Navigating the Technology Student Association: A Comprehensive Guide to Rules, Regulations, and Competitive Events

The Technology Student Association (TSA) offers middle and high school students a platform to explore and excel in various STEM-related fields. This article provides a detailed overview of TSA rules, regulations, and competitive events, drawing upon official guidelines and focusing on key aspects of participation.

Accessing Official Guidelines

Student members can access TSA middle school and high school competition guidelines through the password-protected TSA Membership System. These guidelines mirror those found in the competitive events guides published for National TSA conferences, with the exception that they do not include event coordinator responsibilities. Student versions of the guides allow members to have direct access to competition rules and judging rubrics as they prepare for competition. To access a guide (at the applicable level - middle school or high school), a student must have created a student member account in the TSA Membership System and agree to the terms of use. When a decision is made by a member to compete in an event, it is imperative that the member thoroughly read and understand the rules, regulations, procedures, and evaluation criteria for the chosen event(s).

Competitive Events: A Deep Dive

TSA competitions are designed to challenge students and encourage innovation. Here's a breakdown of different types of events:

National TSA Events

PA-TSA follows the national guidelines for competitive events. The official rules for these events are provided to each chapter by National TSA. To obtain a copy of the rules, log in to your chapter account using the Total TSA option. You must complete affiliation prior to obtaining access to the event rules.

PA-Only Events

Pennsylvania offers “PA-ONLY events” in addition to the events offered by National TSA. PA-ONLY events are offered at the state conference and, if a region chooses, at the regional conference. Visit the PA-only events page for more information.

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Event Themes

Some events have a theme that changes each year.

High School Competitions

In the High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2025 and 2026 National TSA Conferences, TSA offers 40 high school competitions. The eligibility chart provides the eligibility requirements for each competition and is applicable to the national TSA conference. State delegations may choose to alter their events for local conferences. Examples of high school competitions include:

Software Development: Participants use their knowledge of cutting-edge technologies, algorithm design, problem-solving principles, effective communication, and collaboration to design, implement, test, document, and present a software development project of educational or social value.
Video Game Design: Participants design and create an original video game.
Structural Engineering: Participants apply the principles of structural engineering to design and construct a structure that complies with the annual challenge.
Problem Solving: Participants develop a solution to a problem (typically one from an industrial setting) presented onsite at the conference.
Technology Bowl: Participants demonstrate their knowledge of TSA and concepts addressed in technology content standards by completing an objective test.
Forensic Science: Participants use scientific methods and principles to analyze evidence and solve a crime scenario.
Debating Technological Issues: Participants research and debate current technological issues.
Architectural Design: In response to the annual design challenge, participants develop a set of architectural plans and related materials, and construct both a physical and computer-generated model to accurately depict their design.
Biotechnology Design: Participants select a contemporary biotechnology problem that addresses the annual theme and demonstrates understanding of the topic through documented research, the development of a solution, a display (including an optional model or prototype), and an effective multimedia presentation.
Board Game Design: Participants develop, build, and package a board game that focuses on a subject of their choice.

Middle School Competitions

In the Middle School Competitive Events Guide for the 2026 and 2027 National TSA Conferences, TSA offers 37 middle school competitions. The eligibility chart provides the eligibility requirements for each competition and is applicable to the national TSA conference. State delegations may choose to alter their events for local conferences. Examples of middle school competitions include:

Flight Endurance: Participants design, construct, and test a rubber band-powered model airplane to achieve maximum flight time.
Mass Production: Participants use mass production techniques to manufacture a product.
** চ্যালেঞ্জ:** Participants use problem-solving skills to design and build a solution to an onsite challenge.
STEM Career Fair: Based on the annual theme, participants conduct research on a technology-related career, prepare a letter of introduction to a potential employer, and develop a job-specific resume.
Children's Stories: Participants create an illustrated children’s story based on the annual theme. The entry product is a physical storybook of artistic, instructional, and social value.
Digital Photography: Participants capture and manipulate digital images to convey a specific message or theme.
Prepared Speech: Participants deliver a timed speech that relates to the theme of the current national TSA conference.
Coding: Participants demonstrate their coding skills by solving a programming challenge.
Biotechnology: To address the annual theme, participants select a contemporary biotechnology issue and demonstrate understanding of the topic through their documented research and an original display.
Podcast Production: Participants use digital audio technology to create original content for a podcast piece that addresses the annual theme. The podcast must feature high level storytelling techniques, voice acting, and folly sound effects. The full entry must include documentation of the podcast development process and elements.
Solar Car: Participants apply STEM concepts, creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to design, construct, and race a solar-powered model car.

Team Challenges

Some events require teamwork, combining collaborative skills with technical expertise to solve problems. For example, a team might be tasked to design a playground appropriate for elementary school students (kindergarten through fifth grade). The playground should accommodate 50-60 students and be American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. The playground should have a minimum of three (3) distinct zones for students.

