HOSA-Future Health Professionals is a student organization that operates pursuant to federal and state laws which recognize the need for HOSA activities to be a valuable component of career-technical education programs in health occupations or health science education.
HOSA membership is a part of an instructional program that prepares students for a health care career. Such programs can be found in:
- High Schools
- Charter Schools
- Technical Schools
- Community Colleges
- Universities
An individual student who wants to join HOSA must join a HOSA chapter. Individual memberships are not available since HOSA activities support the instructional program.
If your school has a HOSA chapter:
If you wish to join HOSA, find out if there is a HOSA chapter at your school. If there is, contact the chapter advisor and obtain membership information. Students who wish to join an existing HOSA chapter but are not enrolled in the health occupations/health science program may join the chapter as an associate member.
If your school has a health occupations/health science program but no HOSA chapter:
If your school has a health occupations/health science program but no HOSA chapter, talk to the health career program instructor about starting a HOSA chapter. Many instructors respond favorably to students who wish to take responsibility for their leadership development. Talk with the instructor about possible alternatives that would enable your school to make available the important opportunities that HOSA membership offers.
If your school does not have a health occupations/health science program:
If you school does not have a health occupations/health science program – or any program designed to prepare students for a future health career, then you may wish to talk to a school administrator or counselor to share your needs and desire to start HOSA. If you can find a faculty member who will serve as your chapter advisor and at least five members who plan to pursue a health career, you could start a chapter of associate members. One of the goals of your HOSA chapter would then be to encourage school leaders to begin a health occupations/health science program.
If you are enrolled at a college or university that does not offer HOSA:
Once again, your best option is to find a group of healthcare majors and organize a HOSA chapter. You will want to follow the rules of your school in starting a new club or service organization. You will also need a faculty member to agree to serve as your chapter advisor.
For information about joining HOSA contact the PENNsylvania HOSA State Advisor at janetnelsonhosa@gmail.com