Career Clusters
National Career Clusters Framework
There are currently 16 Career Clusters found in the National Career Clusters Framework, which serves as an organizing tool for career and technical education programs nationwide. Click the tabs below to reveal more information about each cluster, including which of SkillsUSA’s more than 100 career competitions are represented by a specific cluster and our industry sponsors for each cluster. Supporting one or more Career Clusters demonstrates a company’s direct support of and alignment with the work. Are you an industry representative? Learn more about how you can support SkillsUSA Washington.
A/V Technology and Communications
Designing, producing, exhibiting, performing, writing, and publishing multimedia content including visual and performing arts and design, journalism, and entertainment services.
SkillsUSA Competitions in this cluster:
- 3-D Visualization and Animation
- Action Skills
- Advertising Design
- Audio/Radio Production
- Broadcast News Production
- Career Pathways Showcase: Arts and Communications
- Digital Cinema Production
- Employment Application Process
- Extemporaneous Speaking
- Graphic Communications
- Graphic Imaging Sublimation
- Interactive Application and Video Gaming
- Job Interview
- Job Skill Demonstration A
- Job Skill Demonstration Open
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies
- Photography
- Prepared Speech
- Screen Printing Technology
- Telecommunications Cabling
- Television (Video) Production
Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Careers in designing, planning, managing, building and maintaining the built environment.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Architectural Drafting
- Building Maintenance
- Cabinetmaking
- Carpentry
- Electrical Construction Wiring
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR)
- Masonry
- Plumbing
- Sheet Metal
- TeamWorks
- Welding
- Welding Fabrication
- Welding Sculpture
Education and Training
Planning, managing, and providing education and training services, including related learning support services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Career Pathways Showcase: Education and Training Services
- Early Childhood Education
Health Science
Planning, managing, and providing therapeutic services, diagnostic services, health informatics, support services, and biotechnology research and development.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Basic Health Care Skills
- Career Pathways Showcase: Health Sciences
- Dental Assisting
- First Aid/CPR
- Health Knowledge Bowl
- Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
- Medical Assisting
- Medical Math
- Medical Terminology
- Nurse Assisting
- Practical Nursing
Hospitality and Tourism
The management, marketing and operations of restaurants and other food services, lodging, attractions, recreation events and travel related services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Commercial Baking
- Culinary Arts
- Restaurant Service
Human Services
Preparing individuals for employment in Career Pathways Showcase that relate to families and human needs such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care, and consumer services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Barbering
- Career Pathways Showcase: Human Services
- Community Action Project
- Community Service
- Cosmetology
- Esthetics
- Nail Care
Information Technology
Building linkages in IT occupations for entry level, technical and professional careers related to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia and systems integration services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Computer Programming
- Cybersecurity Technology
- Information Technology Services
- Internetworking
- Technical Computer Applications
Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Planning, managing, and providing legal, public safety, protective services and homeland security, including professional and technical support services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Criminal Justice
- Firefighting
- Occupational Health and Safety
Leadership
Leadership is not one of the 16 official career clusters that’s part of the National Career Cluster Framework, but it’s included here so that the wide variety of SkillsUSA competitions that are rooted in leadership may also be featured. These competitions celebrate skills like public speaking, organization, goal-setting and many others that can be applied to any career path.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Action Skills
- American Spirit
- Career Pathways Showcase: Arts and Communications
- Career Pathways Showcase: Business Management Technology
- Career Pathways Showcase: Health Sciences
- Career Pathways Showcase: Human Services
- Career Pathways Showcase: Industrial Engineering Technology
- Career Pathways Showcase: Natural Resources and Agriculture
- Chapter Business Procedure
- Chapter Display
- Community Action Project
- Community Service
- Customer Service
- Employment Application Process
- Entrepreneurship
- Extemporaneous Speaking
- Health Knowledge Bowl
- Health Occupations Professional Portfolio
- Job Interview
- Job Skill Demonstration A
- Job Skill Demonstration Open
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Outstanding Chapter
- Pin Design
- Prepared Speech
- Principles of Technology
- Promotional Bulletin Board
- Quiz Bowl
- T-Shirt Design
Manufacturing
Planning, managing and performing the processing of materials into intermediate or final products and related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control, maintenance and manufacturing/process engineering.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Additive Manufacturing
- Automated Manufacturing Technology
- CNC Milling Technology
- CNC Technician
- CNC Turning Technology
- Humanoid Robotics (demo)
- Industrial Motor Control
- Major Appliance and Refrigeration Technology
- Mechatronics
- Mobile Robotics Technology
- Residential Systems Installation and Maintenance
- Robotics and Automation Technology
- Robotics: Urban Search and Rescue
- Technical Drafting
Marketing
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Planning, managing and providing scientific research and professional and technical services (e.g., physical science, social science, engineering) including laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Career Pathways Showcase: Industrial Engineering Technology
- Electronics Technology
- Engineering Team Challenge (Middle School)
- Engineering Technology / Design
- Mobile Electronics Installation
- Principles of Technology
- Related Technical Math
Transportation Distribution and Logistics
Planning, management, and movement of people, materials, and goods by road, pipeline, air, rail and water and related professional support services such as transportation infrastructure planning and management, logistics services, mobile equipment and facility maintenance.
SkillsUSA competitions in this Cluster:
- Automotive Refinishing Technology
- Automotive Service Technology
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
- Collision Damage Appraisal (Demo)
- Collision Repair Technology
- Diesel Equipment Technology
- Marine Service Technology
- Motorcycle Service Technology
- MLR (Maintenance Light Repair) (Technology demo)
- Power Equipment Technology
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