How to Start a HOSA Chapter

ESTABLISHING A PENNSYLVANIA (PENN) HOSA CHAPTER

Please review the entire chapter affiliation process before you continue. If you have questions about any aspect of the process, please contact the PENN HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Advisor:

Alison Sprankle
aspranklehosa@gmail.com

To start a chapter there must be at least five (5) students and one (1) advisor.  Yearly student membership fees are $20 (state – $10 and national – $10). All Pennsylvania HOSA students must be a member of both the state and national organization. In addition, a chapter may elect to collect local chapter fees. Just like the student members, all advisors/professionals must be a member of both the state and national organization. Each chapter must have at least one dues-paying advisor.

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HOSA-Definitions-Abbreviations-List

Step 1 Contact local school/college officials (e.g. Activity Directors, Principals, Dean of Student Activities, Directors) to obtain formal approval to start a HOSA chapter. The signed Membership Assurance Form will need to be attached to the email sent to the Penn HOSA State Advisor in Step 2.

Membership Assurance Form 24-25
Step 2 Contact the PENN HOSA-Future Health Professionals State Advisor and indicate your interest  in affiliating your school/college and students with the state association and national organization.

  • Please email aspranklehosa@gmail.com with the following information in the body of the email.
    • Official Name of School
    • School Address
    • County where school is located
    • Advisor Name
    • Advisor Email
    • Phone Number
    • Signed Membership Assurance Form attached to email
  • HOSA  will provide a charter # and password that will be required for the online affiliation process of your chapter members. The national online affiliation system is used to affiliate members, view your account balance, print your membership directory, complete online registration for HOSA conferences and events, add proctors for online testing and much more.
Step 3 Decide which method your institution will use to organize one or more HOSA chapters.Classroom based chapter. A HOSA chapter is formed for each class of five (5) or more students with one (1) advisor. This is a preferred method in institutions where students are unable to meet together regularly.   For example, a career and technology center might offer a HSE (Health Science Education) program in the morning and afternoon.   The instructor could organize multiple chapters that will conduct their business meetings and activities independent of each other; HOSA Chapter #1 (a.m.); HOSA Chapter #2 (afternoon). Each chapter elects an officer team and develops its Program of Work (POW). For large projects, chapters can collaborate. Business meetings and programs can be held during class time since HOSA is “curricular” and not “extracurricular.”

Instructor based chapter. One instructor forms a chapter for all students enrolled in his/her classes.   While chapter meetings with all students may be difficult to schedule, individual classes can form in-class committees to plan and organize projects and activities. Each class can elect a vice president (class representative) that serves on a HOSA Chapter Council, the steering committee for the chapter.

Institution-wide chapter. A single chapter is formed for all students in all classes regardless of the number of instructors. This is the preferred method for high school and post high school institutions (community colleges, technical schools and four-year colleges) where multiple instructors offer multiple courses.   If this method is adopted, every effort must be made to get 100% active involvement by all students and instructors.
Step 4 Recruit members!
Step 5 Complete chapter membership affiliation for state and national membership directly online by going to the HOSA-Future Health Professionals website hosa.org. Before beginning the affiliation process you will need your assigned chapter # and password. Contact your state advisor @ the address listed above if this information is needed. Directions for completing the affiliation process can be found on the Pennsylvania state website at  http://www.pahosa.org

  • Be among the first 100 chapters from across the nation that submit chapter applications to HOSA-Future Health Professionals by October 15 and you’ll receive a certificate as a HOSA-100 Club Chapter.   HOSA-100 Club Chapters are also recognized in the on-line HOSA E-MAGAZINE.
  • Special recognition is given to 100% chapters at the State Leadership Conference (SLC) and a downloadable certificate is available on the HOSA website hosa.org.
  • You must register  every student enrolled in your program  in order to be considered a 100% chapter by HOSA-Future Health Professionals.
  • A downloadable membership certificate is available on the HOSA website hosa.org.
  • Supplemental membership affiliations are accepted until March 1.

    HOSA Chapter Affiliation Instructions 24-25
Step 6 Get students actively involved in local, state and national activities through:

  • Officer Elections
  • Local chapter meetings.
  • Local committee meetings.
  • State Leadership Conference (SLC) held in the spring (review the competitive events and workshops in which members can participate).
  • International Leadership Conference (ILC) held in June each year.
Step 7 Develop formal documents (By-Laws, Program of Work and Chapter Guidelines) to help govern and guide your chapter. Examples of By-Laws and Programs of Work can be found at http://www.hosa.org/node/612
Step 8 Practice leadership skills.
Step 9 Prepare students to participate in the HOSA Competitive Events Program. Contact your state advisor for the dates for state and international competition.
Step 10 Refer to the HOSA and PENN HOSA Websites to improve and refine chapter management.