HOSA is a national student organization for high school students interested in healthcare careers. Officially called HOSA-Future Health Professionals, it operates as part of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and gives members a mix of hands-on health science training, leadership development, and competitive events that look strong on college applications. With chapters across all 50 states and internationally, it’s one of the largest career-focused student organizations in the country.
What HOSA Actually Does
HOSA is built around three pillars: motivation, awareness, and recognition. In practice, that means the club exposes you to real health careers, teaches technical skills you’d use in those careers, and gives you ways to stand out through competitions and service projects. It’s not just a club that meets after school to talk about medicine. HOSA is classified as a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), which means it’s designed to be woven directly into health science coursework. Your classroom learning feeds into HOSA activities, and HOSA activities reinforce what you learn in class.
Most chapters meet regularly at the school level, organize community health projects, and prepare members for regional, state, and international competitions. Members also get exposure to healthcare professionals, college programs, and scholarship opportunities they wouldn’t easily find on their own.
Competitive Events
Competitions are the backbone of HOSA. They’re organized into six categories, each testing a different skill set:
- Health Science Events cover knowledge-based topics like behavioral health, dental terminology, and medical math.
- Health Professions Events test hands-on clinical skills in areas like biotechnology, clinical nursing, and veterinary science.
- Emergency Preparedness Events focus on practical response skills, including CPR/first aid, CERT skills, and public health scenarios.
- Leadership Events develop professional abilities through health career photography, job seeking skills, and researched persuasive writing and speaking.
- Teamwork Events require collaboration through biomedical debate, creative problem solving, and parliamentary procedure.
- Recognition Events reward service and community involvement, including the Barbara James Service Award and HOSA Service Project.
Students typically compete at the local or regional level first, then advance to state competitions, and top performers qualify for the International Leadership Conference. The range of events is deliberately broad. Whether you’re drawn to lab science, patient care, public health policy, or healthcare leadership, there’s a competitive event that matches your interest.
The International Leadership Conference
The biggest event on HOSA’s calendar is its International Leadership Conference (ILC), held every summer. The 2026 conference is scheduled for June 17 through 20 at the Indianapolis Convention Center. At ILC, members compete in the final rounds of competitive events, attend educational seminars and workshops led by healthcare industry partners, participate in the organization’s annual business session through voting delegates, and hear from speakers during general sessions. It’s also a networking opportunity, connecting students from across the globe who share similar career goals.
Scholarships and College Benefits
HOSA partners with healthcare organizations and companies to offer scholarships specifically for its members. Partners include the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, the American Physical Therapy Association, and Bio-Rad, among others. Some awards are substantial. Citizens, for example, offers monthly prizes of $2,500 and a yearly $15,000 tuition award.
Beyond direct financial awards, HOSA membership signals to college admissions committees that you’ve invested seriously in a healthcare career path. Competitive event results, leadership roles within your chapter, and documented service hours all strengthen applications, particularly for pre-med, nursing, public health, and allied health programs. The technical skills you build, from CPR certification to biomedical research experience, also give you a head start once you’re actually in a college program.
Who Can Join
HOSA is open to any student enrolled in a health science or biomedical science course at a school with an active chapter. You don’t need prior healthcare experience or a specific GPA. The organization is designed to meet students wherever they are in their interest level, from curious freshmen to seniors already committed to a health career.
If your school doesn’t have a chapter, one can be started with as few as five students and one dues-paying advisor, who is typically a health science or biomedical science teacher. The process involves coordinating with your state HOSA association and paying chapter and individual membership dues.
How HOSA Differs From Other Clubs
A few things set HOSA apart from a general pre-med club or volunteer group. First, it’s directly tied to CTE curriculum standards, meaning your participation counts as part of your educational program rather than an extracurricular add-on. Second, the competitive structure gives you measurable achievements you can point to on applications. Third, the scope goes well beyond medicine. HOSA covers veterinary science, public health, dental health, behavioral health, biotechnology, and emergency response, reflecting the full breadth of the healthcare industry.
For students who aren’t sure exactly which healthcare field they want to pursue, HOSA functions as a low-risk way to explore multiple paths before committing to a college major. For those who already know, it provides depth, credentials, and connections that are hard to build on your own in high school.