Overview of SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student to excel. SkillsUSA is a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations and for further education. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).  

Representing over 413,000 career and technical education students and teachers, SkillsUSA chapters thrive in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Our mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics, which is integrated into classroom curriculum.

Through the Framework, SkillsUSA students hone their hands-on skills against current industry standards in more than 130 occupational areas, from 3D Animation to Welding and nearly everything in between. At the same time, they develop the transformative career-readiness skills — teamwork, communication, professionalism, leadership and more — that fuel career and life success.

A vital solution to the ongoing skills gap, where more highly skilled jobs are available than skilled professionals ready to fill them, SkillsUSA has served more than 14.6 million diverse, difference-making members since 1965.

“Career and Technical Education (CTE) Works!” Report

In 2022, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) released a compilation of statistics related to student involvement in career and technical education programs. Sources included the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education, and just some of the highlights include:

• 77% of employers from in-demand industries report hiring an employee because of knowledge and skills gained from their career and technical education experience.
• Despite millions of job openings around the country, 74% of employers report a persistent mismatch between the skills they need and the skills workers have.
• High school students in career and technical education programs are more likely to be employed full time and have higher median annual earnings 8 years after graduation.
• The average high school graduation rate for those involved in career and technical education programs is 94%, compared to the national rate of 85%.

Mission:
SkillsUSA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of America’s skilled workforce through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training. SkillsUSA enhances the lives and careers of students, instructors and industry representatives as they strive to be champions at work.

  Partners:
More than 600 business, industry and labor sponsors actively support SkillsUSA at the national level through donations, in-kind contributions, and involvement of their people in SkillsUSA activities. Many more work directly with state associations and local chapters. Support by industry to the SkillsUSA Championships is valued at more than $36 million.

Programs:
SkillsUSA offers local, state and national programs that allow students to develop and demonstrate personal, workplace and technical skills. These three components comprise the organizational framework for SkillsUSA, which serves as a blueprint for career readiness. Local chapters conduct a program of work during the school year and many students attend a district or state conference. At the SkillsUSA Championships, more than 6,000 students compete in 100 occupational and leadership skill areas each June. These national competitions establish industry standards for entry-level workers in many fields. 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. 

• 77% of employers from in-demand industries report hiring an employee because of knowledge and skills gained from their career and technical education experience.
• Despite millions of job openings around the country, 74% of employers report a persistent mismatch between the skills they need and the skills workers have.
• High school students in career and technical education programs are more likely to be employed full time and have higher median annual earnings 8 years after graduation.
• The average high school graduation rate for those involved in career and technical education programs is 94%, compared to the national rate of 85%.

2019-2020 Officers

 Office of President: Daniel Aguilar

Office of Vice-President: Ana Salazar

Office of  1st Vice-President:  Daicia Vickers

Office of Secretary: Mikayla Vining

Office of Treasurer: Dominica Ramirez

Office of Reporter: Nubia Tinajero

Office of Parliamentarian: Ramad Cato

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 commun

Career technical education and SkillsUSA exist because we believe every student deserves career success. It's that simple. We're in the business of ensuring students are ready to excel in the workplace and as leaders of their communities. It's an awesome responsibility, but one to embrace because it defines our legacy of positively influencing student lives and supporting our nation's economic future.

What do students need for career readiness? We believe the answer resides in the SkillsUSA framework for developing personal, workplace and technical skills. This trifecta of student success centers on industry demand and builds the foundation for relevant and intentional student learning and leadership development. Innovative programming, quality instruction, and industry partnerships focus on equipping students with the necessary leadership, technical, communicating and management skills to succeed at work and in life. When it all comes together, students have the opportunity to explore and experience high-demand, high-skilled, high-wage (H3) careers. And voila! Together, we address the skilled labor shortage while placing our members on a pathway to a better life.




SkillsUSA Motto

"Champions at Work."



SkillsUSA Pledge

Upon my honor, I pledge:

"To prepare myself by diligent study and ardent practice to become a worker whose services will be recognized as honorable by my employer and fellow workers.

To base my expectations of reward upon the solid foundation of service

To honor and respect my vocation in such a way as to bring repute to myself.

And further, to spare no effort in upholding the ideals of SkillsUSA."

Meaning of the Pledge

"Upon my honor, I pledge: This is a very strong statement. It means you are committed to follow through on your promise.

To prepare myself: Preparation requires self-control. It means effort without immediate reward but with the knowledge that the effort will pay off when the preparation is completed.

By diligent study: Diligence implies something far beyond a quick review of assignments. Diligence means perseverance, concentration and not always taking the easy route.

And ardent practice: A person of character makes every effort in spite of setbacks or personal loss.

To become a worker: SkillsUSA members take pride in making things happen, in being good workers and in their employers.

Whose services: Doing things for others is the basis of many occupations. SkillsUSA members strive to be active in their schools and communities.

Will be recognized as honorable: The result of preparation, study, practice, work and service is the respect and honor given SkillsUSA members.

To base my expectations of reward upon the solid foundation of service: This statement reinforces the attitude that we must first serve in order to gain. This attitude is important to success.

To respect my vocation: SkillsUSA members recognize the need to find their vocation and strive to understand its traditions, skills, leaders and potential.

To bring repute to myself: SkillsUSA members strive to have a good reputation among their peers, fellow workers, teachers, parents and employers.

To spare no effort in upholding these ideals: This means service to the community, school and SkillsUSA chapter – getting things done and becoming a leader, all with the ideals of SkillsUSA in mind."