What is HOSA?: What it is and how to get involved

What is HOSA?

There are plenty of health-related organizations and extracurriculars to get involved with in high school, but one stands out from the rest: HOSA. What is HOSA? Well, it’s a student organization that you may or may not have heard of before. However, if you’re interested in working in healthcare, the answer to what is HOSA could be an important stepping stone in your academic and professional journey.

We’re proud to partner with HOSA to support students in reaching their college and career goals. In this article, we won’t just answer the question, “What is HOSA?” We’ll dive into the history of the organization and the benefits of joining.

Specifically, this What is HOSA? article will cover: 

• What does HOSA stand for
• Who can join HOSA
• HOSA events and HOSA competitions
• How many HOSA chapters there are
• Why students interested in healthcare should join HOSA
• How HOSA will help you in college admissions, and more!

If you’re looking to fully grasp the answer to the question, “What is HOSA?”, then first things first: let’s unpack the HOSA meaning. 

HOSA meaning

So, what is HOSA? HOSA is a “global student-led organization” recognized by several federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Dept. of Education and the Dept. of Health and Human Services. HOSA focuses on supporting and developing students into future health professionals. When asking, “What is HOSA?”, remember its mission: “empower HOSA-Future Health Professionals to become leaders in the global community.”

But what is HOSA in practice? In each HOSA chapter, students develop leadership skills, learn more about careers in the healthcare space through speakers and guidance, and learn practical skills like CPR and First Aid. 

Ultimately, what is HOSA? It’s a club for middle, high school, or college students dedicated to pursuing a career in healthcare and want to develop leadership and technical skills while forming a community of like-minded friends.

What does HOSA stand for?

Initially, the HOSA meaning was the Health Occupations Students of America, but it has since changed. Now, the acronym stands alone, and the HOSA meaning is simply “HOSA-Future Health Professionals.” So, to sum up, what does HOSA stand for? Currently, nothing in particular!

But, despite its shaky acronym status, HOSA is a bridge between classroom learning and real-world healthcare careers for students interested in that field. HOSA is also a great extracurricular for students looking to demonstrate an interest in healthcare to colleges. Even if you’re not sure whether you want to be a nurse or doctor, or pursue another healthcare-related career, HOSA can be an informative experience. At HOSA meetings, events, and competitions, you’ll learn a lot about what it’s like to work in the medical field. 

Even if you don’t decide to pursue medicine or concentrate in pre-med in college, HOSA will teach you important skills. Plus, if you pursue leadership positions within the organization, you can demonstrate dedication and impact on your college applications — qualities that will help you impress admissions teams, no matter your degree. 

How did HOSA start?

When explaining what is HOSA, we have to start at the beginning: how HOSA started.

The history of HOSA is a rich one. HOSA was born from the minds of a few Health Occupations Education leaders in the 60s and 70s. In the late 50s, the United States Office of Education saw that there was a booming interest in healthcare occupations — so, they appointed specialists to lead educational opportunities in Health Occupations within the Office of Education. Then, those specialists facilitated the birth of various clubs for healthcare-interested students around the country.

In 1975, representatives from different student organizations came together to form one organization: the American Health Occupations Education Student Organization. Texas HOSA was one of the six founding chartered associations, along with Alabama, New Jersey, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. 

A year later, AHOESO changed the name to HOSA. Shortly after, in 1978, HOSA clubs came together for their first ever National Leadership conference — a big part of what is HOSA today. In 2004, what is HOSA changed again, becoming HOSA-Future Health Professionals. This was part of a push to include even more students interested in a career in health professions.

Another big part of the organization’s history and what is HOSA today is competition. The first competitive HOSA events were in Informative and Extemporaneous Speaking, Job Interviews, Medical Terminology, Poster, Emblem, and Motto. Today, HOSA competitions have HOSA events like emergency preparedness, leadership, teamwork, and medical terminology and health informatics. 

Who can join HOSA?

