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Career-Connected
Members tackle real cases in marketing, finance, hospitality, business management, and entrepreneurship — judged by industry pros, scored against industry standards.
Start a Chapter
Bring DECA
to your school.
A DECA chapter turns a marketing classroom into a career runway — competitions, leadership, scholarships, and a network of 175,000+ members worldwide. Here's what it takes to start one in your building.
What it is
A co-curricular career & technical student organization.
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Chapters live inside a classroom but operate like a club — meetings, officers, events, and competitions run by students, guided by an advisor.
Pennsylvania DECA already runs across 116 chapters and 8,600+ members. Adding yours plugs your students into the statewide network and the international DECA Inc. ecosystem.
Why a chapter
Three things a chapter does that a class can't.
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Competitive
Students compete at districts, the State Career Development Conference, and the International Career Development Conference against peers from 50 states and 5 countries.
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Leadership-Driven
Chapter officers run meetings, lead community projects, and represent their school. The chapter is theirs — advisors guide; students drive.
A year in the chapter
From recruit to recap.
The rhythm most PA DECA chapters run on. Yours will adapt — but this is the spine.
- 01 · Aug — SeptRecruit + PlanSign up members, elect officers, set the chapter Plan of Action with goals for the year.
- 02 · Oct — NovBuild SkillsWeekly meetings, case-study role-plays, written-event drafts, classroom guest speakers.
- 03 · DecemberDistrictsTwelve regional competitions across PA — finalists qualify for the state stage.
- 04 · JanuarySCDC PrepPolish written events, refine presentations, finalize travel logistics for Hershey.
- 05 · FebruarySCDC HersheyThree days of competition and connection at the Hershey Lodge.
- 06 · AprilICDCState qualifiers represent PA against thousands of members internationally.
- 07 · MayRecap + ResetOfficer elections, banquets, and lessons learned for next year's POA.
The advisor role
What you actually do.
Most advisors teach one to three sections of marketing or business; the chapter runs alongside that coursework. You'll coach students through role-plays and written-event projects, travel to district, state, and (for finalists) international competitions, and partner with local businesses for judging and sponsorship.
You don't have to know everything on day one. PA DECA pairs new advisors with veterans in their district and ships a starter kit covering paperwork, planning, and budget — so the first year is supported, not improvised.
How PA DECA supports you
- End-to-end advisor onboarding — paperwork, calendar, first-year roadmap
- Sample chapter constitution, bylaws, and Plan of Action templates
- Direct line to neighbor advisors in your district
- PA DECA newsletters, monthly office hours, and Chapter Officer Summit
- Subsidized first-year travel for qualifying chapters
- Access to DECA Inc.'s competitive events guide and curriculum
Eligibility
Who can charter.
Schools
Public, private, charter, career-tech, and home-school cooperatives are all eligible. The strongest fit is schools with marketing, business, finance, hospitality, or entrepreneurship coursework.
Advisors
At least one full-time staff member — typically a teacher in business, marketing, CTE, or family & consumer sciences. Counselors and administrators can co-advise.
Members
Open to all students enrolled in or pursuing a career path in business, marketing, hospitality, finance, or entrepreneurship. Annual dues cover state and international affiliation.
The process
From idea to chartered.
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Submit
Apply for membership through DECA Inc.'s new-chapter request form below.
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Review
DECA Inc. and PA DECA review your school, advisor, and program fit. We reach out within a week.
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Onboard
Receive your charter, starter kit, and intro to your district reps. Set goals, elect officers.
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Compete
Roster members, register for districts, and start the chapter year alongside the rest of PA.
Ready when you are
Let's get your school on the roster.
Apply through DECA Inc.'s new-chapter request form. Once submitted, our team will reach out to walk you through onboarding for the current PA DECA year.