How to enroll
Through the school. Students join their school's DECA chapter and the chapter advisor registers them for every conference. There is no individual sign-up.
- Ask your school's marketing or CTE teacher who the DECA advisor is
- Join the chapter and pay chapter dues (national, state and chapter dues are collected by the advisor)
- Tell the advisor which event you want to enter before district registration closes on Nov 12, 2026
No chapter at your school? Texas DECA explains how a teacher or administrator can start one. Students can ask a CTE teacher to be the advisor.
Bring DECA to your school ↗In plain words
DECA is a career club for high schoolers interested in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Members compete in role-plays (a short business scenario judged by a volunteer), written projects and exams. Winners at the district conference in December advance to the Texas State Career Development Conference in Houston, Feb 25–27, 2027, and from there to the International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, Apr 17–20, 2027. Students join through their school's chapter, not on their own.
Kids who like talking through a business problem out loud, or want a real pitch on a resume
Your school has no DECA chapter or no marketing/CTE classes. DECA cannot be joined as an individual.
What it takes
Step by step
- 1Ask whether your school has a DECA chapter and who the advisor is
- 2Join the chapter early in the fall so the advisor can enter you before district registration closes Nov 12, 2026
- 3Pick an event with the advisor (role-play, written project or team event) and practice with past cases
- 4Compete at your district conference in December; top finishers advance to state and then ICDC
Where it leads
- District Career Development ConferenceDec 7–10, 2026 (DFW districts)
Top finishers in each event advance to state
- State Career Development ConferenceFeb 25–27, Houston
Texas qualifiers for ICDC are chosen here
- International Career Development ConferenceApr 17–20, Anaheim, CA
About 25,000 students from every DECA association
Key dates
Dates marked TEXAS or MINNESOTA are that state’s chapter dates. Other states set their own: check the official site.
- 19 DAYSDistrict CDC registration closes (chapter advisor enters students)TEXASThu, November 12, 2026
- 37 DAYSDistrict testing window begins (Nov 30–Dec 2)TEXASMon, November 30, 2026
- 44 DAYSDistrict 12 CDC (Denton, Tarrant counties), IrvingTEXASMon, December 7, 2026
- 45 DAYSDistrict 7 CDC (Collin, Grayson counties), IrvingTEXASTue, December 8, 2026
- 46 DAYSDistrict 11 CDC (Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, Rockwall counties), GarlandTEXASWed, December 9, 2026
- 87 DAYSState CDC registration window (Jan 19–22)TEXASTue, January 19, 2027
- 124 DAYSTexas State Career Development Conference, Houston (Feb 25–27)TEXASThu, February 25, 2027
- 136 DAYSICDC final registration deadline (Texas DECA)TEXASTue, March 9, 2027
- 175 DAYSInternational Career Development Conference, Anaheim, CA (Apr 17–20)Sat, April 17, 2027
Free prep
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