leave with a newfound sense of pride, purpose and confidence that their voices both matter … and make a difference.
WLTI is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the hundreds of students who participate each year.
SkillsUSA strives to make our gatherings, events and competitions accessible to everyone. If you require an accommodation for WLTI, please notify us so we can work together. Email: accessibility@skillsusa.org
Delta Airlines: Visit https://bit.ly/SkillsUSA-DA to book your flights or call the Delta Meeting Network at 1-800-328-1111* Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Central time) and refer to Meeting Event Code NM4V2.
*There is no service fee for WLTI reservations booked and ticketed via the reservation 800 number.
Southwest Airlines: Visit https://bit.ly/SkillsUSA-SWA to book your flights.
United Airlines: Visit https://bit.ly/SkillsUSA-UA to book your flights or call the United Meetings Reservation Desk at (800) 426-1122* Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central time) and Saturday or Sunday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Central time) and use discount code ZQE5976839.
*Booking fees are waived for WLTI reservations.
For SkillsUSA members attending WLTI this year, check out this section for resources on how to make your advocacy visits as effective as possible and to help you follow up afterward.
Advisors, please go over the following information with WLTI delegation members during state planning time:
Advocacy Visit Materials
Each state will be given a set of leave-behinds for your advocacy visits. Extra materials are available in WLTI Headquarters if needed and you can include small state gifts if you like. Your leave-behind packet should include:
Photos from the 2025 WLTI will be posted here beginning on September 20, 2025.
