Four Ways Into Illinois HOSA
Whether you're a student, an advisor, an alum, or an employer, there is a place for you here. Find the one that fits you.
Students
Join a chapter, compete, and lead.
Advisors
Start or reactivate a chapter.
Alumni
Free lifetime membership, for life.
Partners
Reach Illinois' next health workforce.
For students
Try Healthcare Before You Choose It
You don't have to know what you want to be. You have to be willing to find out.
Compete in 50+ events
From clinical skills to health education, industry-endorsed competitive events let you test what you're learning against real standards.
Lead something real
Run for chapter office, then for a state office. You'll manage people, plan events, and speak to rooms of hundreds.
Meet professionals
Conferences, symposiums, and chapter partnerships put you in the room with the people already doing the work.
Serve your community
Chapters run health drives, screenings, and volunteer projects that matter to the people around your school.
1
Check your school
Search the chapter finder below to see whether your school already has an Illinois HOSA chapter.
2
Join through your advisor
Your chapter advisor handles membership and affiliation through the national portal.
3
Show up
The Fall Leadership Conference is the fastest way to meet the rest of the state.
Membership is handled by your chapter advisor through your school.
For advisors
You Guide. They Lead.
Every successful Illinois HOSA chapter begins with one dedicated advisor, and the plan is designed so you support the students, not carry them.
Curriculum: Competitive events map to health science standards you already teach.
Mentorship: Section advisors and state staff answer questions before you're stuck.
Recognition: Students earn credentials, scholarships, and awards your program can point to.
Community: You are never the only advisor working a problem in your section.
"Let students lead. Your role is to guide, not run the chapter."
1
Complete the interest form
Tell us your school, your program, and how many students you expect to serve.
2
Receive your chapter credentials
State staff walk you through affiliation and get your charter number issued.
3
Affiliate your members
Register once, then add students as your roster grows through the year.
New chapters can start at any point in the program year.
For alumni
You're Still a Member: Lifetime Membership Is Free
Graduating from Illinois HOSA doesn't end your alumni membership. It's free, it's for life, and it exists specifically to keep former members connected.
Career support
The HOSA Career Center still opens doors long after graduation.
- Free forever
Member discounts
Conference registration and partner benefits carry into your alumni years.
Stay connected
The HOSA magazine, newsletters, and the alumni network keep you current.
Come back in
Judge events, mentor a chapter, or speak at a conference near you.
1
Register
Free lifetime alumni membership, activated in a few minutes.
2
Join the alumni network
Introduce yourself and find other alumni in your field.
3
Tell us how you want to help
Judge, mentor, speak, or host a site visit for a chapter near you.
Alumni membership is administered by national HOSA and is free for life.
For partners & sponsors
Meet Illinois' Next Healthcare Workforce
Illinois HOSA connects health systems, colleges, and employers with the students already preparing for healthcare careers across the state.
Direct pipeline access: Reach students already committed to health science pathways.
Credential visibility: Put your certifications and training in front of future candidates.
Judging and mentoring: Your staff shape the standard students compete against.
Workforce partnership: Build the local pipeline your own hiring plan depends on.
2,000+
Illinois student members
76
Active chapters
8
Sections statewide
50+
Competitive events
1
Tell us what you're looking for
Share the roles, credentials, or regions your workforce plan targets.
2
Choose how you show up
Sponsor a conference, judge an event, or host a site visit.
3
Meet the students
At state events, section socials, or in your own facility.
Sponsorship supports student scholarships, awards, and conference programming.
Chapter finder
Find Your Chapter, or Start One
Illinois HOSA has 76 active chapters across eight sections. Find yours, or start the one at your school.
No chapter at your school? Start one.
36 new chapters were added this year. A teacher, an administrator, or a counselor can charter a chapter, and the state office handles the rest.
1
Complete the interest form
Tell us about your school and your health science program.
2
Receive your chapter number and state onboarding
State staff walk you through affiliation.
3
Affiliate your members
Register your chapter, then add students as your roster grows.
State staff respond to new chapter inquiries within five business days.
IL HOSA state office
Questions about joining, starting a chapter, affiliation, or partnership? Contact the state office directly, because we would rather answer a question early than have a student miss a deadline.
illinoishosa32@gmail.com(708) 974-7227PO Box 46018, Chicago IL 60646
Join us
However You Come In, You're In
Student, advisor, alum, or partner, Illinois healthcare needs the people who show up for it.