Following is an estimate of costs associated with starting (rookie) and sustaining (veteran) a _FIRST_ Tech Challenge team in Florida.
Fundraising and outreach are important parts of the learning opportunity presented by the program, and there are awards related to each.

!!!
A new _FIRST_ storefront, with updated options and pricing for several of the items listed below, will be available starting mid-July 2026.
Amounts on this page are estimates until the new options become available.
!!!

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Item | Rookie Cost | Veteran Cost | Notes
--- | ---: | ---: | ---
_**Required**_ | | |
_FIRST_ Registration | $350 | $350 | Annual registration paid directly to _FIRST_.
League Fee | $150–300 | $150–300 | Single fee paid to local league to fund League Meet and League Tournament events (exact amount depends on league).
Electronics | $750 | $0[^1] | Required electronics for controlling the robot, similar to [this kit](https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-35-1906/).
Starter Kit | $650 | $0 | Several manufacturers sell kits of parts that are sufficient for building a basic robot that meets some of the game challenges. [Here](https://www.gobilda.com/ftc-kits) is an example. These aren't required, but they are a great place to start.
Game Elements | $50 | $50 | If you don't purchase a full or partial game set (below), it's a good idea to purchase some of the seasonal game elements to assist with designing and testing the robot.
| | **~$2,000** | **$550–700** | **Total**
_**Optional Extras**_ | | |
Parts & Tools | $0–$200 | $0–$200 | Each season brings a new challenge. Teams often purchase additional parts or tools throughout the season as their design evolves.
Game Set | $400–600 | $400–600 | AndyMark offers [partial and full game sets](https://andymark.com/collections/first-tech-challenge-2026-2027/products/ftc-2026-27-preorders) each season. Purchasing a partial set is sufficient for a team to design and test the robot. Full game sets are helpful when multiple teams share a practice space or if a team is highly competitive.
Team T-Shirts | $100 | $100 | Team t-shirts promote team spirit and help identify the team on event day, but they are not required.
Judging and Pit Materials | $100 | $100 | Teams prepare an Engineering Portfolio for judging and often display additional materials in their pit.

Teams that advance to the Florida Championship (and the _FIRST_ Championship or Premier Events after that) will have additional registration and travel costs if they choose to attend.

[^1]:
    In the 2027–2028 season, a [new electronic control system](https://community.firstinspires.org/control-system-update-first-tech-challenge-edition) will be available to teams.
    _FIRST_ has committed to supporting the current control system until at least the 2030–2031 season.