Missouri HOSA became a chartered state association in June of 1996.  At that time, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recognized the Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO), but did not have the ability to provide staff to manage Missouri HOSA.  Various Local Chapter Advisors served as the State Advisor and worked closely with the state of Illinois to offer statewide programming in an effort to increase Missouri HOSA membership.  In the 2018-2019 school year, membership reached 1,805 members.  In that same school year, PLTW-Biomedical Science programs were recognized as CTE-approved programs.  The numbers continued to expand and by the 2015-2016 school year, Missouri HOSA had over 3,000 members.  At the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, DESE’s Director of Health Science Education was announced as the Missouri HOSA State Advisor.  The CTSO is now managed by staff within DESE, and Missouri HOSA is thriving with now over 5,550 members!