There has never been a better time to be career ready than right now. And there has never been a better time to be a student or professional member of SkillsUSA — America’s proud champion of the skilled trades — than right now.
No matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, you’ve got what it takes to be a SkillsUSA champion.
Who Can Join
SkillsUSA is open to students enrolled in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) class, CTE Program teachers, Administrators, and Professionals.
SkillsUSA Idaho offers membership at three different levels
Middle School
High School
College/Postsecondary
Why Join SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA provides unmatched opportunities for middle school, high school and college/postsecondary students to build a solid foundation for career and life success. Joining SkillsUSA is one of the best decisions students can make as they explore, develop and build on their education and career pathways.
Student Membership Benefits
- Develop a well rounded skillset for the workplace using the SkillsUSA Framework’s essential elements
- Build confidence
- Enhance your resume
- Explore new career paths
- Obtain scholarships and work opportunities
- Network with peers, teachers, mentors, and industry representatives across the state and nation
- Achieve a sense of accomplishment and belonging
- Develop teamwork skill and experience
- Practice hands-on application of classroom skills through local, state, and national competitions
Advisor (Teacher) Benefits
SkillsUSA isn’t an “add-on” to what you do — We’re an ally. SkillsUSA provides instructors with curriculum and professional development opportunities to elevate your classroom. You’ll be supported every step of the way through curated content, tools and resources that are easy to implement in any learning environment. You’ll be part of a nationwide network of students, teachers and industry that’s committed to your ongoing success and the success of your students.
- Align SkillsUSA programming into classroom curriculum
- Demonstrate the belief that every student has value and purpose
- Motivate all students to reach their potential
- Provide practical tools to ensure every student is career ready
- Save time by using SkillsUSA’s educational resources provided for Advisors
- Get involved in your local community
- Earn state and national recognition for your chapter (school)
- Professional development and peer-to-peer networking opportunities
- Measure and demonstrate classroom success
For Parents
Parents, careers in the skilled trades are among the most in-demand, high-paying and highly skilled careers available today. There’s a skills gap affecting nearly all skilled trades industries, where millions more jobs are available than graduates willing and able to fill them. SkillsUSA is closing that skills gap with graduates who are career ready, day one: ready to work, ready to lead and ready to make a difference in their schools, communities, workplaces and our nation.
- Through SkillsUSA, your child will develop high-level technical skills in whatever skilled area they’re studying
- Students can participate in meaningful career exploration to find out what they truly want to pursue in future careers
- Students can take advantage of internship, mentorship, and other employment opportunities
- Learn useful skills to be self-sufficient and self-supporting
- Discover opportunities for scholarships, grants, or prizes
- Avoid high student loan debt
- Make education and career choices that are validated by industry
Membership Dues
Membership in SkillsUSA requires an annual membership fee for each school year. The fee breakdown includes both the state and national membership dues, and applies at all three levels of membership (Middle School, High School, College/Postsecondary)
| Membership Type | Annual Membership Fee |
| Student Member | $20.00 |
| Professional Member (Advisors and Administrators) | $30.00 |
Membership Packages for All Students in Your Program
Total Participation Plan – High School & Middle School
The SkillsUSA Total Participation Plan (TPP) allows eligible students who are enrolled in technical, skilled and service occupations, including health occupations, to participate in SkillsUSA as an integral part of their education. That means your entire classroom, school or school district can join SkillsUSA on a single plan that covers national dues, state dues and employability skills training materials for students. This plan also aligns with Perkins funding. Be sure to reach out to your local CTE Administrators for guidance on state and federal funding.
Through use of Total Participation Plan, students are provided the opportunity to develop SkillsUSA Framework skills that encompass the necessary personal, workplace and technical skills needed for career readiness. Your affiliation through the Total Participation Plan means you’ve made a commitment to SkillsUSA to integrate Career Essentials: Experiences, Career Essentials: Assessments, and/or educational resources into your classroom.
Use this plan if your school is a high school, middle school or your district has a combination of both or a combination of high school and college/postsecondary students.
The SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite includes products that ensure students have the foundational skills, attitudes and values to distinguish them from other applicants in the skilled labor marketplace. Once on the job, students will be productive and promotable. The SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite is the solution to producing career-ready graduates who are prepared to face the 21st-century demands of employers. To learn more about the SkillsUSA Career Essentials suite of products, visit: www.careeressentials.org
College Campus Affiliation Plan – College/Postsecondary
SkillsUSA offers the College Campus Affiliation as a membership option for college campuses. Under this program, community colleges, technical colleges and adult programs can affiliate one or more technical training programs, or the entire campus, on one contract with no individual membership dues.
This allows the maximum number of students to participate in all SkillsUSA activities. By having the campus join as a whole, it may be possible for schools to use alternate funding sources for the program, such as student activity fees or Perkins funding (as determined and allowed by state department of education and local school policy). The program philosophy is based on running a SkillsUSA program that benefits all students through the development of leadership and employability skills.
The Campus Affiliation Fee is an umbrella fee that covers all students in a training program or on campus, up to the maximum at each level. Enrollment lists must be attached to the contract, and the contract must be approved by the SkillsUSA state association director and be signed by both a school administrator and the SkillsUSA advisor. SkillsUSA will accept any school-generated class roll or student list. Student lists must be organized by the training area. All students must be listed and the total number of students must be indicated on the sheet. Students in the training programs are expected to participate in the standards program.
Starting a New SkillsUSA Chapter
SkillsUSA Idaho thanks you for your interest in starting a new chapter! The membership resources listed are the things you will need to begin your new chapter in Idaho.
The state team is ready to assist you in the process of starting a new SkillsUSA Idaho chapter. All Advisors are encouraged to reach out to the State Director for assistance in this process.
State Director: Andrew Armstrong – andrew.armstrong@cte.idaho.gov – (208) 429-5529