What is HOSA?

Health Occupations Students of America is a National Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) endorsed by the U.S. and Florida Departments of Education and the Health Occupations Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education.  Please visit the National HOSA Homepage for more information.  HOSA provides a unique program of leadership development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for middle school, secondary, postsecondary, adult and collegiate students.  HOSA is 100% health care!

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 Health Science curriculum and classroom.  Health Science instructors are committed to the development of the total person.  Those who join the Health Science - HOSA Partnership recognize the importance of providing students with training far beyond the basic technical skills needed for entry into the health care field.  The rapidly changing health care system needs dedicated workers who, in addition to their technical skills, are people-oriented and capable of playing a leadership role as a member of a health care team.

National HOSA has more than 120,000 members in 47 states and Puerto Rico.  Florida HOSA has the second largest membership at more than 10,700!  A growing organization, Florida HOSA is constantly changing to meet the needs of its members.

The Mission

The mission of HOSA is to promote career opportunities in the health care industry and enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skills and leadership development of all health occupations education students, therefore, helping the student meet the needs of the health care community.

HOSA's mission is especially critical when considering the acute shortage of qualified workers for the health care industry.  It is essential that the Health Science-HOSA Partnership maintain its momentum and encourage all Health Science instructors to integrate HOSA into their curriculum and classrooms.

The Goals

The goals that HOSA believes are vital to each member are:

• To promote physical, mental and social well-being

• To develop effective leadership qualities and skills

• To develop the ability to communicate more effectively with people

• To develop character

• To develop responsible citizenship traits

• To understand the importance of pleasing oneself as well as being of service to others

• To build self-confidence and pride in one's work

• To make realistic career choices and seek successful employment in the health care field

• To develop an understanding of the importance in interacting and cooperating with other students and organizations

• To encourage individual and group achievement

• To develop an understanding of current health care issues, environmental concerns, and survival needs of the community, the nation and the world

• To encourage involvement in local, state and national health care and education projects