Competitive Events

NJ HOSA Competitive Event Guidelines

NJ HOSA COMPETITIVE EVENTS CONTESTED AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL

IMPORTANT COMPETITIVE EVENT INFORMATION

New Jersey HOSA offers a comprehensive Competitive Events Program for Middle School, Secondary, and Postsecondary/Collegiate members. Competitive Events allow members to demonstrate the knowledge, technical skills, leadership abilities, and teamwork competencies developed through their education, training, and HOSA involvement.

COMPETITIVE EVENT GUIDELINES

HOSA–Future Health Professionals reviews and updates Competitive Event Guidelines annually. Members and advisors are responsible for reviewing the most current version of the guidelines before preparing for or participating in competition.

National HOSA may issue clarifications or updates during the membership year. Competitors should never rely solely on guidelines downloaded or printed earlier in the year.

Current Competitive Event Guidelines:
https://hosa.org/guidelines/

Please remember that National HOSA Competitive Event Guidelines are written primarily for the International Leadership Conference (ILC). New Jersey HOSA may establish different procedures, deadlines, competition formats, advancement requirements, submission procedures, or other state-level requirements.

When NJ HOSA instructions differ from National HOSA procedures regarding the administration of a state competition, NJ HOSA’s published state-level instructions must be followed.

GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

Every competitor and Chapter Advisor should review the HOSA General Rules and Regulations (GRRs) in addition to the individual event guidelines.

The General Rules and Regulations contain requirements that apply across the Competitive Events Program, including eligibility, event participation, testing, judging, equipment, point deductions, accommodations, and other competition procedures.

HOSA General Rules and Regulations:
https://hosa.org/grr/

Competitors are responsible for knowing both the General Rules and Regulations and the guidelines for their specific event.

NEW JERSEY HOSA COMPETITION FORMAT

New Jersey HOSA utilizes multiple competition formats throughout the membership year. Depending upon the event, competition may include:

Virtual testing;
Digital or pre-judged submissions;
In-person skill demonstrations;
Prepared or extemporaneous presentations;
Individual leadership events;
Teamwork events; and
Recognition events.

The competition format for each event is determined annually by New Jersey HOSA based upon the National HOSA Competitive Event Guidelines, available facilities, equipment requirements, judging needs, and conference operations.

Not every component described in the National HOSA guidelines will necessarily be conducted in the same format at the state level. Advisors and competitors should carefully review the annual NJ HOSA Competitive Events information before registering.

STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

In-person skill, leadership, presentation, and teamwork components are conducted during the New Jersey HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) as identified in NJ HOSA’s annual Competitive Events information.

Some events may require competitors to successfully complete a virtual test, pre-judged submission, or other qualifying component prior to participating in an in-person round at the State Leadership Conference.

NJ HOSA recognizes the top five competitors or teams in each applicable competitive event at the state level.

The top three eligible competitors or teams in each event may advance to represent New Jersey HOSA at the HOSA International Leadership Conference, subject to National HOSA eligibility requirements and NJ HOSA registration procedures.

MIDDLE SCHOOL & POSTSECONDARY/COLLEGIATE

New Jersey HOSA provides Competitive Event opportunities for all eligible membership divisions:

Middle School
Secondary
Postsecondary/Collegiate

Not every competitive event is available to every division. Competitors should review the current National HOSA event guidelines to determine division eligibility.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

Competitors should review Appendix G – Competitive Event Photo ID Requirement before competition.

Acceptable identification requirements are established by HOSA–Future Health Professionals and may vary depending upon the level or format of competition. Competitors are responsible for bringing any identification required by the event guidelines or NJ HOSA conference instructions.

Failure to provide required identification may result in penalties or other consequences as outlined in the applicable Competitive Event Guidelines and General Rules and Regulations.

HOSA Competitive Event Appendices:
https://hosa.org/appendices/

DRESS CODE

All competitors are expected to comply with the HOSA Dress Code while participating in NJ HOSA conferences and Competitive Events.

Competitors should review the current HOSA Dress Code before attending a conference. Dress code requirements may differ from requirements used at the International Leadership Conference.

Failure to comply with the applicable dress code may result in penalties in accordance with NJ HOSA Competitive Events policies.

COMPETITORS WITH IEPS & ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS

HOSA provides specific procedures for competitors who require accommodations.

