International Leadership Conference (ILC)
The HOSA International Leadership Conference (ILC) is the largest annual gathering of future health professionals worldwide — bringing together top performers from US state and international affiliate competitions for four days of competition finals, leadership programming, recognition, exhibitor events, and networking. ILC attendance has grown from a few thousand in the early 1990s to over 10,000 in recent years.
The 2026 ILC carries particular significance: it is HOSA’s 50th anniversary. Programming reflects the milestone with 50-year retrospective sessions, founder-era alumni speakers, and special recognition events. For Chinese students who qualify through the SKT-iHOSA China site event, the global stage is the culmination of a 12-month season.
ILC 2026 · the 50th anniversary program
What happens at ILC
- ▸Competition finals — top performers from each affiliate compete in event finals across all five US categories + ATC/CCE/BCE international tracks.
- ▸Keynote & general sessions — speakers from healthcare leadership, biomedical research, public health, healthcare policy.
- ▸Exhibitor expo — universities, health-career programs, scholarship sponsors, employers. Recruiters present and meet students.
- ▸Recognition ceremonies — Barbara James Service Award, scholarship recipients, alumni Hall of Fame inductions.
- ▸International programming — sessions for international affiliates including SKT-iHOSA, focused on cross-border career pathways.
2026-only programming
- ★50-year retrospective — sessions tracing HOSA’s evolution from 1976 founding chapters to today’s 5,000+ chapter, 260,000+ member global network.
- ★Founder-era alumni panel — early HOSA members who built careers across the 1980s–2000s healthcare landscape share perspective.
- ★Special anniversary recognition — historical HOSA chapters, longest-serving advisors, milestone scholarship recipients.
- ★2026 Champions reveal — Cybis-HOSA26 Champions branding rolls out, recognizing the milestone year’s competition winners.
- ★Expanded international attendance — the China cohort from SKT-iHOSA is expected to reach record numbers for the 50th.
Final 2026 ILC location and full session schedule are published on hosa.org/ilc/ as the date approaches.
Washington Leadership Academy (WLA)
WLA is HOSA’s policy & advocacy track, held in Washington, DC. The academy trains collegiate-division members in healthcare policy fluency — bill tracking, congressional briefings, advocacy meeting practice, regulatory reading. Selected attendees meet with Capitol Hill staff and federal agencies (CDC, NIH, FDA) during the program.
WLA graduates often pursue health policy roles (CDC, HHS, NIH, state health departments) or healthcare administration / consulting tracks after their clinical training. For international students, WLA exposure to US health-policy mechanics complements clinical credentials with policy literacy.
— HOSA leadership-development context
WLA selection is competitive — collegiate members apply through their chartered association. Chinese students attending US universities and active in their school’s HOSA chapter are eligible.
State & affiliate conferences
Each of the 50 US state associations runs its own annual state conference, typically in February–April. State conferences are the qualifying tier for ILC — top performers in state-level competitive events earn the ticket to the global stage. For international affiliates (Canada, Mexico, SKT-iHOSA China, others in Asia), the equivalent is the country-level site event.
For Chinese students, the analogous tier is the SKT-iHOSA China site event, held March / mid-April 2026. Qualifying students from the December 26 / January 2 online assessment + project review attend the China site event and compete for global-stage qualification.
How Chinese students reach the global stage
The qualification pipeline for Chinese students runs from June 7, 2025 registration through to the June 17–20, 2026 global event — twelve months, four checkpoints, two divisions.
Register on Webloom
Choose Division I (grades 9–10) or Division II (grades 11–12) and one of ATC / CCE / BCE. Window: 2025-06-07 → 2026-04-20.
Initial submission / Online assessment
BCE initial submission: 2025-12-26 · 14:00. ATC/CCE online assessment: 2026-01-02. Both hard-locked by Webloom.
China site event
In-person China site event. Top assessment / project performers attend. 2026-03 / mid-04. Specific dates published by SKT.
Global stage · ILC 2026
Four-day international finals. Top China site performers attend. 2026-06-17 → 06-20. The 50th anniversary.
Conferences FAQ
Do I need to attend the China site event to qualify for ILC?
Yes. The China site event is the qualifying tier for Chinese students — performance there determines global-stage attendance. Direct registration to ILC without going through the China site is not the standard path for students registering via SKT-iHOSA.
Where is ILC 2026 held?
Indianapolis Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana — confirmed on hosa.org/ilc/. June 17-20, 2026, marking HOSA’s 50th anniversary.
What does attending ILC cost?
For Chinese students, costs typically include: travel (international flights + ground transport), accommodation (HOSA negotiates conference-rate hotels), ILC registration fee (set by HOSA International each year), and meals during the conference. Group travel arrangements coordinated through SKT-iHOSA / Hanlin Education may offer better rates. Scan WhatsApp for current cost estimates.
Visa requirements for ILC attendance?
Chinese students attending ILC in the US typically need a B1/B2 visitor visa or B1 conference visa. Visa applications should begin no later than January 2026 for a June 2026 ILC. We provide visa-letter support (HOSA International issues invitation letters for confirmed qualified students). Visa appointment availability varies by consulate.
Are parents allowed at ILC?
Parents and chaperones are welcome at ILC and may register separately. For Chinese student delegations, SKT typically coordinates chaperone arrangements. Parent attendance at the recognition ceremonies (where awards are presented) is a common tradition.
Get on the path to global stage.
Twelve months from registration to global stage. We help you build the calendar — registration, assessment prep, project planning (if BCE), China site readiness, and ILC logistics — so the milestones don’t surprise you.
