National Business Education Curriculum Standards
What Students Should Know and Be Able To Do in Business
The National Standards for Business Education define what students should know and be able to do
in business — the benchmark curriculum framework used by business educators across the country.
First published in 1995 at the request of business educators nationwide, the standards have set the leading edge of business and career education ever since. The 2023 edition is the most recent revision, developed by NBEA with volunteer business educators and industry professionals representing every instructional level.
The standards are built on a comprehensive curriculum model spanning ten content areas:
- Accounting
- Business Law
- Career Development
- Communication
- Economics & Personal Finance
- Entrepreneurship
- Information Technology
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
For each area, the standards specify learning outcomes and performance expectations across grade levels — giving teachers, curriculum designers, and administrators a common, field-tested reference point for building and evaluating programs.
Why It Matters
Preparing students for the workplace demands a more dynamic curriculum than perhaps any other academic discipline. The workplace changes constantly, and tomorrow's challenges cannot be met with yesterday's skills. Business education topics are shifting faster than ever — is your curriculum keeping up?
How to Get the Standards
NBEA Members
- Access your single-user digital copy — included in your dues at no additional cost.
- Need a hard copy? Contact us
Non-Members & Guests
- Purchase a single digital copy
- Or simply become a member and save.
New: Excel Spreadsheet Edition
Get the complete standards in an online Excel spreadsheet — ideal for instructional designers and teachers who want easy copy-and-paste access for curriculum mapping and lesson planning.
New: Licensing for States & Districts
School districts, state departments of education, and other stakeholders can license the NBEA Business Education Standards for verbatim inclusion in their own standards or publications.
- Allows unlimited reprints and public distribution for an unspecified period.
- The standards must be integrated into a unique document (such as state- or district-specific standards) — licensing does not permit reproduction of the standards alone.
- Fee: $3,750.00, with a signed agreement required.
- Licensing fees directly support ongoing development and maintenance of the standards.