Four Competitive Events are specifically designed for competitors who are classified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):

Interviewing Skills
Life Support Skills
Personal Care
Speaking Skills

Competitors participating in these events must meet the eligibility requirements established by National HOSA.

Competitors requiring accommodations in other Competitive Events should also review HOSA’s accommodation procedures and applicable forms.

HOSA Accommodation Information:
https://hosa.org/accommodations/

Chapter Advisors should review all NJ HOSA instructions regarding state-level accommodation requests and submission deadlines.

COMPETITIVE EVENT CATEGORIES

New Jersey HOSA may offer events from the following National HOSA Competitive Event categories. The exact events and competition formats offered by NJ HOSA are published annually and are subject to change.

HEALTH SCIENCE EVENTS

Health Science Events primarily assess members’ knowledge of healthcare, biomedical science, medical terminology, mathematics, ethics, and related subject areas.

Examples may include:

Behavioral Health
Biomedical Equipment Technician
Dental Terminology
Health Informatics
Healthcare Administration
Human Growth & Development
Medical Law & Ethics
Medical Math
Medical Reading
Medical Spelling
Medical Terminology
Nutrition
Pathophysiology
Pharmacology
World Health & Disparities

HEALTH PROFESSIONS EVENTS

Health Professions Events allow members to demonstrate knowledge and technical skills related to specific healthcare careers.

Events may include:

Biotechnology
Clinical Laboratory Science
Clinical Nursing
Clinical Specialty
Dental Science
Home Health Aide
Medical Assisting
Nursing Assisting
Occupational Therapy
Patient Care Technician
Personal Care
Pharmacy Science
Physical Therapy
Respiratory Therapy
Sports Medicine
Surgical Technologist

Some Health Professions Events include a knowledge-based qualifying component followed by an in-person skills component. Competitors should refer to NJ HOSA’s annual competition structure for information regarding which components will be conducted at the state level.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EVENTS

Emergency Preparedness Events allow members to apply healthcare, public health, emergency response, and preparedness skills.

Events may include:

CERT Skills
CPR/First Aid
Emergency Medical Technician
Epidemiology
Life Support Skills
Mental Health Promotion
MRC Partnership
Public Health

LEADERSHIP EVENTS

Leadership Events provide members with opportunities to develop and demonstrate communication, professionalism, career readiness, writing, and public speaking skills.

Events may include:

Extemporaneous Writing – Health Policy
Health Career Photography
Healthy Living
Interviewing Skills
Job Seeking Skills
Prepared Speaking
Researched Persuasive Writing & Speaking
Speaking Skills

TEAMWORK EVENTS

Teamwork Events challenge members to collaborate, communicate, solve problems, and demonstrate leadership as a team.

Events may include:

Biomedical Debate
Creative Problem Solving
Health Career Display
Health Education
HOSA Bowl
Medical Innovation
Parliamentary Procedure
Public Service Announcement

Team size, chapter entry limits, submission requirements, and competition formats vary by event. Advisors should consult the annual NJ HOSA Competitive Events information before registering teams.

RECOGNITION EVENTS

Recognition Events celebrate members and chapters for achievement, service, leadership, and involvement. Unlike traditional Competitive Events, many Recognition Events recognize participants who meet a published standard rather than ranking members against one another.

Recognition opportunities may include:

Barbara James Service Award
HOSA Happenings
HOSA Service Project
Chapter and member recognition programs
Other NJ HOSA and National HOSA recognition opportunities announced during the membership year

ACTIVITY TRACKING

Several HOSA Recognition Events utilize the HOSA Activity Tracking System (HATS) to document volunteer service, fundraising, and other qualifying activities.

Members and Chapter Advisors are responsible for ensuring activities are properly entered and approved by the applicable deadlines.

Current instructions and resources are available through National HOSA’s Competitive Events resources.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Competitive Events, event names, guidelines, resources, eligibility requirements, event components, and NJ HOSA competition procedures may change from year to year.

The information on this page is intended to provide an overview of the New Jersey HOSA Competitive Events Program. It does not replace:

The current National HOSA Competitive Event Guidelines;
The HOSA General Rules and Regulations;
The HOSA Competitive Event Appendices; or
New Jersey Leadership Manual

Instruction Sheets

HOSA Activity Tracking System – Member Instructions
HOSA Activity Tracking System – Chapter Advisor Instructions
- Used for Barbara James Service Award and National Service Project

* Must be classified under the provision of The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 Public Law 105-17

** Event Includes Middle School Division