Team Pricing & Registration
Read below for all the registration and pricing updates for the 2026–2027 FIRST Tech Challenge season. This process takes place in three stages:
Complete FIRST® HQ season registration
Pay Texas Qualifying Event Fee (available in late September in the FIRST Storefront)
Submit preferences for qualifying events.
How to Register Your Team
Step 1: Complete FIRST HQ Registration
All new and returning teams must first complete their annual FIRST Tech Challenge season registration with FIRST HQ.
FIRST season registration provides your team’s official registration and access to season resources. It does not include participation in official competitions or reserve a place at a Texas event.
FIRST HQ Season Registration Price: $350
Important Vendor Update for School District Teams
In previous seasons, coaches completed their national team registration through FIRST, but the registration storefront and payment process were managed by PITSCO. As a result, your school district may have PITSCO—rather than FIRST—listed as the approved vendor for your registration payment.
This process has changed. FIRST® HQ Tech Challenge season registration payments are now managed directly by FIRST. Coaches should contact their school or district purchasing office to confirm that FIRST is set up as an approved vendor. If FIRST is not already on file, your district may need to complete a new vendor approval process before it can issue a purchase order or pay your registration fee.
Because vendor approval can take time, we recommend beginning this process as soon as possible.
Step 2: Pay Texas Event Fee
All teams participating in the FIRST Texas competition season (which applies to teams located in the Central, North, South, West & Panhandle regions) must pay a FIRST Texas Qualifying Event Fee in addition to their FIRST HQ season fee.
The amount varies by region based on the local competition structure and regional partnerships. The Texas Qualifying Event Fee covers participation in your region’s qualifying competition structure, but it does not place your team into a specific event.
Payment will take place in the FIRST Storefront with more details released in September.
Note for Teams in East (Houston):
Registration for the East Region is managed separately by San Jacinto College. East Region teams should expect to receive an invoice from San Jacinto College for a flat regional fee covering league participation and the East Regional Championship.
FTC teams in East invited to the UIL State Championship or Texas State Cup will register separately for those events using instructions provided by FIRST.
For more information on registration for the East Region please reach out to: bryan.melton@sjcd.edu
Planning for Advancement Fees
Depending on the region and event, teams that advance beyond their initial qualifying competition may need to complete an additional registration and pay an advancing event fee.
Teams can review the costs associated with Regional Championships and other advancing events in the fee breakdown below. Additional information about Texas competition pathways, event types, and advancement opportunities is available on the FIRST Tech Challenge Advancement page.
Step 3: Select Event Preference
As the event calendars for each region are being finalized, the Regional Program Administrator (formerly known as the PDP) for that region will contact teams with instructions for submitting event preferences. This is likely to occur in late September or early October.
The event selection and placement process may vary by region based on the local competition structure, available events, and team capacity. Teams should watch for email and regional communications with instructions, timelines, and available event options. Make sure that firsttx.org is a safe or approved sender in your inbox.
Fees and Pricing Structure
Understanding FIRST Tech Challenge Fees
Teams participating in FIRST Tech Challenge in Texas may encounter three types of fees:
HQ season registration: Paid to FIRST by every team.
Texas qualifying event fees: Support participation in local League or Qualifier events. These fees vary by region because regional structures and partner support differ.
Advancing event fees: Charged when a team qualifies for and chooses to participate in an advancing event, such as a Semi-Regional, Regional Championship, UIL State Championship, or Texas State Cup.
The table below outlines each fee, what it includes, and when it applies.
About This Season’s Fee Changes
Texas fees were last updated in 2023. Since then, the cost of delivering the program has increased across several areas, including trophies, game sets and equipment, volunteer meals, and venue rentals. The updated 2026–2027 fees more closely reflect what it now costs to provide qualifying and advancing events across Texas.
We know these changes will affect team budgets. As we update fees, we are also working to increase support available to teams through grants, partnerships, and other funding sources.
Through our transition to FIRST, the team grant application is now simpler and only requires a short form to be considered for any FIRST Texas team grants. Teams that may need financial assistance are encouraged to apply.
