Career and Technical Education (CTE) health science pathways and HOSA-Future Health Professionals (formerly Health Occupations Students of America) provide practical, career-focused healthcare experiences during high school that traditional academic courses do not offer. CTE health science courses teach clinical skills, medical terminology, anatomy, and professional practices in classroom and lab settings. HOSA provides a competitive, leadership, and service framework that connects students interested in healthcare across the country. Together, they offer one of the most structured and valuable pre-med experiences available during high school. This page covers what CTE and HOSA offer, how to participate, and how these experiences strengthen your college and medical school applications.
CTE Health Science Pathways
Many high schools offer CTE pathways in health science, which are sequences of 2 to 4 courses that progress from introductory to advanced healthcare content. A typical health science pathway might include: Foundations of Health Science (introduction to healthcare systems, careers, ethics, safety, and basic anatomy), Medical Terminology (the language of healthcare, including root words, prefixes, suffixes, and organ system vocabulary), Human Body Systems or Anatomy and Physiology (detailed study of the body’s structure and function, often with lab components), and a capstone course such as Biomedical Science, Clinical Rotation, or Health Science Internship (applied experience in a healthcare setting, sometimes including clinical rotations at local hospitals or clinics).
CTE health science courses provide several advantages for pre-med students. They teach practical healthcare vocabulary and concepts that prepare you for college-level biology and anatomy courses. They often include hands-on skills training (vital signs measurement, basic patient assessment, CPR and first aid certification, wound care basics) that gives you a taste of clinical work. Some pathways include clinical rotation components where you spend time in actual healthcare facilities, providing early clinical experience that most high school students do not have. And they demonstrate to colleges that you have explored healthcare careers through structured coursework, not just extracurricular activities.
CTE courses are offered through your regular high school schedule and are typically free. If your school offers a health science pathway, take advantage of it. If your school does not, ask your counselor whether you can take health science courses at a nearby vocational-technical school or career center through a shared-time arrangement.
HOSA-Future Health Professionals
HOSA® is a national student organization with chapters in high schools and colleges across the United States. HOSA provides three main benefits: competitive events, leadership development, and service opportunities.
Competitive Events: HOSA sponsors dozens of competitive events at regional, state, and international levels. Events fall into several categories: Health Science Events (medical terminology, pathophysiology, anatomy, pharmacology, clinical nursing, medical math), Health Professions Events (clinical specialty knowledge in areas like EMT, sports medicine, physical therapy, veterinary science), Emergency Preparedness Events (CPR/First Aid, community emergency response), Leadership Events (job seeking skills, health career display, medical innovation), and Teamwork Events (biomedical debate, creative problem solving, forensic medicine). Competing in HOSA events pushes you to master healthcare content at a level beyond what your regular courses require, builds public speaking and presentation skills, and provides recognition (state and international winners receive medals and scholarships) that strengthens your college application.
Leadership Development: HOSA chapters elect officers, organize events, and manage projects, providing structured leadership experience. Serving as a HOSA chapter officer (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, historian, or reporter) demonstrates leadership in a healthcare-focused context. State and national HOSA officers develop even more advanced leadership skills through conferences, training, and organizational management.
Service: HOSA chapters organize health-related community service projects: blood drives, health education campaigns, fundraisers for medical charities, volunteering at healthcare facilities, and health screenings at community events. These service activities build your volunteer profile while connecting to your healthcare interests.
How to Get Involved
If your school has a HOSA chapter, join it. Attend meetings, participate in competitive events, and volunteer for service projects. If your school does not have a HOSA chapter, you can start one. You need a minimum number of interested students (typically 5 to 10), a faculty advisor (usually a health science teacher, science teacher, or school nurse), and affiliation with your state HOSA association. State HOSA websites provide instructions for chartering a new chapter and registering for competitive events. Chapter dues are typically modest ($10 to $25 per year), and many chapters fundraise to cover event registration and travel costs.
CTE, HOSA, and Your Applications
CTE health science courses and HOSA participation demonstrate sustained, structured engagement with healthcare that colleges and medical schools value. On your college application, list HOSA as an extracurricular activity with specific details about your role, your competitive event results, and your service projects. Mention CTE health science coursework in your course descriptions or additional information sections. If you earned certifications through CTE (CPR, First Aid, CNA, phlebotomy, medical terminology), list them. If you won awards at HOSA competitions, include them. These experiences distinguish you from students who claim interest in medicine but have not pursued structured healthcare learning.
For related content, see our clinical experience page, extracurriculars page, and summer programs page.
Certifications Through CTE: One of the most tangible benefits of CTE health science pathways is the opportunity to earn professional certifications while still in high school. Depending on your program and state, you may be able to earn CPR/First Aid certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, phlebotomy certification, pharmacy technician certification, medical terminology certification, and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) safety certifications. These certifications are not just resume items. They are professional credentials that allow you to work in healthcare settings, earn income, and gain direct patient care experience that strengthens your college and eventually your medical school application. CNA certification, in particular, opens doors to paid clinical work at hospitals, nursing homes, and home health agencies during the school year and summers.
HOSA International Leadership Conference: The pinnacle of HOSA competition is the International Leadership Conference (ILC), held annually in June. State competition winners advance to ILC, where they compete against students from across the United States and internationally. The conference includes competitive events, workshops, keynote speakers (often prominent healthcare professionals), and networking with thousands of students who share your interest in healthcare. Attending ILC is a transformative experience for many students and a strong credential for your college application. Even if you do not advance to the international level, competing at regional and state levels provides valuable skills and recognition.
CTE and College Preparation: Some students and parents worry that CTE courses are “vocational” and will be viewed as less rigorous than traditional academic courses by college admissions committees. This concern is largely outdated. Modern CTE health science pathways are academically rigorous, aligned with state and national standards, and recognized by colleges as evidence of career-focused preparation. Many CTE students simultaneously take AP® and honors courses, demonstrating both academic rigor and career exploration. The combination of strong academic coursework and CTE health science experience signals to colleges that you are both intellectually capable and practically committed to healthcare. If you have room in your schedule, adding CTE health science courses alongside your academic courses is a strategic advantage.
References
HOSA-Future Health Professionals. “Competitive Events.” HOSA, 2025. https://www.hosa.org/competitive-events/. Accessed March 2026.
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). “Health Science.” ACTE, 2025. https://www.acteonline.org/. Accessed March 2026.