Competitive Event Resources

Event Overview

BPA offers a wide range of competitive events across categories like:

  • Financial Services

  • Management and Entrepreneurship

  • Digital Technology

  • Arts, Entertainment, and Design

  • Marketing and Sales

  • Healthcare and Human Services

  • Career Ready Skills

Each event is designed to help you build both hard skills, like financial analysis, coding, design, or public speaking, and soft skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and professionalism. Competing in BPA events doesn’t just prepare you for success at competitions; it prepares you for college, careers, and beyond.

Consistency matters. Make sure your work follows BPA’s formatting expectations by reviewing the BPA Style & Reference Manual.

A description of each of the competitions is published on the National BPA Competitive Event Listing. Please be advised that Michigan BPA does not offer all of the events offered at the national level.

*** For official event guidelines, scoring rubrics, and sample judging sheets, please ask your chapter advisor ***

Below are the event categories, the events in each category, and what general soft and hard skill you can gain from competing:

Financial services 

  • Hard skills: Accounting principles, financial analysis, economic research methods, payroll systems, budgeting, and investment planning.

  • Soft skills: Critical thinking, problem-solving, data interpretation, attention to detail, and communication of complex financial concepts.

  • Advanced Accounting (S)

  • Advanced College Accounting (PS)

  • Banking and Finance (S | PS)

  • College Accounting (PS)

  • Economic Trends Research Individual (S)

  • Economic Trends Research Team (S)

  • Financial Analyst Team (S | PS)

  • Financial Services Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Accounting (S)

  • Managerial Accounting (PS)

  • Payroll Accounting (S | PS)

  • Personal Financial Management (S | PS)

Digital Technology

  • Hard skills: Coding, systems administration, networking (Cisco/Microsoft/Linux), cybersecurity fundamentals, and database design.

  • Soft skills: Logical reasoning, problem-solving, teamwork in tech projects, adaptability, and precision under pressure.

  • C# Programming (S | PS)

  • C++ Programming (S | PS)

  • Computer Network Technology (S | PS)

  • Computer Programming Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Computer Security (S | PS)

  • Device Configuration and Troubleshooting (S | PS)

  • Digital Technology Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • HTML and CSS Coding (S | PS)

  • Java Programming (S | PS)

  • Linux Operating System Fundamentals (S | PS)

  • Network Administration Using Cisco (S | PS)

  • Network Design Team (S | PS)  (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Python Programming (S | PS)

  • Server Administration Using Microsoft (S | PS)

  • SQL Database Fundamentals (S | PS)

  • Website Design and Development Team (S | PS)

marketing and sales

  • Hard skills: Marketing strategy, project planning, and business presentations.

  • Soft skills: Leadership, persuasive speaking, professionalism, collaboration, adaptability, and decision-making.

  • Global Marketing Strategy Team (S)

  • Sports Media Marketing (Pilot) (S | PS) (Not offered in Michigan)

  • Industry Pitch Team (S | PS)

  • Marketing and Sales Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

Career READY SKILLS

  • Hard skills: Project planning, entrepreneurship fundamentals, human resource principles, and business presentations.

  • Soft skills: Leadership, persuasive speaking, professionalism, collaboration, adaptability, and decision-making.

  • Advanced Interview Skills (S | PS)

  • Advanced Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Advanced Workplace Skills (S | PS)

  • Career Ready Skills Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Contemporary Issues (PS)

  • Essential Workplace Skills (S | PS)

  • Ethics & Professionalism (S | PS)

  • Extemporaneous Speech (S)

  • Fundamental Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Human Resource Management (S | PS)

  • Intermediate Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Interview Skills (S | PS)

  • Prepared Speech (S | PS)

  • Presentation Individual (S | PS)

Management and Entrepreneurship

  • Hard skills: Microsoft Office mastery, database management, legal/business documentation, research, and organizational processes.

  • Soft skills: Professional communication, time management, ethics, workplace efficiency, and adaptability in administrative roles.

  • Administrative Trends Research Project (S) (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Administrative Support Team (S | PS)

  • Advanced Spreadsheet Applications (S | PS)

  • Business Law and Ethics (S | PS)

  • Database Applications (S | PS)

  • Entrepreneurship (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications (S | PS)

  • Integrated Office Applications (S | PS)

  • Legal Office Procedures (S | PS)

  • Management and Entrepreneurship Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Meeting and Event Planning Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Parliamentary Procedure Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Parliamentary Procedure Team (S | PS)

  • Project Management Concepts-Open Event (PS)

  • Small Business Strategy Team (S | PS)

Arts, Entertainment, and Design

  • Hard skills: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, Illustrator), web development, branding, digital storytelling, and UX/UI design.

  • Soft skills: Creativity, collaboration, design thinking, visual communication, and audience awareness.

  • Advanced Desktop Publishing (S | PS)

  • Arts, Entertainment, and Design Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Broadcast News Production Team (S | PS)

  • 3D Computer Animation Team (S) (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • 3D Computer Modeling (S) (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Digital Media Production (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Desktop Publishing (S | PS)

  • Graphic Design Promotion (S | PS)

  • Podcast Production Team (S | PS)

  • User Experience Design Team (S | PS) (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Video Production Team (S | PS)

  • Visual Design Team (S | PS) (NOT offered in Michigan)

Healthcare and hUMAN sERVICES

  • Hard skills: Medical terminology, coding and billing procedures, health administration systems, and healthcare regulations.

  • Soft skills: Accuracy, ethical decision-making, confidentiality, professionalism, and communication in healthcare contexts.

  • Health Administration Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Health Administration Procedures (S | PS)

  • Health Insurance and Medical Billing (S | PS)

  • Health Trends Research Presentation (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Medical Coding (S | PS)

 
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