Violators of the rules and regulations in this rulebook are subject to disqualification as determined by the Contest Director and State Advisor. It will be the responsibility of the individual teacher to assure that all entries are classified and entered in regional and state competition consistent with the classifications found in this publication. If more entries are placed in competition than are eligible from a region, then the school, chapter, student or teacher can be automatically disqualified.

• Project entries are not limited to students enrolled in specific courses. As long as students are active members and are in good standing with Texas TSA then they are allowed to compete in any Project Category.
• Students will be divided into the following levels:
  • Middle School – Students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a Career & Technical Education course.
  • High School Beginner– Students who have not successfully completed two full-credit hours of a high school Career and Technical Education course(s) in a single or related cluster (see list for approved Career Clusters)
  • High School Experienced – Students who have successfully completed two or more full-credit hours of a high school Career and Technical Education course(s) or are enrolled in an advanced or level 2 course, such as Architectural Design 2.

Level placement is determined separately by Category and is at the discretion of the advisor. Care should be taken to place the student in the level of competition that encourages the student to produce the highest degree of workmanship of which they are capable.

The intent of this change is to be more flexible with the new CTE Clusters. This means that a student can be in his or her 3rd class in one Cluster and compete at Experienced level, but still take introductory classes in another Cluster and compete as a Beginner level in that area.

• Semester courses counts as ½ credit unless it is an accelerated semester (1 credit)
• A student's level will be indicated on the entry card - Beginner and Experienced do not have separate classification numbers.
• Approved Career Clusters:
  • (a) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
  • (b) Manufacturing
  • (c) Architecture & Construction
  • (d) Arts, A/V Technology, & Communications
  • (e) Information Technology
  • (f) Health Science
  • (g) Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
  • (h) Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security