Now that we know what is HOSA, you might be wondering, who can join HOSA? Middle school, high school, and college students are all eligible to join HOSA. Indeed, HOSA has different educational levels for students that correspond with different levels of competition. If you’re in middle school, you’ll compete against other middle school students. If you’re in high school, which HOSA calls the “Secondary Division,” you’ll compete against high school students, and so on. 

To join, your school has to have a chapter of HOSA. If your school doesn’t have a chapter, you can start one yourself. There are no strict eligibility requirements for who can join HOSA. However, after understanding what is HOSA, students should want to further explore a serious interest in healthcare. And again, an interest in healthcare doesn’t mean you need to be set on studying medicine or pursuing a career in the field! You just need to be curious and committed to learning.

Is HOSA an international organization?

What is HOSA’s reach? National? Global? HOSA has chapters in Canada and China as well as in the U.S., making it an international organization! HOSA currently has over 260,000 members and 54 chartered HOSA Associations, such as Texas HOSA and HOSA Michigan. 

If you’re attending HOSA events and HOSA competitions, you may have a chance to interact with the broader HOSA community. At the International Leadership Conference, you’ll be able to meet people from across the globe who share your passion for healthcare. 

Indeed, careers in healthcare look different in different parts of the world. For example, in China you can pursue a medical degree with a longer program right after graduating high school, whereas in the U.S. you need a bachelor’s degree before earning your MD. Through meeting other HOSA students, you’ll get to learn about how different cultures approach medicine and healthcare.

What do you do in HOSA?

Now that you know what is HOSA, you might be wondering, what do you do in HOSA?

What you do in HOSA depends a lot on your individual chapter, but there are some general similarities. Most HOSA chapters attend HOSA events like HOSA competitions. Much of the time spent in HOSA meetings is dedicated to preparing for competitions: studying, practicing, and doing exercises that mimic those you’ll see at HOSA competitions.

Like other student organizations, HOSA chapters will meet a number of times during the school year — how many times exactly is up to the club members and advisors. In general, the club focuses on activities that facilitate personal development and community engagement, as they relate to the medical field. You may do healthcare-related community service projects like running a blood drive, or host a CPR certification class so that more people in your community know how to practice the life-saving technique. 

Many HOSA chapters also host guest speakers to learn more about what’s going on in the healthcare field. For example, you could put on a Women in STEM panel and invite prominent women physicians from your local hospital. You could also choose to have a speaker or guest that helps prepare your chapter for a specific HOSA event or HOSA competition. You might also seek out an expert on a peripheral topic, such as the business of healthcare or how to found a healthtech startup.

Why is HOSA important?

Now that you’ve learned about HOSA, you may be wondering: what is HOSA going to do for my college applications? For my future career? In other words, why is HOSA important?

HOSA can be important to your life in many ways. First, if you’re considering a career in medicine, it can be a great way to test the waters before committing to the profession — even before committing to a college major. In HOSA, you’ll get exposure to a lot of different aspects of the healthcare industry. You’ll hear from doctors, nurses, dentists, and all sorts of other medical professionals who can help you decide whether this is the right career for you.

HOSA also provides a community. In HOSA meetings, you can make friends with other students who are interested in medicine. It’s a great way to meet people who care about the same things that you do. Additionally, you’ll meet professionals in the field who could become mentors on your career path. Plus, if you’re looking to find more opportunities in the space, you can reach out to your new connections for help. For instance, say you want to volunteer in a lab or in a hospital while you’re still a high schooler. Maybe someone you know from HOSA works there!

Most importantly, HOSA helps you build skills that will be helpful in all areas of life: leadership, teamwork, and communication. Developing these skills early on will give you a leg up in everything from job interviews to class presentations. Lots of high school clubs can help you build these skills, but HOSA is specifically designed to foster these characteristics.

Is HOSA prestigious?

What is HOSA if not prestigious? Colleges and healthcare professionals around the world recognize HOSA’s value. It’s an old, education-focused institution that stands above other high school clubs when it comes to studying medicine. Since HOSA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, the organization has national credibility.

