CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
Vol. 42, No. 63
August 29, 2008
Student Health-Careers Group Gains State Recognition
The Health Occupations Student Association (HOSA) is now officially recognized as a career and technical student organization (CTSO) in Missouri, state education officials announced today.
The recognition is a formality by the Division of Career Education, as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education already recognizes the student organization for school accreditation and other purposes. HOSA also is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of the Association of Career and Technical Education.
The national organization has 44 state affiliates and nearly 90,000 members in secondary and postsecondary programs. In Missouri, the organization currently has about 200 members – a number that is expected to grow as a result of DESE’s recognition, according to Leslie Quint, RN, BSN. Ms. Quint serves as HOSA state director; she is a health instructor at Four Rivers Career Center, Washington.
HOSA membership is offered to students enrolled in health sciences and technology education (HSTE) programs. Its members are secondary, postsecondary and adult students who plan careers as nurses, doctors, veterinarians, physician assistants, and other health professionals.
With the addition of HOSA, there are now nine CTSOs recognized by DESE, several of which are ranked among the largest state chapters in the nation. Each student organization is closely aligned with classroom curriculum and works to improve its members’ leadership, personal characteristics, and employability skills through skills contests, community service and leadership-development programs.
In Missouri, students interested in health careers traditionally participate in SkillsUSA. SkillsUSA Missouri is a state association for industrial and health sciences education, with a membership of nearly 10,000 in more than 85 local chapters. The Technology Student Association also offers support for Missouri health sciences programs, particularly for biomedical sciences and medical engineering students. It serves more than 3,000 middle and high school students in 43 local school district chapters.
Other recognized student organizations in Missouri are FFA, Future Business Leaders of America, DECA, Phi Beta Lambda, Delta Epsilon Chi, and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).