AWS & SkillsUSA State Competitions

AWS & SkillsUSA State Competitions

What You'll Find

Competition Structure

Competition Structure

AWS & SkillsUSA State Competitions

Across the country, local, regional, and state welding competitions give students the chance to demonstrate their skills and passion for the trade. These events build toward the SkillsUSA Championships, the national showcase of America’s top career and technical education talent.

At the state level, the American Welding Society (AWS) plays a central role. AWS works alongside SkillsUSA state associations to provide the industry expertise, technical guidance, and volunteer support that shape each competition. To ensure consistency and fairness, the AWS-supported SkillsUSA Welding Committee created a standardized competition framework—so whether a student competes in Texas or Maine, they’re measured against the same high bar.


This partnership allows AWS to help raise the quality of welding competitions across the country, ensuring that state winners are truly prepared for the challenges of the national stage. For competitors, it means more than medals—it’s direct exposure to the standards, expectations, and opportunities of the welding industry that AWS represents.



SKILLSUSA STATE COMPETITION SCHEDULE

All Dates Subject to Change



AGENDA
State Competition Calendar – List A to M
STATE SLSC 2026 DATES
Alabama April 20-22, 2026
Alaska March 25, 2026
Arizona April 7-8, 2026
Arkansas April 13 - 15, 2026
California April 9 -12, 2026
Colorado TBD
Connecticut March 27, 2026
Delaware March 9 - 13, 2026
District of Columbia March 10 - 11, 2026
Florida March 30 - April 2, 2026
Georgia February 19 - 21, 2026
Georgia CPS February 19 - 21, 2026
Hawaii February 17 - 18, 2026
Idaho March 4, 2026
Illinois April 23 - 25, 2026
Indiana April 10 - 11, 2026
Iowa March 5 - 6, 2025
Kansas March 2 - 4, 2026
Kentucky March 30 - April 2, 2026
Louisiana Postsecondary TBD
Louisiana Secondary April 15 - 17, 2026
Maine February 17 - 18, 2026
Hawaii March 12, 2026
Maryland April 17 - 18, 2026
Massachusetts April 30 - May 2, 2026
Michigan April 17, 2026
Minnesota March 27 - 28, 2026
Mississippi Postsecondary April 2 - 4, 2026
Mississippi Secondary March 31 - April 2, 2026
Missouri April 9 - 11, 2026
Montana April 7 -10, 2026
State Competition Calendar – List N to W
STATE SLSC 2026 DATES
Nebraska April 9 - 11, 2026
NevadaApril 7 - 10, 2026
New HampshireApril 3, 2026
New Jersey March 7 / March 21 / March 26 / March 28, 2026
New Mexico March 18 - 21, 2026
New York Postsecondary March 29, 2026
New York SecondaryApril 22 - 24, 2026
North CarolinaApril 15 - 17, 2026
North DakotaApril 19 - 21, 2026
OhioMay 5 - 6, 2026
OklahomaApril 19 -21, 2026
OregonApril 10 - 11, 2026
PennsylvaniaApril 8 -10, 2026
Puerto RicoTBD
Rhode IslandTBD
South CarolinaMarch 10 - 12. 2026
South DakotaApril 9 -10, 2026
Tennessee PostsecondaryMarch 15, 2026
Tennessee SecondaryApril 8 - 11, 2026
Texas CPS TBD
Texas HS April 8 - 11, 2026
UtahMarch 26 - 27, 2026
VermontApril 7 - 8, 2026
Virgin IslandsFebruary 18 - 20, 2026
VirginiaTBD
Washington April 16 - 18, 2026
West VirginiaMarch 27, 2026
Wisconsin PostsecondaryApril 7 - 8, 2026
Wisconsin SecondaryApril 7 - 8, 2026
WyomingApril 13 - 15, 2026



SkillsUSA 2026 Zoom Meeting image

2026 SkillsUSA State Videos

SkillsUSA 2026 Zoom Meeting image

Meeting videos below help get you up to speed for 2026. Hear from this year's competition chair and co-chair about the current happenings at both the state and national levels. Organizers hold these meetings to ensure all states are on a level playing field.

2026 Update Part I

  • December 8, 2025
  • Passcode: 1qwV%nr8

VIEW MEETING HERE

2026 Update Part II

  • December 10, 2025
  • Passcode: PcYsx0@9

VIEW MEETING HERE

SkillsUSA 2026 Zoom Meeting image

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State Project & Scoring Booklets

These booklets include the recommended projects and scoring criteria for past state SkillsUSA Welding Championships

Please review to become familiar with the rubrics.

2025 STATE SCORING BOOKLET

2025 State Scoring Booklet

Recommended Project & Scoring Criteria

2024 STATE SCORING BOOKLET

2024 State Scoring Booklet

Recommended Project & Scoring Criteria

2023 STATE SCORING BOOKLET

2023 State Scoring Booklet

Recommended Project & Scoring Criteria