HOSA stands for Health Occupations Students of America, which is a global student-led organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and several federal and state agencies. HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for secondary, postsecondary, middle school, adult, and collegiate students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions. HOSA is not a club to which a few students in school join. Rather, HOSA is a powerful instructional tool that works best when it is integrated into the HSE and health science related curriculum and classroom.
Some key points about HOSA are:
- HOSA is an international student organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education (HSE) Division of ACTE.
- HOSAs two-fold mission is to promote career development and to empower its members to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration, and experience.
- HOSA has three levels of student membership, that it calls “divisions”: Middle School Division, Secondary Division, and Postsecondary/Collegiate Division.
- HOSA helps students hone their hands-on healthcare skills through the HOSA Competitive Events Program. Events are initially held at the regional level and students who qualify there can go on to compete at the state or national events.
- Being involved in an organization like HOSA, students quickly build soft skills like teamwork and communication. Additionally, students can take on leadership roles as officers at the local, state, or national level.
HOSA is a student-led organization of future healthcare professionals providing opportunities for health career students to develop, practice, and refine their leadership and teamwork skills. HOSA offers students college scholarships and recognition awards at the state and national level. Potential HOSA members must be enrolled in the Academy of Health Careers and pay the necessary dues at the.
