CONTEST GUIDELINES
2026 Contest Guidelines
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Posted guidelines will be in Bold Red Underlined Text under each cluster.
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Electrical Construction Wiring
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
Welding Overall, Fabrication, GMAW, GTAW, OAC/PAC, SMAW - There is no competition at NLSC for GMAW, GTAW, OAC/PAC, and SMAW; these are Michigan only contests
DFX files (will download a .zip folder)
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Early Childhood Education (will download a .zip folder)
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Cosmetology Mannequin - There is no competition at NLSC; Michigan only contest
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Employment Application Process
Job Skill Demonstration A - demonstrate a career objective in an occupational area that is included in one of the contest areas of SkillsUSA.
Job Skill Demonstration Open - demonstrate any technical skill from outside the cluster/training program of the contestant.
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3D Printing - There is no competition at NLSC; this is a Michigan only contest
Precision Machining Overall, Bench, Lathe, & Mill -There is no competition at NLSC; these are Michigan only contests
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Commercial sUAS Drone (will download a .zip folder)
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Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Automotive Service Technology - Electrical - There is no competition at NLSC ; Michigan only contest
Online Testing
March 26 - April 8, 2026
For Competition at the Michigan State Leadership and Skills Conference, all students will take the Professional Development Assessment online.
Students in the following contests will also have a Technical Assessment assigned to them in the online portal, which will be part of their competition score:
3D Visualization and Animation
Cosmetology
Cosmetology Mannequin
Crime Scene Investigation
Criminal Justice
Cyber Security
Early Childhood Education
Emergency Medical Technician
Esthetics
Firefighting
Graphic Imaging Sublimination
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
Information Technology Services
Internetworking
Nail Care
Plumbing
Quiz Bowl
Screen Printing Technology
Welding Sculpture
Online Testing Logins
Initial student logins will be sent to Chapter Advisors on March 25, 2026 by SkillsUSA Michigan.
Chapter Advisors will need to contact SkillsUSA Customer Care for assistance with login support during testing:
8:00am-5:00pm Mon, Wed, & Fri
8:00am-7:00pm Tue and Thurs
844-875-4557
Chat with a team member on the membership registration page(Click the blue “Chat with us!” icon on the bottom of the page.)
Competitions not being held at the Michigan 2026 State Leadership and Skills Conference
If your chapter is interested in competing in one of these events at the National Conference, please contact the State Office no later than February 15, 2026.
American Spirit
Automated Manufacturing Technology
Barbering
Basic Health Care Skills
Building Maintenance
Cabinetmaking
Career and Technical Educator
Chapter Business Procedure
Commercial Roofing
Community Action Project
Computer Programming
Dental Assisting
Engineering Technology-Design
Facilithon-Leadership in Facility Management
Health Knowledge Bowl
Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
Interactive Application and Video Game Development
Internet Of Things (IOT) Smart Home
Mechatronics
Medical Assisting
Medical Math
Medical Terminology
Mobile Electronics Installation
Mobile Robotics Technology
Nurse Assisting
Occupational Health and Safety-Multiple
Occupational Health and Safety-Single
Outstanding Chapter
Practical Nursing
Robotics-Urban Search and Rescue
Sheet Metal
Team Engineering Challenge
Technical Computer Applications
Telecommunications Cabling
Video News Production
Web Design and Development
Past Contest Guidelines for Practice or Reference Only
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Past Contest Guidelines for Practice or Reference Only ~
2025 Contest Guidelines
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Electrical Construction Wiring - updated supply list 4/8
Welding Sculpture (HS only) - updated 2/27
Welding Overall, Fabrication, GMAW, GTAW, OAC/PAC, SMAW - There is no competition at NLSC for GMAW, GTAW, OAC/PAC, and SMAW; these are Michigan only contests
Guidelines- updated 3/13
DFX files (zip file downloads)
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3-D Visualization and Animation
Digital Cinema Production - updated 2/20
Photography- updated 4/3
Video Production - updated 2/28
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Early Childhood Education - Note: 2025 on-site written test has been eliminated, and will not be counted in the competition score.
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Cosmetology Mannequin - There is no competition at NLSC ; Michigan only contest
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Employment Application Process
Job Skill Demonstration A - demonstrate a career objective in an occupational area that is included in one of the contest areas of SkillsUSA.
Job Skill Demonstration Open - demonstrate any technical skill from outside the cluster/training program of the contestant.
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3D Printing Pilot Event - There is no competition at NLSC; this is a Michigan only contest
Additive Manufacturing - updated 4/2
CNC 2-Axis Turning, CNC 3-Axis Milling, and CNC Programmer
Precision Machining Overall, Bench, Lathe, & Mill -There is no competition at NLSC; these are Michigan only contests
Robotics and Automation Technology - Score rubric updated 3/31
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Principles of Engineering Technology
Email final written portion of project to: MaryEllen Brocklehurst by 12:00 AM on Monday, April 7, 2025. Be sure to include the student’s name, school and project title.
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Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair
Automotive Refinishing Technology
Automotive Service Technology - Electrical - There is no competition at NLSC ; Michigan only contest
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Heavy Equipment Operation - updated 2/18