Press Release: HPN and AARC Supports NCHSE National Health Science Standards

Health Professions Network and American Association for Respiratory Care Supports NCHSE National Health Science Standards to Shape the Future of Healthcare Education

OWASSO, Okla. – On August 2, 2024, the Health Professions Network and the American Association for Respiratory Care announced their support for the National Consortium for Health Science Education’s National Health Science Standards.

The National Health Science Standards provide educators and students with a comprehensive curriculum framework for health science classes based on core knowledge transferable to many health professions. These standards are designed to prepare students for postsecondary education or industry work and are developed with input from healthcare and educational experts.

“As the healthcare industry faces workforce shortages, we believe the NHSS play a critical role in fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Rebecca Preddie, Associate Director of HPN. “HPN strongly encourages high schools nationwide to adopt the NHSS standards.”

Preddie also highlighted the integration of the NHSS into the HOSA–Future Health Professionals’ Competitive Events Program, which ensures students involved in HOSA gain real-world skills for success, preparing them for college and careers in healthcare and a seamless transition from education to the workforce.

The AARC similarly expressed strong support for the NHSS. Daniel Garrett, Executive Director of the AARC, commended NCHSE for its dedication to innovation and leadership in health science education. “We recognize the importance of the NHSS in providing a consistent framework for ensuring rigor and consistency in academic curricula at the middle and high school levels,” Garrett said. “We share NCHSE’s vested interest in ensuring a robust and talented healthcare workforce to meet today’s needs and sustain
our communities into the future.”

The National Health Science Standards are accompanied by the National Health Science Certificate, an exam designed to measure and document a student’s achievement and aptitude for successful transition into a postsecondary health science program. The standards accessible at no cost to educators and students through the NCHSE website at https://healthscienceconsortium.org/standards/.

Established in 1991, the National Consortium for Health Science Education is a non-profit organization on a mission to educate the next generation of health science professionals by defining and advancing the framework of health science education, responding to the needs of the healthcare industry, connecting with industry stakeholders contributing to health science education, and shaping the future of healthcare workforce by industry leadership. For more information about NCHSE, or to access the National Health Science Standards, visit https://healthscienceconsortium.org or call (385) 255-7850.