• Each region independently determines and administers the criteria for those who will participate in their regional contest and the procedures necessary to identify eligible entries consistent with the classifications in this publication, current NQE Curriculum Resources Guide, and TEXAS TSA Addendum’s. Each region must submit to the TEXAS TSA State Contest Director a list of students qualifying for state competition in the FORMAT PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS TSA. The regional president must certify that students on the list are eligible and the entry is entered in the proper classification for state competition. After certification, the regional president will designate one or more representatives to hand deliver the list to the TEXAS TSA Executive Director on or before the deadline. If your school is found to be in violation of the TEXAS TSA rules and regulations your school may be disqualified.
• Schools will receive state competition entry stickers at state contest registration. Entries must compete in regional competition to be eligible to advance to state competition.
• All regional project submissions must be in by the deadline. Regions must electronically submit their entries using the approved data management system to the state advisor, state contest director, and the state contest data manager. If a region does not submit by the due date/time the region has until the late submissions deadline for any late submissions. Late submission are accepted with a $250 late fee for each day late, up to $750. If the regions entry list is not received by the late submissions deadline, that entire region will be ineligible to compete in the Texas TSA State Contest.
• It is the individual responsibility of each participant to obtain all rules and guidelines for the events. Lack of knowledge or understanding about a particular event is neither reason nor excuse for a chapter/individual/advisor to request an accommodating adjustment or change.
• Copyright: All entries must be the original work of the student participant or student team. All ideas, text, images (photos, computer generated, video and/or other), and sounds from other sources must be cited, including anything that is from the public domain. References and resources are to be cited using MLA (Modern Language Association) format, the most current edition. If copyrighted material is used, proper written permission must be included. Failure to follow this procedure will automatically result in disqualification of the student, including all projects, and may potentially disqualify the entire chapter from the Texas TSA State Competition.
• Entries must be student work that was started and finished within the current school year. August is typically defined as the beginning of the current school year by Texas TSA. Students are not allowed to modify entries from previous years contest and re-enter them. Students who attempt to reuse the same project year after year may risk having the chapter, student or teacher automatically disqualified.
• Entries made from commercial kits are not eligible except where permitted by classification rules. Component parts should be made by the student whenever reasonably possible. Component parts purchased in bulk form that are not formed or shaped to the finished or exhibited sizes are not considered kits. (Such as pre-dimensioned lumber, pre-milled custom molding, hardware, etc.) All items not manufactured by students must be listed in documentation.
• Entries with weight or size limitations cannot be entered in classifications with either smaller or larger limits.
• Small projects should be suitably mounted or displayed in a case or box furnished by the student or school. The size of the container or display material cannot exceed the dimensions of the entry by 3 inches in any direction. Teachers must unlock display case prior to judging. Projects in locked display cases will not be judged. After judging has been completed, judges will lock display cases. The intent of this rule is to discourage theft. An attempt to provide a “fancy” display case to enhance the entry will not be in the best interest of the student. TEXAS TSA, TSA officials, and Forth Worth Convention Center cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to articles.
• Documentation must be computer generated on the required forms. Sketches are allowed on otherwise computer generated forms. Documentation is required for all entries. Deductions can only be applied for lack of content, quality of writing, neatness, completeness of drawings, etc… Please see the section heading for each category to determine if any additional/specialized documentation requirements are needed for that entry. A project will not be eligible for first place without the required documentation.
• No more than 20 Photographs, not to exceed 4” x 6”, can be used to show entire processes of a project. Photos must have captions identifying process used or must have statement about photo found in text of written documentation.
• In an effort to minimize the number of video/animation entries that cannot be judged, all digital video or animations must be in MPEG or .MOV file format.
• Protest of contest proceedings or individual concerns related to competitive activities must be submitted in writing on the forms provided and presented in person to the Protest Committee at the published time and place. Concerns expressed after the close of the state competition cannot be evaluated. In all cases, the decision of the Protest Committee is final.  The results of the Protest will not be considered in determining School Awards. 
• Protest Committee: All Protests for NQE and UTE On-Site competitions must be made at the time of the competition by the Chapter Advisor (no students/parents) on either the Texas TSA Protest Form or the NQE Protest Form. The State Contest Director is authorized to create a Protest Committee for contest as needed. If a protest results in an award change the final decision is left to the protest committee and State Contest.
• The instructor is responsible for the correct classification and placement of entries. Room coordinators can rearrange projects for judging purposes.
• Texas TSA and Fort Convention Center require that a minimum of 2 weeks prior to State Contest, chapter advisors notify the Texas TSA Contest Director with overall project dimensions if their chapter is entering extremely large projects such as Vehicle Restorations, trailers larger than 10 feet in length, or any other project entry that measures greater than 8 feet on any axis. This is so that proper planning for space needs and allotment are in place at the time of contest.
• It is the individual responsibility of all participants to obtain rules and guidelines for events or classifications entered. All contest entrants and participants agree to abide by the State Rulebook and other pertinent regulations. Lack of knowledge in understanding about a particular event will not be a reason or excuse for changing rules interpretation by contest officials and will not be considered as a valid appeal. Entire chapters can be disqualified for breach of integrity of instructors and/or students.
• Entries that depict sex, drugs, tobacco, gangs, violence, pornography, or cults will not be permitted. No weapons of any type are allowed in project categories. This does not preclude posters, “etc.” that may bring awareness of these and other issues as deemed appropriate by TEA, state school board, Texas TSA Rulebook Committee, and local school policy.
• All items not manufactured by students must be listed in documentation.
• Project batteries must be disconnected. Projects to be judged with power must include a clear explanation to power up for judging or have the entrant available to start the entry. Place electrically powered project in the correct category area not near electrical outlets. Improperly placed electrical projects will be disqualified.
• Contestants will not have access to electrical service or internet access.
• By entering this contest, all Instructors/Sponsors and contest entrants agree to abide by all event and competition rules.
• No awards, of any type, may be awarded at state contest other than those approved by the Texas TSA Board of Directors.
• Members must be affiliated by name by the affiliation deadline or they will not be eligible to compete at the State Contest.