The Road to States
Starts Here.
The SkillsUSA Massachusetts District Championships are the first qualifying step toward the state stage, giving members the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and preparation in their chosen competition. Through district-level testing in trade knowledge, employability skills, and safety, competitors put their skills to the test as they work to earn a qualifying position and advance to the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships.
SKILLSUSA DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS
SkillsUSA Massachusetts hosts six District Conferences to determine the competitors for the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships. The conferences are held in late February to early March at selected locations in each district. To be eligible, a student must be a paid-in-full SkillsUSA member in good standing. In addition, the chapter must pay all financial obligations to the state in full (see Fiscal Policy and Procedures in Chapter 2).
The District Competition consists of a written SkillsUSA Employment Skills test and a written trade knowledge test. The Cosmetology Under 500, Esthetics and Nail Care models are not required to attend. Models may be chosen after the district SkillsUSA Championships. Please refer to the SkillsUSA Massachusetts Contest Details reference document, available in the Chapter Advisor’s Handbook HERE, for information on participation, entry requirements, and submission details.
Each chapter is eligible to place three competitors in each skill category. The exception to the rule is 100% sections. If a program has 100% membership, four competitors may be entered in the contest. The fourth competitor attends the conference at half the cost. There will be a maximum of 12 high school competitors per event at the state level. In most cases, the top two qualifying scores, per district, will advance to the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships.
District exams are available from 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on the date specified for each District Qualifying Event.
Once an exam is opened, each contestant is allotted 2.5 hours to complete the exam.
Exams must be taken at the contestant's school in a supervised environment. Chapters should prepare an appropriate testing location and ensure students are properly monitored throughout the examination.
Open your chapter's District Qualifying day with a ceremony or celebration. Include the state-provided Opening Ceremony video and provide instructions to contestants before testing begins. Be creative!
Decorate your school or testing area for your District Qualifying day. Create an environment that makes the competition feel exciting, important and connected to SkillsUSA. Be creative!
Consider how your chapter will help contestants prepare and succeed before their District exams. Provide resources, encouragement and opportunities for students to review. Be creative!
REQUIRED: Chapters receiving mini grants must provide contestants with the state-issued Employability/Safety Study Guide.
Encourage contestants to dress for success on District Qualifying day. Suggested options include Official SkillsUSA Dress, business casual, chapter polo shirts, chapter T-shirts or another unified form of dress.
Take steps to ensure registered contestants actually participate in their District Qualifying Event. Chapters should strive for at least 90% participation of registered contestants.
Celebrate contestants after testing is complete. Consider an ice cream or dessert social, lunch, general session or another chapter celebration. Be creative!
Promote your District Qualifying Event and recognize the students who participated. Capture photos, celebrate contestants and share the experience with your school and chapter community. Be creative!
Individual District Qualifying dates can be found in the Calendar of Events.
Consult the District Schools section to identify which District your chapter participates in and confirm the corresponding District Qualifying Event date.
District qualifying exams are completed at the contestant's school in a supervised testing environment during the designated District testing date.
Review the registration instructions and worksheet contained in the Registration Tools folder of the Advisor's Handbook before beginning District registration.
All registration for District Qualifying Events is completed through the SkillsUSA Massachusetts registration and member services site.
Verify that every intended contestant is registered in the correct competition and that all required participant and chapter information is accurate before registration closes.