Competitive Event Resources

Event Overview

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

  • Finance

  • Business Administration

  • Management Information Systems

  • Digital Communication & Design

  • Management, Marketing, & Communication

  • Health Administration

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:

Finance 

  • 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 & Finance (S | PS)

  • College Accounting (PS)

  • Economic Research Individual (S)

  • Economic Research Team (S)

  • Financial Analyst Team (S | PS)

  • Financial Math & Analysis Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Accounting (S)

  • Managerial Accounting (PS)

  • Payroll Accounting (S | PS)

  • Personal Financial Management (S | PS)

Management Information Systems

  • 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 & Troubleshooting (S | PS)

  • Information Technology Concepts-Open Event (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)

Management, Marketing, & Communication

  • Hard skills: Marketing strategy, project planning, entrepreneurship fundamentals, HR principles, and business presentations.

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

  • Advanced Interview Skills (S | PS)

  • Contemporary Issues (PS)

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

  • Entrepreneurship (S | PS)

  • Ethics & Professionalism (S | PS)

  • Extemporaneous Speech (S)

  • Global Marketing Team (S)

  • Human Resource Management (S | PS)

  • Interview Skills (S | PS)

  • Management, Marketing & Human Resources Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

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

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

  • Parliamentary Procedure Team (S)

  • Prepared Speech (S | PS)

  • Presentation Individual (S | PS)

  • Presentation Team (S | PS)

  • Project Management Concepts-Open Event (PS)

  • Small Business Management Team (S | PS)

Business Administration

  • 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 Support Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

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

  • Administrative Support Team (S | PS)

  • Advanced Office Systems & Procedures (S | PS)

  • Advanced Spreadsheet Applications (S | PS)

  • Advanced Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Basic Office Systems & Procedures (S | PS)

  • Business Law & Ethics (S | PS)

  • Database Applications (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Integrated Office Applications (S | PS)

  • Intermediate Word Processing (S | PS)

  • Legal Office Procedures (S | PS)

Digital Communication & 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)

  • Broadcast News Production Team (S | PS)

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

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

  • Digital Communication and Design Concepts-Open Event (S | PS)

  • Digital Media Production (S | PS)

  • Fundamental Desktop Publishing (S | PS)

  • Fundamentals of Web Design (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)

  • Website Design Team (S | PS)

Health Administration

  • 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 & Medical Billing (S | PS)

  • Health Research Presentation (NOT offered in Michigan)

  • Medical Coding (S | PS)

 
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