What Does OSHPD Mean?
OSHPD stood for the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development — the California state agency that regulated the design, construction, and seismic safety of every hospital and skilled nursing facility in the state. In July 2021 it was renamed HCAI (Department of Health Care Access and Information). The acronym OSHPD is still used informally across the industry, but the agency, its programs, and its requirements are unchanged.
OSHPD vs HCAI — what changed?
Nothing functional. The renaming was an administrative reorganization. Everything an engineer, contractor, or equipment manufacturer needs to know is identical:
- Same seismic certification programs — OSP and OPM
- Same PIN bulletins (PIN 55, PIN 62, PIN 68, etc.)
- Same plan-check and inspection process
- Same California Building Code requirements (2025 CBC / ASCE 7-22)
What does OSHPD/HCAI actually do?
HCAI's Facilities Development Division reviews and approves all new construction, additions, and major equipment installations in California hospitals. For seismic engineers, this means three certification pathways:
- OSP — Special Seismic Pre-approval — a pre-issued certification for a specific piece of equipment, valid across all CA hospital projects. Requires AC156 shake-table testing.
- OPM — Pre-approval of Manufacturer — listing of a manufacturer's components for project use.
- Project-specific seismic certification — done on a per-project basis under IBC §1705.13 / ASCE 7-22 §13.2.2 when no OSP exists.
Quick history
- 1978 — OSHPD created after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake.
- 2003 — OSP / OPM seismic pre-approval programs formalized.
- July 2021 — OSHPD renamed HCAI.
- 2025 — 2025 CBC + PIN 55 revision in effect.
Does OSHPD apply outside California?
No. HCAI/OSHPD is California-only. Outside California, nonstructural seismic certification is governed by IBC §1705.13 and ASCE 7-22 §13.2.2. Many states accept an HCAI OSP as evidence of compliance, but there is no equivalent listing program.
Related resources
- What is an HCAI OSP? — full guide
- OSHPD seismic requirements checklist
- Free OSP database — search 3,000+ listings
- HCAI certification cost (2026)
- HCAI certification timeline
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