Business Professionals of America

Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a career and technical student organization that is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Officers
Every Business Professionals of America chapter has presiding officers for the national organization, state associations, and local chapters. They all share and carry out similar tasks at the corresponding levels. Additionally, national virtual membership is open to any Middle Level, Secondary, or Post-secondary student in a state not currently chartering a stand-alone school chapter or virtual chapter. National virtual chapter members are able to go straight into national levels of competition.

At the national level, the national officers are collectively referred to as the Executive Council. They represent the national organization at various conferences and meetings during their term and have the opportunity to make recommendations to the National Board of Trustees.

The Executive Council for the Secondary Division is composed of up to six officer positions, including
 * President
 * Vice President
 * Secretary
 * Treasurer
 * Historian
 * Parliamentarian

The Executive Council for the Post-secondary Division is composed of up to four officer positions, including
 * President
 * Vice President
 * Secretary/Treasurer
 * Parliamentarian

The 2023-2024 National Officers are

Secondary Division:
 * Lucy Christensen (Idaho) - President
 * Melina LaPlante (Montana) - Vice President
 * Abby Renoux (Iowa) - Secretary
 * Annelise Do (Texas) - Treasurer
 * Sophia Pinarreta (Massachusetts) - Historian
 * John Woodward (Iowa) - Parliamentarian

Post-secondary Division:
 * Amber Lane (Indiana) - President
 * Sreya Ravi (Massachusetts) - Vice President
 * Victoria Pinarreta (Massachusetts - Secretary/Treasurer
 * Tavin Blake (Idaho) - Parliamentarian

Types of awards
BPA rewards members in three categories:
 * Competitive Events: Members are rewarded for high placement in competitive events using the Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP), preparing students for success in the business world by developing skills in areas such as finance, IT, and computer applications.
 * BPA Cares Awards: Members can apply or nominate others for awards in the areas of Service Learning, Special Recognition, and Professional Awards.
 * Torch Awards: Members are rewarded for excellence in seven categories, Citizenship; Leadership; Love, Hope, and Faith; Knowledge; Cooperation; and Friendship.

Leadership conferences
There are several levels of competition held at conferences and competition advancement is sought at each level in events referred to in the awards section.


 * Regional Leadership Conference (RLC) or District Leadership Conference (DLC)
 * State Leadership Conference (SLC)
 * National Leadership Conference (NLC)

Many regions, districts, or states opt to also arrange Fall Leadership Conferences in which there is no competition. These conferences are usually less formal than at RLC/DLC, SLC, and NLC instead often focusing on workshops over areas such as social media etiquette, proper professional dress, public speaking, etc.

The inaugural Student Leadership Summit was held in 2023 in Oklahoma City.

National Leadership Conference
Every year BPA hosts a National Leadership Conference (NLC) with more than 6,000 students from across the nation. Student members vie for top honors in more than 100 competitive events, receive awards for chapter and individual achievements, participate in service activities, attend leadership workshops, and network with peers and business professionals.

Past National Leadership Conference Locations Future National Leadership Conference Locations

History
Business Professionals of America was formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA).