HOSA
HOSA Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference
Over sixty competitive events across clinical skills, health knowledge and leadership, from middle school upward.
Run by HOSA Future Health Professionals
Key facts
- Eligible grades
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Three divisions for competitive events: Middle School, Secondary, and Postsecondary/Collegiate.
HOSA's General Rules define each division formally for competitive event purposes; the exact grade boundaries were not visible on the pages checked, so read the current General Rules and Regulations for the precise definitions.Source, checked 2026-09-02
- Official divisions
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Middle School and Secondary divisions, each with its own competitive event guidelines.
Based on the organiser's own divisions.
- Eligible ages
-
Not confirmed. This organiser may set eligibility by grade rather than age. We do not convert one into the other.HOSA defines divisions by school level, not age.
- Individual or team
- Individual or team · Not confirmed
- Where it runs
- In person · United States, International
- Entry cost
- Membership dues plus conference registration and travelMembership dues are set nationally and by each state; conference registration is charged separately. Amounts were not confirmed on the national pages checked.
- Registration deadline
- Competitive event participants must be registered for the ILC by 15 May. 82 days leftChapter affiliation, regional and state conference deadlines are set by each state association.
- Competition dates
- The 2027 International Leadership Conference is scheduled for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 22 to 25 June 2027. The 2026 ILC was held in Indianapolis in June 2026.
- Difficulty
- Some preparation neededYou will want a few weeks of targeted practice. Most motivated students place respectably.
- Prizes
- Scholarships and international recognitionMedals and recognition; scholarship details not confirmed on the pages checked.
What HOSA is
HOSA runs one of the largest competitive event programmes of any student organisation, with more than sixty events spanning clinical skills such as CPR and first aid, knowledge tests in medical terminology and human anatomy, and leadership events including public speaking and health career displays. Students compete through a school chapter at regional, state and international level.
How the competition works
A published Competitive Event Guideline for each event, with competency-based rating sheets. The 2026-27 guidelines are published. Events span knowledge tests, clinical skills judged by healthcare professionals, and leadership events; some skill events at ILC run off-site at university and industry locations. Round Two finalists are posted by member number for privacy.
Eligibility notes
Requires an active HOSA chapter at your school. If none exists, a teacher can charter one.
Is HOSA right for you?
- Experience needed
- None required. Events span from introductory knowledge tests to advanced clinical skills, so there is an appropriate entry point at any level.
- Time commitment
- A few hours a week during the season, more for skills events that need practice with equipment.
- What you actually do
- Depends entirely on the event. It might be a written test on medical terminology, a timed CPR demonstration judged by a healthcare professional, or a prepared speech about a health issue.
A good fit if
- You are considering medicine, nursing or allied health
- You want a competition with a clear published specification
- Your school has a health science programme
Probably not for you if
- Students without access to a chapter, since chartering one takes time
Common mistakes
- Choosing an event without reading its guideline. Each guideline specifies the exact reference texts and scope, and students routinely study the wrong material.
- Preparing for skills events without practising on real equipment under time pressure.
- Joining too late in the year to qualify for regional competition.
How to register
- Check whether your school has a HOSA chapter. If not, a teacher in a health science or biology department can charter one.
- Join and pay membership dues through the chapter.
- Choose events from the published competitive event guidelines. Read the guideline for your event in full; it specifies the exact scope.
- Compete at regional and state conferences, then internationally if you qualify.
What skills you need
- Medical terminology
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Clinical skills such as CPR and first aid
- Public speaking
- Teamwork under simulated emergency conditions
Recommended resources
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HOSA official site
Chapter information, membership and the full competitive event programme.
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HOSA competitive event guidelines
The published guideline for each of the sixty-plus events, specifying scope, references and scoring. This is the syllabus.
Past problems and materials
Only materials the organiser or an authorised archive publishes openly are listed here.
- Event guidelines and sample tests
Published free by HOSA, including reference lists and sample materials for many events.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be in a health science class?
Not necessarily, though many chapters are based in health science programmes. Membership runs through a school chapter, so the practical requirement is that your school has one or is willing to charter one.
How do I choose an event?
Read the published guidelines. Each of the sixty-plus events has a document specifying the exact scope, reference texts and scoring rubric, and choosing an event whose references you can actually obtain is the most important early decision.
Reviews, tips and resources from other students
Posts are public. Do not share your full name, school, address or contact details.
Something out of date?
If a deadline, fee or eligibility rule on this page no longer matches the official site, flag it and it goes into the review queue.
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