What’s more, involvement in HOSA communicates to colleges that you’re invested in healthcare and student leadership. For example, students like DJ Bassett, a high schooler advised by CollegeAdvisor who ultimately went on to Johns Hopkins, joined HOSA early and began working towards leadership roles. In 10th grade, DJ became chairman of a committee within HOSA, and then in 11th grade he ran for a state officer position. Another advisee, Desiree Lipscomb, was part of HOSA as well — even though her main extracurricular was dance. Desiree became the treasurer and the vice president of her chapter, and ultimately earned admission to Cornell University.

Plus, since HOSA has national and international HOSA events and HOSA competitions, you don’t necessarily have to secure a leadership position within your school to gain accolades. If you win at any competitions, that’s a feather in your cap that you can use to demonstrate your passion for healthcare and impress college admissions officers.

Even if you don’t join HOSA until college, the organization can still help you prepare for medical school or a career in healthcare. Med schools want to see a sustained interest in medicine and healthcare, and organizations like HOSA show that you don’t just care about the STEM side of things — you’re interested in community building, teamwork, collaboration, and ethics.

HOSA & the future of healthcare professions

The healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving: with the addition of AI into the mix, as well as advancements in telemedicine, the industry you enter may not be the one you imagined when you first dreamed of being a doctor. But HOSA won’t just teach you about where healthcare is — it’ll show you where the profession is headed.

Through HOSA, you’ll be exposed to cutting-edge developments in the field. At HOSA events, like workshops and speaker sessions, and HOSA competitions, you’ll learn about new developments in the healthcare industry such as telemedicine and machine learning. You’ll also learn how AI is revolutionizing the industry, and how to use it as a tool to improve clinical decision-making, discover new drugs and treatment plans, and better diagnose illnesses.

Preparing future leaders

HOSA also focuses on healthcare beyond technology: how to create compassionate, adaptable leaders that are ready for a changing healthcare landscape. HOSA events and HOSA competitions don’t only include tests in areas like biology and medicinal jargon, but also in teamwork, communication, and leadership. 

Additionally, through emphasizing community service initiatives, HOSA aims to create empathetic doctors who care about public health. HOSA competitions and service projects expose students to concepts they’ll encounter throughout their healthcare careers, like social determinants of health (the factors in someone’s environment and upbringing that affect their health). 

By training students in leadership and teaching them to have empathy, HOSA is preparing future healthcare leaders who care about public health challenges and are prepared to take them on. Whether it’s preparing for the next COVID-19 or tackling persistent public health challenges like access to nutritious foods, HOSA gives students a unique perspective into these complicated aspects of the field.

HOSA partner organizations

What is HOSA’s relationship to other health organizations? To support their mission, HOSA works with partner organizations like The American Medical Association (AMA), The American Hospital Association (AHA), and professional nursing organizations. These partnerships give students an inside look into the industry and real-life experience in what it means to be a medical professional.

For example, the AMA provides members with invaluable mentorship opportunities by connecting them with practicing doctors who can share their experiences working in hospitals, clinics, private practices, and more. For students who are more interested in working on the business side of healthcare, the AHA can show them how hospital administration works, and what kind of economic forces are shaping healthcare — and will be shaping the industry in the future.

These partner organizations are essential in furthering HOSA’s mission to shape the next generation of healthcare professionals through community, leadership and training. They help HOSA students get out of the classroom and learn more about the actual delivery of care, which will help students understand the ins-and-outs of the healthcare system.

Why go into healthcare?

Once discovering what is HOSA, you may question whether even getting into healthcare is for you. While there are plenty of reasons to pursue a career in healthcare, many are drawn to the stability of the field. In fact, the need for more healthcare workers is likely to go up as the U.S. population ages. 

To put it into context, the number of Americans over the age of 65 is likely to double in the next 40 years. One in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2040 (in 2000, just one in eight Americans were in that same age range). On one hand, the aging U.S. population will likely cause certain societal challenges like strains on Medicare and Social Security. At the same time, opportunities in healthcare will proliferate, as this age group often needs the most help with basic care. 