Texas TSA State Competition

The Texas Technology Student Association (TSA) State Competition is managed and conducted by the Texas TSA Board of Directors, Texas TSA Executive Director and Texas TSA State Contest Director, under the oversight of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and its policies regarding CTSOs. The state competition includes: a business meeting, state officer elections, project competition and student competitive events.

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Participation

All interested Career and Technical Education students in Texas are invited to attend this annual meeting. The specific time and place of events and contest details will be distributed by the Contest Director.

Project Responsibility

The cost of transporting and insuring the projects to and from the competition is the responsibility of the school, advisors, and student. Texas TSA will not be responsible for damage, loss, or theft before, during, or after the competition. Chapters will be solely responsible for picking up projects and awards at the end of the State Contest. Anything left after contest will be thrown away by the Fort Worth Convention Center within 1 hour after the closing of the last general session.

Event Restrictions

The competition is restricted to the activities and classifications described in this publication. The competition does not attempt to provide a classification for additional activities that might be conducted in the Career and Technology Education programs or other school programs. Dates for the event will be posted on the Texas TSA homepage or events page.

Financial Matters

Texas TSA does not refund any money for unused state entries. Texas TSA does not require a student to be present at State Contest to enter their project(s), unless they are competing in an event that requires the student to be physically present for the event.

Event Coordination

Annually, Texas TSA recruits people to run all the Unique to Texas events and National Qualifying events, Coordinating Judge Chairman, National Qualifying Event Coordinator, School Awards Coordinator, all Room/Hall Coordinators, Special Services and Contest Consultants. Concerns/Protests regarding an event must be directed to the Event Coordinator at the time of the event using the Texas TSA Protest Form.

National Qualifying Events

The Event Coordinator works under the guidance of the NQE Managers appointed by Texas TSA. If modifications are needed to the structure or rules of the event those have been approved by the NQE Managers. Protests must be made the time of the event using the National Qualifying Event Protest Form.

Awards

Texas TSA is honored to provide student members with awards at State Contest for distinguished work.

UTE Project/Onsite Awards

Only the top 5 ranked entries in each classification will be recognized. This includes all:

Unique to Texas Events - OnSite (MU & HU)
Unique to Texas Events - Projects (MP & HP)

Placement Award Overall Award Point Tabulation

1st: 1st Place Medallion - 5 points
2nd: 2nd Place Medallion - 4 points
3rd: 3rd Place Medallion - 3 points
4th: Texas TSA Finalist Pin - 2 points
5th: Texas TSA Finalist Pin - 1 point

Best in State Patch: A student who receives the 1st Place award for their entry is eligible to purchase a BIS patch.

Purchasing Awards

One award per event placing is provided by Texas TSA. Awards are distributed after the Awards Ceremony which is during the Third General Session. Chapters that do not pick up their earned awards will forfeit their awards. Additional awards may be purchased by the advisor, with two options available as described below:

Option A - OnSite: Chapters can purchase additional awards on-site. First Place for all NQE Events and UTE OnSite Events will receive an event banner, (1) first place medal, and (1) BIS Patch. Additional banners are not available for purchase.

UTE Chapter Awards

High Point Chapter Awards are broken down into 3 divisions for Middle Schools and 4 divisions for High Schools. These divisions are based upon the number of entries from the Texas TSA Rulebook in the UTE categories that each school enters at the State Contest. First, Second, & Third place trophies are awarded to the highest placing Chapters based upon the total of points earned for all of a Chapter’s 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, 4th Place, & 5th Place entries. NQE event entries are not included in the entry count or points for the UTE Chapter Awards.

A project must earn a minimum of 70% of the possible points on their rubric to earn points towards the Chapter Awards. They will receive their individual awards regardless of score.

Chapters must be present at the Awards Ceremony during the Third General Session in order to receive all Chapter Awards.

General Regulations and Requirements

Prohibited Materials

Participants must adhere to guidelines regarding prohibited materials, references, and images.

Documentation Portfolio

Documentation portfolios should follow specific guidelines, such as including printed promotional publication items as identified in the annual theme.

Simulation Recordings

Absolutely no purchased content may be used in any part of the simulation.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The success of TSA events relies on the dedication of various individuals:

Board of Directors: Oversees the management and conduct of the Texas TSA State Competition.
Texas TSA Executive Director and Texas TSA State Contest Director: Manages and conducts the Texas TSA State Competition.
Event Coordinators: Responsible for developing procedures for the safe and efficient operation of events, creating and maintaining the event schedule, determining staffing and judging needs.
NQE Managers: Appointed by Texas TSA to provide guidance to Event Coordinators for National Qualifying Events.

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