Hospital Inspection Services and Certification

Inspector Recertification

Overview

All inspectors are responsible for monitoring their certification expiration date. Reminder notices may be sent to addresses on file for certified inspectors however, failure to receive a notice shall not be grounds for an extension of certification past the expiration date.

Hospital Inspector Recertification Seminars are offered twice a year in Sacramento and Los Angeles. These one-day seminars:

  • Cover code updates.
  • Cover inspection procedures.
  • Cover inspection requirements and techniques used in Health Facilities and Acute Care Hospitals.
  • Are designed to fulfill the education requirement for recertification.

All Hospital Inspector Certifications issued by HCAI expire three years from the most recent certification or recertification examination date. To recertify inspectors shall participate in a Hospital Inspector Recertification Seminar and pass a Recertification Examination (given at the conclusion of the seminar) within the final twelve months of the three-year certification period in order to maintain a valid certification in the same Hospital Inspector Certification class. If an inspector upgrades to another certification class, the recertification will be issued for the higher level only. Class C inspectors are also required to submit evidence of continuing certification in the specialties for which they are certified.

HCAI shall rescind approval of a Hospital Inspector of Record on a project if the inspector does not maintain valid certification throughout the term of the project per California Administrative Code (CAC) 7-212(f).

Sacramento Exam Date: March 5, 2025
Los Angeles Exam Dates: March 11-13 2025
Final filing Date: February 3, 2025

Recertification Seminar and Examination

Hospital Inspectors with Class A, B, or “C – Architectural” and/or “C – Anchorage and Bracing of Non-Structural Components” specialties seeking recertification must attend a six-hour seminar and pass a two-hour recertification examination consisting of multiple-choice questions (open book) based on information presented at the recertification seminar. The examination tests the candidate’s knowledge of new or revised requirements of the California Administrative Code and the California Building Standards Code. The examination may also include questions regarding changes in HCAI policies, critical changes in new construction materials or inspection procedures covered at the seminar. A candidate must obtain a minimum passing score of 75% on the written examination.

Class C hospital inspectors (other than those with “Architecture” and/or “Anchorage and Bracing of Non-Structural Components” specialties) may elect to attend only the California Administrative Code portion of the seminar (four hours) or may attend the entire seminar. These inspectors must pass only the California Administrative Code portion of the examination (30-minute test) and may not take the portion of the examination covering the technical code updates.

Recertification Exam Notice

Recertification Seminar Handouts

Recertification Details and Rules

Recertification Seminar Eligibility

Everyone is eligible to attend the Hospital Inspector Recertification Seminar.

Recertification Examination Eligibility

To be eligible for the Recertification Examination, a Hospital Inspector shall meet the following minimum criteria:

  1. Possess a valid Hospital Inspector Certification or an expired certification that meets the provisions described in the “Renewal of Expired Hospital Inspector Certification” section below.
  2. Complete a seminar conducted, sponsored, or co-sponsored by HCAI within the final twelve months of the three-year certification period.
  3. Submit a recertification seminar/examination fee as indicated in the Recertification Fees section below.

How to Apply

A Hospital Inspector may apply for the recertification by submitting:

  1. A completed Hospital Inspector Recertification registration form to the Sacramento office. The completed form must include the inspector’s contact information and certification number. Any change of address, email address, or telephone numbers shall be indicated on the form. This contact information, including email address and phone number, will be posted to HCAI’s list of certified inspectors.
  2. Seminar & Examination fees as indicated in the Recertification Fees section below.

Recertification Fees

All fees must be received prior to examination date.

  • Recertification Examination Fee – $100.00
  • Delinquency Fee – $100

Fees shall be made payable to “HCAI.” Acceptable methods of payment are:

  • Company Check
  • Cashier’s Check
  • Money Order

Registration form and payment must be mailed to the preferred testing location:

Department of Health Care Access and Information
Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development
Hospital Inspector Certification Program
2020 W. El Camino Ave., Suite 800
Sacramento, CA 95833

OR

Department of Health Care Access and Information
Office of Statewide Hospital Planning and Development
Hospital Inspector Certification Program
355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 1900
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Day of the Recertification Examination

The candidate should allow time to arrive to the seminar/examination location and check-in. Directions to the locations may be requested from HCAI, if needed.

The Seminar will start promptly at 8:00 a.m.
One hour for lunch and two 10-minute breaks are included during the seminar.

Candidates must have received written approval and paid all fees to participate in the seminar/examination. Candidates must bring a valid form of photo identification with signature (example: a driver’s license).

Conduct Relative to the Examination

An applicant or candidate who participates in any of the following acts before, during or after the administration of the examination, shall be disqualified by the Office and not be eligible for certification. The applicant or candidate shall not engage in activities that would compromise the integrity of the examination including but not limited to the following:

  1. Violate any rules of the examination.
  2. Bring unauthorized reference material or electronic device(s) into the examination room.
  3. Copy any portion of the exam.
  4. Participate in collusion regarding the exam.
  5. Disclose contents of the examination questions to anyone other than a person authorized by the Office.
  6. Solicit, accept or compile information regarding the contents of the examination.
  7. Falsify documents required for the exam entrance.

Certification

Upon successfully passing the recertification examination, an updated HCAI Hospital Inspector Certificate will be issued.

Renewal of Expired Hospital Inspector Certification

Up to six months after expiration, Hospital Inspectors may reinstate their certification by:

  1. Applying for, and attending, the recertification seminar,
  2. Passing the recertification examination, and
  3. Paying a $100.00 delinquency fee (in addition to the $100.00 recertification seminar/examination fee).

Hospital Inspectors are not permitted to continue to serve as Inspectors of Record (IORs) during the six-month delinquency period.

Certification cannot be reinstated more than six months after expiration. To obtain a new certification, an individual would have to apply for and pass the certification examination.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants must submit the Reasonable Accommodation Request form (pages 3-6 of Policy Intent Notice (PIN) 61) at least 30 days prior to the examination date. Please direct questions regarding accessibility and/or reasonable accommodation to Michelle Lachica at (916) 440-8484 or email ISU@hcai.ca.gov.