In fact, while many fields struggle to maintain job opportunities with technological advancements, healthcare employment is expected to grow. From 2021 to 2031, there is an expected increase of 12.6% in healthcare occupations. That means there’s an expected increase of two million new jobs in the field — far more than other areas!

So, where is the most opportunity for job growth within the healthcare field? Well, let’s look at a few of the fastest growing healthcare occupations and their projected growth rate from 2023-2033: 

• Nurse Practitioners: 46%
• Physician Assistants: 29%
• Speech-language pathologists: 18%
• Health information technologists and medical registrars: 16%

As you can see, registered nurses and nurse practitioners will enjoy the most job growth. However, physician assistants, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists will also have plenty of opportunities.

Key motivators for going into healthcare

For many, going into healthcare is a very pragmatic decision, with decent salaries and employment growth. Nevertheless, many decide to go into the field for other reasons. 

Reasons to Work in Healthcare

Personal fulfillment

Healthcare workers directly contribute to the health, well-being, and care of others. Moreover, they make a difference in people’s lives during a scary and vulnerable time. Whether helping in their recovery or coming up with a long term plan, healthcare workers play crucial roles in the lives of others. 

Variety of roles

When you think about healthcare, your mind might jump straight to doctors, nurses, and physical therapists. However, there are plenty of people working behind the scenes to care for patients. That is to say, you don’t have to be the one drawing blood to help others. Healthcare jobs span a variety of roles including clinical, research, and administration. There are plenty of ways to make a difference!

Job stability

As we’ve mentioned, there’s no denying the obvious opportunities for stable employment within the healthcare field. Consistently, healthcare is one of the most in demand industries, more so as the age of the population increases. There is also plenty of room for career advancement, and healthcare workers usually have quite competitive salaries. 

Healthcare tends to appeal to students and people who want purpose and impact in their careers — it is a popular mission-driven field. So, while practicality is important when choosing a career path, you’ll want to have some passion driving your decision as well. 

Beyond questions like, “What does HOSA stand for?” And “What is HOSA?”, consider, “what would my future look like in the healthcare field?” If you like what you envision, then HOSA is a great way to support that journey. 

How many HOSA chapters are there?

With so many reasons to go into healthcare, it’s no wonder that more and more students are asking themselves, “What is HOSA?” More students are opting to join this organization for opportunities to stand out as motivated leaders in a growing field. Today, HOSA has over 260,000 members across more than 5,000 chapters around the world. 

Every chapter is different, but when asking, “What is HOSA?“, the key is remembering that it’s a student-led organization. So, while each chapter has an advisor, the students should ultimately lead. Logically, activities and achievements will vary based on the chapter. With so many chapters, you can bet that the members are doing unique things in each!

Within the U.S., some states have more chapters and larger participation compared to others. For example, Texas HOSA has the largest participation with around 900 chapters. Meanwhile, California has about 200 chapters, HOSA Michigan has around 140, and Illinois has 60.

Similar to the trend of the healthcare industry, HOSA has seen steady growth over the past 50 years. Therefore, membership is expected to continue growing. In fact, there have been recent HOSA events that support this, with unexpected chapters standing out. For example, Kansas HOSA saw a 47% increase in membership from 2024 to 2025. In California, Cal-HOSA has seen a 8-25% yearly increase in its membership since 1995.

HOSA Events & Competitions

We can’t completely answer the question, “What is HOSA?” without mentioning HOSA events and competitions. HOSA events are competition based, but the ultimate goal is advancing your knowledge and challenging yourself. At HOSA events, students are encouraged to embrace the challenge, ignite their passion, and discover their strength.

