Division Eligibility

Secondary Division

The Secondary Division shall be composed of secondary students who are or have been enrolled in a Health Science or an organized health career awareness program or are interested in, planning to pursue, or pursuing a career in the health professions.

The official definition for secondary members of HOSA for the purposes of Competitive Events is:

A secondary student is one who,

a) is enrolled in a state-approved Health Science program or is planning to pursue a career in the health professions;

b) has not received a high-school diploma (or its equivalent) prior to the state’s annual conference; or

c)  has been within the continuous, sequential educational system for two or more years prior to the current year’s HOSA National Leadership Conference.

Middle School Division

The Middle School Division shall be composed of middle school students who are in grades 6-8 and are interested in or planning to pursue a career in the health professions.

The official definition for middle school members of HOSA for the purposes of Competitive Events is:

A middle school student is one who:

a) is enrolled in a state-approved health science program or is planning to pursue a career in the health professions; and

b) has not been promoted to a secondary institution (grades 9-12) prior to the state’s annual conference.

Postsecondary/Collegiate Division

The Postsecondary/Collegiate Division shall be composed of students enrolled in Health Science programs at the postsecondary/collegiate level as specified in Article III, Section 4 in the HOSA Bylaws.

The official definition for postsecondary members of HOSA for the purposes of Competitive Events is:

A postsecondary student is one who

(a) is enrolled in a state-approved post-secondary program or college level program;

(b) has received a high-school diploma (or its equivalent) and/or has been out of the continuous, sequential educational system prior to the current Health Science enrollment for two or more years prior to the current year’s HOSA National Leadership Conference.

Even though adult students may be enrolled in a secondary program, they may not compete in secondary competition at the HOSA National Leadership Conference.  When students satisfy one or more of the criteria of being postsecondary/collegiate students, they are to be classified as members of the postsecondary/collegiate division of HOSA.

The official definition for collegiate member of HOSA for the purposes of Competitive Events is: A collegiate student is one who is seeking a baccalaureate degree.