Everything You Need to Know to Become DECA SBE Certified

DECA SBE Certification Guide


According to DECA, “A School-based Enterprise (SBE) is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods/ services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in Marketing, Finance, Hospitality or Management. 

SBEs provide realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction. SBEs can sell to consumers through a permanent location, a mobile kiosk or through internet marketing. 

Products may include school spirit wear, food and beverage items, school supplies, signs and banners and more, while other SBEs provide services such as creative design, advertising sales and more.”

Chapter Certification

There are three levels of SBE Certification; bronze, silver, and gold. According to DECA’s website, the number and type of activities a school-based enterprise completes for each of the standards will determine the level of certification awarded.


CHECKLIST STANDARDS

❑ The entry must be submitted by the chapter advisor online at https://sbe.decaregistration.com. The

username and password to access the site are the same as the advisor log-in information for the DECA

membership system. Step-by-step submission instructions can be found at www.deca.org/sbe.

❑ Body of the report is 50 pages or less.

❑ Include chapter name and state in footer with page numbers.

❑ Major content of the written entry must be double-spaced and use size 12 font. Figures and exhibits,

headings, lists, sample forms, etc. may be single-spaced.

❑ SBE photo included (preferably uploaded to the submission site as its own file—but embedded within

the manual is also acceptable.)

Certification

  1. Financial Analysis

  2. Operations

  3. Marketing Information Management

  4. Market Planning

  5. Product/Service Management

  6. Pricing 

  7. Distribution/Channel Management

  8. Promotion

  9. Selling

  10. Human Resource Management

Re-Certification

  1. Marketing Information Management

  2. Product/Service Management

  3. Human Resource Management


Submit your manual 

Individual Certification 

  1. Register for Exam

  2. Print Testing Ticket

  3. Take Exam Online

Instructions for Individual Certification and FAQ

Certification is a lengthy process that comes with a lot of steps and hard work. Questions are inevitable! Reach out to: Debbie Taylor, the Leadership Specialist at DECA Inc. (703) 860-5000 debbie@deca.org.


Spirit Box and SBE Certification

As you begin certification, you may begin to ask yourself, “where does my Spirit Box fit into this? A vending machine is not specifically listed as an SBE…”

The good news is that you can get SBE Certified with your Spirit Box. In 2020, 30% of our Spirit Box teams were awarded with Gold Certification. 


Your Spirit Box can fit under the criteria of a mobile kiosk. Within your Spirit Box(es) you are able to sell food or retail items and it also has a hands-on learning experience as well as a comprehensive curriculum. 

**RECAP from: November 18th at 3:30pm (CT) Debbie Taylor with DECA, will be speaking at our Advisor Roundtable regarding certification and will answer any questions your team has.