Student Organizations
Career & Technical Student Organizations (CTSO)
Pennsylvania coordinates eight student organizations that provide career awareness, leadership, motivation, and recognition for career related skills. The career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) are an extension of the classroom instructional program by integrating academics and career and technical skills into real work experiences.
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State Conference Calendar
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CTSOs Flyer (PDF)
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CTSO Guidelines Booklet (PDF) - The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 provides funding for career and technical education through fiscal year 2012. The Act specifies required and permissible uses of these funds for CTSO activities at the local and state levels.
DECA - An Association of Marketing Students
DECA enhances marketing, management, and entrepreneurship education. Students develop skills and competencies for careers, build self-esteem, experience leadership, and practice community service. DECA promotes the partnership of education and business.
FBLA - Future Business Leaders of America
FBLA prepares students for leadership and careers in business through business-related education and entrepreneurial skill development, community service, and partnerships with the professional sector.
PA Future Business Leaders of America (state website)
Future Business Leaders of America (national website)
FCCLA - Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
FCCLA builds strong leaders and addresses important personal, family, work, and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education.
FFA - An Association of Agriculture Education Students
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education.
HOSA - Future Health Professionals

HOSA's two-fold mission is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care to help students meet the needs of the health care community. HOSA's goal is to encourage all health science technology instructors and students to affiliate and be actively involved in the HOSA-HSTE (Health Science Technology Education) Partnership and serve as a major pipeline of health care professionals in the future.
PYFA - Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association
PYFA educates students by promoting the environmentally appropriate production, marketing, and processing of food, feed, and fiber.
SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national student organization that strives to make each student more employable through the development of participatory, and leadership skills to complement the occupational skills developed by students in technical education classrooms or work-based learning sites. SkillsUSA is an integral part of approved technical education occupation programs.
Jeri Widdowson, Executive Director
SkillsUSA Pennsylvania
507 Rear Marjorie Mae Street
State College, PA 16803-1682
(814) 238-0380 | FAX: (814) 238-2680
TSA - Technology Student Association
The Technology Student Association (TSA) fosters science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education through personal growth, leadership, and opportunities in technology, innovation, design, and engineering (TIDE). Members apply and integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts for the challenges of a dynamic world through co-curricular activities, problem solving, competitive events, and related programs resulting in academic development and endless possibilities in our global society.
Future Conferences
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