Skills USA mobile logo
Join
Competition Updates

Keep Your Skills Sharp

General Updates

The competition-specific updates and competitor preparation instructions 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 for the national competition. Your state specific competition updates are NOT published on the national website.

Start here for the Keys to Success and review the SkillsUSA National Competitor Checklist that outlines important resources and pre-conference 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. It is recommended that competitors test their device(s) 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 5, 2025, 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. All national competitors will receive an email by May 21, 2025, with their assigned competitor number and login credentials to SkillsUSA’s secure Competitor Portal to upload their resume and complete any additional competition specific requirements. State-specific competition pre-conference requirements are not published on the national website.

Resume Resources

The following resources are available for developing competitor resumes:

SkillsUSA Professional Development Test

The SkillsUSA Professional Development Test for national competitors will be conducted pre-conference. All national competitors are required to complete the SkillsUSA Professional Development Test. Competitors can prepare using the SkillsUSA Professional Development Test Study Guide.

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 2024-25 school year is: SkillsUSA: Ignite Your Potential.

Competition-Specific Updates

Coming soon! As needed competition-specific updates will be published here. The anticipated publication date for the manuals in commercial drone, mobile robotics, and robotics urban search and rescue as well as the themes for barbering and esthetics is November 20, 2024. These resources will be posted here as soon as the technical committees have finalized the competition-specific updates.

The 2025 Barbering competition theme for the creative freestyle design is Fire and Ice.

The national technical committee has released the following resource for NLSC 2024:

Crime Scene Investigation 2025 Competition Resource


Updated 10-29-24

The technical committee has provided the following update for the 2025 NLSC:

Click HERE to view the webinar recording. Disclaimer: National competitors will receive an email for their online resume submission that will include information about all applicable pre-conference requirements. Visit the national competitor checklist for the latest details. Clothing is reviewed by the national clothing assessment personnel and all clothing penalties are reviewed for final approval by the Director of Championships. Professional members of SkillsUSA can download copy of the national technical standards; click HERE to learn more. For state specific competition information contact your state association.

The national technical committee has released the following resource for NLSC 2024:

Criminal Justice 2025 Competition Resource


Updated 10-29-24

The technical committee has provided the following update for the 2025 NLSC:

Click HERE to view the webinar recording. Disclaimer: National competitors will receive an email for their online resume submission that will include information about all applicable pre-conference requirements. Visit the national competitor checklist for the latest details. Clothing is reviewed by the national clothing assessment personnel and all clothing penalties are reviewed for final approval by the Director of Championships. Professional members of SkillsUSA can download copy of the national technical standards; click HERE to learn more. For state specific competition information contact your state association.

The technical committee has provided the following update for the 2025 NLSC:

Click HERE to view the webinar recording. Disclaimer: National competitors will receive an email for their online resume submission that will include information about all applicable pre-conference requirements. Visit the national competitor checklist for the latest details. Clothing is reviewed by the national clothing assessment personnel and all clothing penalties are reviewed for final approval by the Director of Championships. Professional members of SkillsUSA can download copy of the national technical standards; click HERE to learn more. For state specific competition information contact your state association.

The 2025 Esthetics competition fantasy theme is Under the Sea.

The technical committee has provided the following update for the 2025 NLSC:

Click HERE to view the webinar recording. Disclaimer: National competitors will receive an email for their online resume submission that will include information about all applicable pre-conference requirements. Visit the national competitor checklist for the latest details. Clothing is reviewed by the national clothing assessment personnel and all clothing penalties are reviewed for final approval by the Director of Championships. Professional members of SkillsUSA can download copy of the national technical standards; click HERE to learn more. For state specific competition information contact your state association.

Reminder the national quiz bowl competition question sources will include approximately 30 percent professional development issues, 15 percent about current events, 15 percent from LifeSmarts and 40 percent will consist of general academic knowledge.

LifeSmarts questions cover core consumer topics focusing on five key areas: consumer rights and responsibilities, the environment, health and safety, personal finance, and technology. Resources are available online at LifeSmarts.org.

Review the 2024-26 National Technical Standards for more information.

The technical committee has provided the following resources to prepare for NLSC 2025:

  1. Toolbox size limits: watch the demonstration video that shows packing all the tools on the tool list into a small box.
  2. Inspection tools: watch the training video on how to use the welding inspection tools.
  3. Sample competition resource: download the Sample 2024 NLSC Competitor Booklet. Disclaimer: this document is for reference only. The national welding project is not limited to the content provided in the sample booklet.