Incorporated in 1970, CSHE originally included the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter, which was founded in 1956, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Chapter founded in 1959, and the Inland Chapter founded in 1967. The San Diego Chapter was established in 1972,Central Coastal and Orange County in 1976, Central Valley in 1977, Northeastern California in 1980, Kings River in 1986, Kern River in 1989, South Bay Counties in 1991 and Redwood in 1992.

CSHE has an active membership with eleven chapters statewide. The California Society for Healthcare Engineering, Inc. (CSHE) is the California chapter of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). Membership is open to individuals actively employed directly in a healthcare facility or healthcare system or those who provide consultative, advisory, products or equipment to healthcare facilities.

In its first five years, CSHE doubled its membership and the number of healthcare facilities represented, established the CSHE Annual Institute, quarterly CSHE News, and established a committee to review proposed codes and standards. CSHE members have held board positions in the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE), including several presidencies, and are regularly invited to serve on various ASHE advisory committees.

CSHE has worked to establish healthcare facility engineering educational programs in community colleges, apprenticeship programs and through programs coordinated with professionals in the architectural, design and mechanical/electrical engineering fields of healthcare facility construction.