What is SkillsUSA?
SkillsUSA Tennessee is a student-led Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) that prepares middle school, high school, and postsecondary students for success in their future careers. Through hands-on learning, leadership development, and career exploration, SkillsUSA Tennessee empowers students to build the technical skills, confidence, and experience needed.
SkillsUSA Tennessee is a state association of SkillsUSA, which is recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education. As part of Tennessee's Career and Technical Education (CTE) system, SkillsUSA Tennessee supports classroom instruction by connecting students to real-world workforce opportunities and professional pathways.
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A Classroom-Connected Experience
SkillsUSA is embedded in Tennessee’s career and technical education (CTE) programs as an intra-curricular organization that directly supports classroom instruction. By integrating SkillsUSA into CTE courses, educators give students a platform to apply what they learn in school to meaningful, future-focused opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
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Building the Future Skilled Workforce
SkillsUSA Tennessee offers a wide range of programs designed to equip students for their future careers. These include competitions aligned with real-world technical and leadership skills, leadership conferences at the regional, state, and national levels, service-learning projects, and professional networking opportunities. Each of these programs helps students explore potential career paths, develop essential soft skills, and gain experience that supports their future goals.
Our Mission
SkillsUSA is America’s proud champion of the skilled trades. Our mission is to empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders, and responsible community members.
Our Vision
SkillsUSA’s vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success.
Our Values
The success of SkillsUSA’s mission depends on the commitment of our staff and stakeholders to the following values:
Integrity: We are consistent and authentic in word and action to each other, our members, and the communities we serve.
Respect: Our self-awareness precedes our ability to connect with each other and our members while mutually valuing our unique experiences.
Responsibility: We are accountable to the whole of our organization, from internal staff to our diverse group of stakeholders. Through listening, learning, and acting, we engage in our shared commitment to realizing a collective vision.
Community: We value and belong to a diverse community. We strive to do our best in service through continuous reflection and growth.
Service: SkillsUSA acts through the willing service of staff and committed volunteers to empower its members and their communities to reach their highest potential.
Our Framework
SkillsUSA’s mission is accomplished through the SkillsUSA Framework of Personal Skills, Workplace Skills, and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics. The foundation for everything we do, the Framework is the blueprint for career-readiness. It’s a common language for students to explain to their peers, employers, school administrators, and parents what they gain from SkillsUSA.
What We Offer
SkillsUSA Tennessee provides dynamic programs that engage and support students as they prepare for careers in skilled trades. These include:
Championships that allow students to demonstrate knowledge and skills in real-world scenarios.
Leadership Conferences that foster communication, professionalism, and personal growth.
Industry Partnerships that connect students with professionals, mentors, and career pathways.
Classroom Integration that enhances CTE and skilled trades instruction with intra-curricular activities.