SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary
Start a SkillsUSA Chapter
Bring leadership development, career preparation, competition, service, and industry-connected experiences to students at your college, university, TCAT, apprenticeship program, or postsecondary training institution.
Getting Started
Build a Chapter That Connects Students to Opportunity
SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary supports institutions that want to help students strengthen their technical, workplace, personal, and leadership skills. A local chapter gives students access to leadership development, conferences, competitive events, scholarships, career resources, service opportunities, and connections with business and industry.
The chapter startup process depends on whether your institution is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
Choose Your Institution Type
Which Process Applies to Your Institution?
TCATs and Tennessee Community Colleges
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and Tennessee community colleges participate through the statewide SkillsUSA Tennessee Total Participation Program.
View the TBR ProcessColleges, Universities and Training Programs
Private colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs, and other eligible postsecondary training institutions follow the national SkillsUSA chapter startup process.
View the National ProcessTennessee Board of Regents Institutions
TCATs and Tennessee Community Colleges
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology and Tennessee community colleges participate in the SkillsUSA Tennessee Total Participation Program. Through this statewide initiative, eligible career and technical education students and instructors receive SkillsUSA membership, making it easier for institutions to establish chapters and provide SkillsUSA opportunities across multiple programs of study.
Because membership is coordinated through the statewide agreement, TBR institutions should begin by contacting the SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary office rather than creating a new school account independently.
Contact the State Office
Let us know that your campus wants to establish, reactivate, or strengthen a SkillsUSA chapter. We will confirm your institution’s participation and help you determine the next steps.
Identify a Chapter Advisor
Select at least one faculty or staff member who will serve as the primary chapter advisor. Additional instructors and staff members may also support the chapter.
Connect Students and Programs
Determine which career and technical education programs will participate. A strong chapter can serve students from one program or bring together students from multiple programs across the institution.
Review Advisor Resources
Use the SkillsUSA Tennessee Resource Center to access chapter tools, program information, calendars, competition resources, leadership opportunities, forms, and advisor guidance.
Launch the Chapter
The state office will help your institution organize the chapter, engage students, connect with statewide programming, and prepare for conferences, competitions, and leadership opportunities.
Start With the Tennessee Postsecondary Office
TBR institutions should contact the state office before attempting to create a new school or chapter account through the national registration system.
Other Postsecondary Institutions
Private Colleges, Universities and Training Programs
Private colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs, technical training organizations, and other eligible postsecondary institutions that are not part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system follow the national SkillsUSA chapter startup process.
Confirm Institutional Support
Identify the department, program, or institutional leader who will support the chapter and authorize participation in SkillsUSA.
Select a Chapter Advisor
Choose a faculty or staff member who will guide the chapter, communicate with SkillsUSA, support student leaders, and coordinate membership and activities.
Recruit Student Members
A local chapter must have at least five student members. Students may come from one career program or from multiple eligible programs within the institution.
Request a New School Account
Contact SkillsUSA Customer Care or submit the national Request New School for SkillsUSA Membership form. The Customer Care Team will help establish the institution in the SkillsUSA registration system.
SkillsUSA Customer Care
844-875-4557
customercare@skillsusa.org
Complete Membership Registration
After the institution and chapter account are created, register the advisor and student members through the SkillsUSA membership system.
Connect With SkillsUSA Tennessee
Once the chapter is established, contact the SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary office so your institution can receive state communications, program information, conference updates, competition guidance, and advisor support.
Request a New School Account
Use the national SkillsUSA form to begin the registration process, then connect with the Tennessee Postsecondary office for statewide support.
Chapter Benefits
What Students and Institutions Gain
A SkillsUSA chapter becomes a structured part of the student experience, connecting classroom and laboratory learning with leadership, professional development, service, competition, and workforce preparation.
Leadership Development
Students build confidence through chapter leadership, officer service, advocacy, teamwork, public speaking, and statewide leadership programs.
Career-Ready Skills
Members strengthen communication, professionalism, responsibility, problem solving, teamwork, and other skills valued by employers.
Technical Competition
Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills in competitive events aligned with career fields and current industry expectations.
Industry Connections
Chapters connect with employers, technical experts, judges, volunteers, sponsors, exhibitors, and potential workforce partners.
Student Recognition
Members can earn medals, scholarships, leadership honors, chapter awards, credentials, and recognition at the state and national levels.
Institutional Engagement
SkillsUSA helps institutions build student belonging, strengthen program identity, support persistence, and showcase career and technical education.
Building Your Chapter
What a Strong Chapter Needs
Institutional Support
Support from program faculty, student affairs, academic leadership, workforce development, or another appropriate campus office.
Committed Advisors
At least one advisor who communicates consistently, supports student leadership, and helps students access opportunities.
Student Leadership
Student officers or chapter leaders who help plan meetings, communicate with members, and guide chapter activities.
Regular Engagement
Meetings, service activities, leadership development, conference participation, career preparation, or competition training throughout the year.
Connection to the State Office
Consistent use of state communications, calendars, advisor resources, conference information, and program guidance.
A Plan for Growth
A clear strategy for recruiting members, engaging multiple programs, developing leaders, and sustaining the chapter from year to year.
Ready to Begin?
Bring SkillsUSA to Your Institution
Whether you are establishing a new chapter, reactivating an inactive chapter, or expanding participation across your campus, the SkillsUSA Tennessee College/Postsecondary office will help you take the next step.
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- Obtain approval from your institution to establish a SkillsUSA chapter.
- Contact SkillsUSA Customer Care at 844-875-4557 or customercare@skillsusa.org, or submit a Request New School for SkillsUSA Membership. A Customer Care representative will help establish your school's membership account and provide a New Chapter Kit. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Recruit at least five student members and identify one or more chapter advisors.
- Complete your chapter charter and register members through the SkillsUSA membership system.
- Contact SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary so your advisors are added to our communication list and receive information about conferences, leadership opportunities, competitions, scholarships, and important deadlines.
Resources for New Advisors
Whether you're launching your first chapter or expanding an existing one, the SkillsUSA Tennessee Advisor Resource Center provides the tools you need to be successful.
- Advisor guides and handbooks
- Membership resources
- Conference information
- Chapter management tools
- Leadership development resources
- Competition information
- Forms and downloadable materials
Explore the Advisor Resource Center
Need Help?
The SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary team is committed to helping every institution build a successful chapter. Whether you're a new advisor or adding SkillsUSA to your campus for the first time, we're here to help every step of the way.