Membership

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges across the globe. DECA members can begin their participation in the high school division as early as the ninth grade and continue through college graduation by participating in the collegiate division.

More than 185,000 high school members participate in DECA through 5,000 chapters in all 50 states and 8 countries.

More than 15,000 college members participate in Collegiate DECA through 200 chapters in 36 states and Canada.

THE LOCAL DECA CHAPTER

DECA members organize into chapters around courses, programs of study, academies or other forms of career and technical education programs that are engaged in preparing high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. A school or campus may have multiple chapters each reflecting the career focus or course content, or they may operate as a single chapter that includes one or more of the content areas.

A teacher, instructor or professor advises chapters in one or more of the content areas. This close connection to the curriculum is the key ingredient in members leveraging their DECA experience to become emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality or management. With this connection to the curriculum, DECA members and advisors are able to integrate DECA activities into the classroom, apply the classroom experience to project based activities, connect to business partners at all levels and utilize competition to improve their performance.

Chapters are organized into state or provincial associations providing additional extended learning opportunities. These opportunities allow students to engage the broader business community, compete beyond their campus and network with their peers throughout the state or province.

State and provincial associations provide a gateway to regional, national and international resources and competition and thereby prepare members to compete in a global economy.

DECA prepares the next generation to be

Academically Prepared

DECA members are ambitious, high-achieving leaders equipped to conquer the challenges of their aspirations.

Community Oriented

Recognizing the benefit of service and responsibility to the community, DECA members continually impact and improve their local and broader communities.

Professionally Responsible

DECA members are poised professionals with ethics, integrity and high standards.

Experienced Leaders

DECA members are empowered through experience to provide effective leadership through goal setting, consensus building and project implementation.