HOSA competitions are broken down into six categories. Here are some HOSA events you might participate in:  

HOSA Competition Categories and Events

Health Science

Behavioral Health, Dental Terminology, Medical Law & Ethics, and Medical Terminology

Health Professions

Clinical Laboratory Science, Home Health Aide, Phlebotomy, and Sports Medicine

Emergency Preparedness

CERT Skills, Emergency Medical Technician, Epidemiology, and Mental Health Promotion

Leadership

Extemporaneous Writing–Health Policy, Interviewing Skills, Organizational Leadership, and Prepared Speaking

Teamwork

Biomedical Debate, Forensic Science, HOSA Bowl, and Medical Innovation

Recognition

American Red Cross Volunteer Service, Emotional Well-Being Challenge, Health Literacy Ambassador, and Outstanding HOSA Achievement

While HOSA events are certainly a way to build community among its members, HOSA competitions are just that: competitions. Participants will be judged and advance through various levels of competition, starting with regional competitions within their state. Top performers then advance to state-level competitions, like Texas HOSA’s State Leadership Conference or HOSA Michigan’s Conference. The highest level of competition is HOSA’s International Leadership Conference, which usually takes place in June.

Students practice through written tests, role plays, presentations, and practical demonstrations prior to a HOSA competition. All of these skills are relevant to real healthcare settings, further preparing these motivated students for their future careers. 

Students may have their own preferences when it comes to HOSA events, as each HOSA competition targets different skills and knowledge. Luckily, there are resources to help each kind of member choose their best HOSA events or HOSA competition. Check out these useful resources for middle schoolers and high school/college students to make sure you pick the best HOSA competition for you. 

Why are leadership programs important in high school?

Leadership training in high school clubs offers a myriad of benefits to students preparing for their next academic and professional steps. It improves confidence, develops communication skills, and offers a way to take on real-world responsibility in their field of interest. Additionally, leadership qualities are one of the main factors that stand out to admissions officers. Demonstrating leadership points to maturity, ambition, and a student’s willingness to take charge of their future and accomplish their goals.

Is HOSA really the best way to develop leadership skills? If you’re not convinced, just remind yourself: What is HOSA’s main value? Developing the future leaders of the global health community. While students can find leadership opportunities in many different areas of their lives, belonging to a known organization, dedicated to leadership development, is guaranteed to help students unlock their potential. Plus, HOSA members have the support of their peers and advisors who can encourage and motivate them along the way.

College Admissions and HOSA

After asking the question, “What is HOSA?”, you might be considering why to join such an organization. When it comes to college admissions, belonging to these types of organizations can help students stand out among competitive candidates. Top universities appreciate extracurriculars that demonstrate focus, initiative, and alignment with intended majors. 

So, what is HOSA if not an opportunity to show off your academic motivation and leadership skills? Even though HOSA isn’t necessarily a competitive or selective organization, the value of being in HOSA remains. Consider specific ways your participation helped you grow, become a leader, or gain clarity on your future goals and career aspirations. For example, what did you learn at a HOSA competition that’s made you a better person? Or, how has your participation in HOSA events expanded your knowledge of the healthcare industry?

Asking yourself these types of questions is especially important when it comes to writing college essays. You can highlight participation in HOSA events, a HOSA competition, or just the organization itself in personal statements or supplemental essays. However, more than simply stating you’re a member, you’ll need to dig deeper into how it’s shaped you and your future.

Check out our student success stories to see how HOSA and other factors played a role in DJ and Desiree’s college admission journeys. 

Other Student Leadership Programs

We now know the answer to “what is HOSA?” However, you might be wondering if there are other types of student leadership programs. Fortunately, there are plenty of organizations similar to HOSA, for students with different interests or career goals. Basically, you don’t have to be into healthcare to get involved in student leadership programs — there are organizations for all types of students. 

Let’s take a look at other student organizations where you can advance your leadership skills and professional experience. 

Student Leadership Programs

DECA

For those interested in going into the business world, DECA could be for you. Their mission is to prepare high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA has over 4,200 high school chapters and over 200 collegiate chapters, with about 300,000 members. 

FBLA

Another organization for those interested in business, Future Business Leaders of America is the largest business student organization in the world. They aim to inspire and prepare students to become business leaders with community focus. To do this, they focus on career preparation and leadership experiences. They serve over 230,000 middle school, high school, and college students each year.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that aims to empower its members to become skilled professionals and community leaders. Students will hone hands-on skills in areas of interest, while also gaining career readiness skills. SkillsUSA focuses on integrating the following three areas into classroom curriculum: Personal Skills, Workplace Skills, and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics. 

