SkillsUSA Competition Technical Standards

Residential & Commercial Appliance Technology (RCAT) Category

The SkillsUSA Championships are competitive events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels.

Through an investment from business and industry partners of approximately $36 million, the event occupies a space equivalent to 20 football fields. In 2019, there were more than 6,500 contestants in 103 separate events. Nearly 2,000 judges and contest organizers from labor and management make the national event possible.

Read more about the National Competition here.

The purpose of the contest is to evaluate each contestant’s preparation for employment and to recognize outstanding students for excellence and professionalism in the field of major appliance and refrigeration technology.

How the Contest Works

Contestants rotate from station to station diagnosing common service issues on refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges, microwave ovens, and dishwashers. Contestants also demonstrate their ability to braze by assembling a copper and steel tubing project per a schematic provided. The Contestant’s customer satisfaction and employability skills will also be evaluated using, interviews, job applications and various types of assessments. There is also a major appliance technology general knowledge learning exercise.

Get more information about the contest:

Read the RCAT Contest Technical Standards
Review the Lokring Brazing Project