SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. We help each student excel.
SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. We improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.
A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations.
SkillsUSA activities foster the development of problem-solving ability and teamwork while building self-confidence and communication skills. These are qualities employers value and look for when hiring or promoting workers. The local program of work sets the pace for the SkillsUSA chapter.
SkillsUSA Missouri is a state association of SkillsUSA Inc. SkillsUSA Missouri consists of nine districts with over 85 local chapters with a membership of nearly 10,000.
SkillsUSA Missouri is the CTSO for Skilled Technical Sciences. It is an applied method of learning where students practice skills and build self-confidence while helping their schools and communities. The SkillsUSA Professional Development Program is a curriculum which involves local industry and academics which can be used in day-trades, apprenticeship training, cooperative education, school-to-work, academic and special needs programs. Our program emphasizes high ethical standards, superior work skills, lifelong education and pride.
2022-2023 State Officers
SkillsUSA State Officers are elected each year to represent the students of the organization. Each has an important role to play in leading the chapter and inspiring excellence.
Additional Information
Mission
SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
SkillsUSA is an applied method of instruction for preparing America’s high performance workers in public career and technical programs. It provides quality education experiences for students in leadership, teamwork, citizenship and character development. It builds and reinforces self-confidence, work attitudes and communications skills. It emphasizes total quality at work—high ethical standards, superior work skills, life-long education, and pride in the dignity of work. SkillsUSA also promotes understanding of the free-enterprise system and involvement in community service.
Membership
More than 350,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA annually, organized into more than 17,000 sections and 52 state and territorial associations. Combining alumni and lifetime membership, the total number impacted this year is more than 430,000. SkillsUSA has served more than 13.6 million members since its founding in 1965.
National Leadership and Skills Conference
The National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC), a national showcase of career and technical education students is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. More than 15,500 people—including students, teachers and business partners — participate in the week-long event. The SkillsUSA Championships will be held in the Kentucky Exposition Center. More than 5,500 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners—competed hands-on in more than 100 different trade, technical and leadership skills. Contests are run with the help of industry, trade associations, and labor organizations, and test competencies are set by industry.
History
The Vocational Industrial Clubs of America, Inc. (VICA) was founded in 1965 by students and teachers who were serious about their professions and saw the need for more training in the areas of leadership to complement their chosen vocation. In Nashville, Tennessee, 14 states were represented, as VICA chose it’s name, colors, motto, purposes and goals.
In 1969 the first theme was “Speak Up for America,” and the first handbook was published in 1970 with the theme being “Skills Build America.” Land was purchased for the National Leadership Headquarters in 1974 and ground breaking took place in 1978. Health Sciences Education became part of VICA in 1986. The Professional Development Program became a reality in 1988. The official name for the national competition became SkillsUSA Championships in 1995. SkillsUSA-VICA became the official name of the organization at the national National Leadership and Skills Conference on July 4, 1999.
In 2001, Timothy W. Lawrence, a former student member, became national executive director. Formerly national director of business and industry partnerships, Lawrence had also been a classroom instructor, industry employee, state association director and member of the Board of Directors. The same year an ex-officio position was created for National Association of State Directors of Career and Technical Education Consortium. On Sept. 1, 2004 the organization’s name officially changed to SkillsUSA.
Youth Development Foundation
SkillsUSA’s Youth Development Foundation’s purpose is to provide support to the goals and purposes of SkillsUSA, including student awards, preparation of special publications or funds for the SkillsUSA Championships.
Partners
SkillsUSA receives in-kind and financial support from more than 650 national partners.