National Technical Honor Society

What National Technical Honor Society does

The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit founded in 1984 and headquartered in Flat Rock, North Carolina. It operates as the dedicated honor society for Career & Technical Education (CTE), serving over 100,000 active members annually across secondary and postsecondary chapters in the United States and connecting nearly 1.2 million cumulative alumni since inception. Its core offering is membership recognition, scholarship access (over $300,000 disbursed annually since 2005), and career readiness resources delivered through a member portal, school-based chapters, and a Career Readiness Portal.

NTHS monetizes primarily through non-refundable individual membership fees (student, alumni, honorary, and LAPSEN Endorsement tiers) and an e-commerce merchandise operation that sells graduation regalia, induction ceremony kits, recognition pins, apparel, and accessories priced from $1 to $249. The organization's underlying technology stack is described as a standard membership management and online portal system; no proprietary platforms or AI capabilities are disclosed. Distribution runs through three domestic channels: a self-operated e-commerce storefront, an online member portal accessed via school chapters, and a school chapter network managed by CTE advisors.

The operating model is community-led and partnership-driven. NTHS extends its program surface through strategic alliances with CareerSafe (OSHA training), TechForce (workforce development and apprenticeships), LAPSEN and ASE (educator and automotive endorsements), and additional partners including Rubin and Funds2Orgs, alongside multiple industry sponsors who fund the scholarship pool. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors, led by Executive Director Peyton Holland and CFO Christy Swift, and operates with a small staff of approximately 18 people.

Name

National Technical Honor Society

Legal name

National Technical Honor Society

Website

https://nths.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NTHS is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit founded in 1984 that operates as the dedicated honor society for US Career & Technical Education students, serving over 100,000 active members annually through school-based chapters, scholarships, and a regalia e-commerce shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Honor Society Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers & Programs (EDAJAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career & Technical Education (CTE) & Trade Skills Media (EDAGALAG), Career & Technical Education (CTE) Standards Authorities (EDADAEAE)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Honor society membership
• Cte student recognition
• Induction ceremony supplies
• Graduation regalia

Headquarters

HQ city

Flat Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: NTHS charges membership fees for student, alumni, and honorary memberships. These fees are non-refundable and provide immediate access to member benefits including scholarships and portal resources.
2. Merchandise Sales: NTHS operates an e-commerce shop selling graduation regalia (honor cords, stoles, medallions, tassels), officer pins and badges, ceremony supplies (candle sets, table covers, banners), apparel (polo shirts, t-shirts), and accessories (lanyards, patches, bags, tumblers). Products range from $1 to $249.
3. Scholarship Endowment Management: NTHS distributes over $300,000 in scholarships annually to members. While this represents outflow rather than revenue, it demonstrates the organization's fundraising and endowment management capabilities that attract members and sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that honors, recognizes, and empowers students and teachers in Career & Technical Education (CTE). It sells memberships granting access to scholarships (over $300,000 annually) and career readiness resources, operates school-based chapters in secondary and postsecondary institutions, and runs an e-commerce shop supplying graduation regalia, recognition pins, induction ceremony kits, apparel, and accessories to members, advisors, and alumni.

Product overview

The National Technical Honor Society operates primarily as an educational non-profit honor society for Career & Technical Education, with its product offering centered on an e-commerce shop selling graduation regalia, recognition items, induction ceremony supplies, clothing, and accessories. The core product categories include: (1) Graduation Regalia such as Honor Cords, Honor Stoles, Graduation Sets, Tassels, and Medallion Neckdrapes for ceremonial recognition; (2) Recognition Items including Year Member Pins (Second, Third, Fourth Year) and Officer Pins for specific chapter roles (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Generic Officer), plus Alumni Pin and Decal Sets; (3) Induction Ceremony Supplies including Ceremony Basic Kit ($45) and Ceremony Deluxe Kit ($172), LED Candle Sets, Wax Candle Sets, Crystal Candle Holders, table covers, table skirts, table runners, banners, balloons, invitations, program covers, and chapter banners; (4) Clothing including polo shirts, t-shirts, and neckties; and (5) Accessories such as lanyards, patches, bumper stickers, key tags, water bottles, bags, and notebooks. The offerings serve secondary and postsecondary CTE students, chapter advisors, and alumni, with products supporting membership induction ceremonies, graduation events, and ongoing recognition of achievements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NTHS Student Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 students served annually with membership benefits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CareerSafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTHS partners with CareerSafe to provide OSHA training certifications as part of its program offerings. This partnership enables NTHS members to access职业安全和健康administration training, enhancing their technical credentials and career readiness.
• TechForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechForce is a prominent workforce development partner that works with NTHS to support students in technical career pathways. The partnership helps connect NTHS members with apprenticeship opportunities,tool scholarships, and industry mentors.
• LAPSEN (Licensed Adjunct Professional School Educators Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTHS offers the LAPSEN Endorsement program, which recognizes professional development for CTE educators. This partnership supports the professional advancement of career and technical education instructors.
• ASE (Automotive Service Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTHS provides the ASE Endorsement program, which recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in automotive service technology. This partnership connects NTHS members with automotive industry certification pathways.
• RubinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRubin is a program partner listed on the NTHS website, providing additional support or resources to NTHS members in the technical education ecosystem.
• Funds2OrgsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunds2Orgs works with NTHS to support fundraising initiatives, helping chapters raise funds for induction ceremonies and member activities through textile recycling programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• National Honor Society (NHS): NHS is the largest US student honor society with the same membership-based, achievement-recognition model as NTHS, but it serves general academics rather than CTE specifically. It is the most direct structural analog and the most likely cross-encroachment threat to NTHS's niche.

Direct peers

• SkillsUSA: SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit serving middle-school, high-school, and college students in career and technical education, with chapters inside CTE programs - exactly the same audience as NTHS. It competes for advisor attention, sponsorship dollars, and student recognition within the same CTE ecosystem.
• DECA: DECA is an international student organization for students interested in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, with chapters in CTE and business programs. It competes with NTHS for CTE student mindshare, advisor sponsorship, and merchandise/induction spend in schools.
• Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): FBLA is a national student organization operating chapters inside secondary and postsecondary CTE and business programs, with similar membership, recognition, and conference/competition dynamics to NTHS.
• Technology Student Association (TSA): TSA is a national student organization for students interested in STEM and technology education, with school-based chapters overlapping the CTE audience NTHS serves, including competition, recognition, and industry-aligned programming.
• HOSA - Future Health Professionals: HOSA is a national student organization for students in health science CTE pathways, with chapters in secondary and postsecondary schools. It targets the same healthcare CTE segment where NTHS could expand endorsement programs.
• National FFA Organization: National FFA is the largest US student organization serving agricultural education CTE students through school-based chapters. It is comparable in operating model (membership + chapters + recognition + industry partners) and in audience overlap with CTE programs.
• Business Professionals of America (BPA): BPA is a national student organization for students pursuing careers in business, finance, IT, and related CTE fields. It competes with NTHS for CTE chapter affiliations, sponsorships, and student-recognition mindshare.
• Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA): FCCLA is a national student organization for family and consumer sciences CTE students, with the same school-chapter model, recognition events, and industry partnerships that mirror NTHS's structure.

Emerging players

• Phi Theta Kappa: Phi Theta Kappa is the honor society for two-year college students, including many CTE-focused community and technical colleges. It overlaps with NTHS's postsecondary audience and competes for recognition-driven membership on community college campuses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nths_official
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalTechnicalHonorSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-technical-honor-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/nths_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Technical Honor Society