TSA

The Technology Student Association is aimed at those students interested in STEM fields. TSA members are both middle and high school students. They engage in competitions, community service, leadership opportunities, and intracurricular activities. 

Key Club

Key Club is a service and volunteering organization that supports members in leading and standing up for what’s right. Members are high school students who perform acts of service in their communities. Not only do members provide service and develop leadership skills, they also build character. There are thousands of Key Clubs in 45 countries. 

These are just some of the many student leadership programs out there. Students can participate in multiple organizations depending on their interests. For example, a student in their school’s HOSA Michigan chapter may also participate in their local Key Club. Of course, as with any extracurriculars, be sure to prioritize quality of participation over quantity of organizations. 

Other Resources for Leadership Extracurriculars

When you’re asking, “what is HOSA?”, you might also ask about other student organizations that focus on healthcare and leadership. If so, then there are plenty of other programs that students can join. 

Check out these resources for leadership extracurriculars: 

While you might be interested in understanding what is HOSA or other organizations, you could also consider creating leadership opportunities locally. This could mean starting a HOSA chapter, as many others have done, or it might mean something outside of any organization, such as starting a local initiative or your own passion project. There are plenty of ways to develop leadership skills — choose the way that interests you and aligns with your passions and goals!

5 Benefits of Joining HOSA

After answering questions like, “What is HOSA?” and “Who can join HOSA?”, you might be considering the benefits of HOSA. More than simply being an organization from which you can advance your healthcare career, there is plenty more to the HOSA meaning. HOSA participation has a number of benefits.

5 HOSA Benefits

1. Career exploration

Beyond defining what is HOSA, consider how joining the organization will benefit your future. With its leadership and healthcare focus and events to improve your skills and knowledge, you can test out the field. Whether you fall in love with healthcare or not, it’s a valuable way to get ahead on finding your future career. 

2. Early experience

Who can join HOSA? The better question may be, who should join HOSA? Those who want to feel what it might be like to work in healthcare will truly benefit from being a HOSA member. You’ll learn new skills and gain practical knowledge and experience in the field. This leadership and industry experience can also help you stand out when applying to competitive programs or scholarships.

3. Leadership development

What is HOSA if not a way to expand your leadership skills? As a student-run organization, members are encouraged to shape the activities of their chapters. You’ll hone leadership qualities at HOSA events and competitions as well, whether it’s directing a team or facing new challenges alone. You could even go to the HOSA International Leadership Conference.

4. Academic motivation

Being a part of a like-minded group of students can be truly inspiring. As a HOSA member, you’ll have a community with a common interest: pursuing a future in the healthcare field. Whether you’re considering studying medicine or want to work in admin, you’re sure to find motivation among your HOSA peers. 

5. Community engagement

Not only will you find academic motivation with fellow HOSA members, but you could find connections that help you in the future. And, belonging to a community is always a plus!

What is HOSA? – Final Takeaways

In this article, we’ve answered questions like, “What is HOSA,” “Who can join HOSA,” and “What does HOSA stand for?” But beyond the HOSA meaning and what is HOSA, we’ve looked at the benefits and importance of being part of this organization. We looked into how HOSA was started and what you’d do as a HOSA member. 

Furthermore, we looked at the benefits of working in the healthcare industry. Far beyond asking what is HOSA, we asked and answered why healthcare, and why now? As a stable industry with plenty of expected growth, healthcare is not only a logical choice, but an admirable one as well. Finally, we looked at the importance of gaining leadership skills and getting involved in organizations of interest as a student — the earlier, the better!

If you’re thinking about joining HOSA, ask yourself, “What is HOSA to me?” If your answer is along the lines of “an opportunity to stand out in the admissions process while setting myself up for future success in healthcare,” then get involved with your local HOSA chapter today!

Whether you’re joining HOSA or just want help finding the best schools for pre-med or healthcare, CollegeAdvisor is here to help! As HOSA’s official admissions consulting partner, we’ve helped hundreds of HOSA families apply to top schools across the U.S.

This article was written by Rachel Kahn and Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.