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RESEARCH AND ANALYTICS ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹BRANCH

Vital Records Data Applications and Dictionaries

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ā€‹ā€‹Update
Due to significant staff reduction, please anticipate increased application processing times and delays in email responses. We apologize for any inconvenieā€‹nce this may cause.

To conformā€‹ with productionā€Æstaff salaries, the current rate for custom file production is $87/hour. This rate is re-evaluated each fiscal year and notification will be sent out by Listservā€‹ā€Æin the event of any change.ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ Following our recent review, an updated rate will take effect May 1, 2025, with a notification to be sent out shortly.ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹

Califā€‹ornia Department of Public Health ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Vital Statistics Applicationsā€‹ā€‹

The Califā€‹ornia Department of Public Health ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Vital Statistics Applications (CDPH VSA) ā€‹allows requesters to submit online vital statistics applications for:ā€‹

CDPH VSA enables requesters access to previously submitted applications, providing the ability to review associated forms and documentā€‹s, track the status of submitted applications and studies, and personnel listed on the application have access to associated studies within CDPH VSA.

ā€‹ ā€‹Once registered, requestors are encouraged to review theā€‹ Vital Statistics Application FAQ and Data Product Guidance Tool pages to determine the most suitable application and data products for their research purposes.ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ For information on pricing, see the Vital Records Data Fees Cost Modelā€‹ webpage.ā€‹


For more information, refer to the following page sectionsā€‹:

ā€‹Vital Statistics Applications

Anti-Fraud - Birth

  • Contains the following variables:
    • Firstā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth,  Place of Birth, and Motherā€™s Maiden Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

ā€‹Anti-Fraud - Deathā€‹

  • Contains the following variables:
    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Place of Death, Date of Death, Motherā€™s Maiden Name, Social Security Number, and Fatherā€™s Last Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

Public Use - Birth

  • Contains the following variables:

    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, and Place of Birth

  • Apply via CDPH VSAā€‹ā€‹ā€‹

ā€‹Public Use - Death

  • Contains the following variables: 
    • First, Middle, and Last Name, Sex, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Place of Death, Date of Death, and Fatherā€™s Last Name
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

ā€‹Public Useā€‹ā€‹ - Marriage

  • Contains the following variables: 
    • ā€‹Date of Marriage, Last Name of Groom, First Name of Groom, Middle Initial of Groom, Last Name of Bride, First Name of Bride, Middle Initial of Bride
  • Apply via CDPH VSA

New Research Projects

For use by scientific researchers

Continuing Projects 

For changes to any existing application

  • Aā€‹ccess CDPH VSA  and complete a Continuing Application Form
Business Use Case Proposal (BUCP)

For California State governmental agencies.

  • If you are interested in vital statistics data please email HIRS@cdph.ca.gov to set up ā€‹a meeting with CDPH Research and Analytics Branch (RAB). RAB staff will walk through with you the BUCP application process and BUCP-template expectations. ā€‹

Local Health Departments (LHD)

For use by California Local Health Departments

California Cancer Registry (CCR)

Researchers may apply to receive death record data linked to the CCR.

  • Once CCR has supplied project authorizations, access CDPH VSA to submit your application for VSAC approval

Tabulated Data

For custom tabulated, de-identified vital records data (e.g. counts of birth or death in California)

Return toā€‹ the topā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹

Vital Statistiā€‹ā€‹cs Applications Grid

Requestor/
Organizā€‹aā€‹tion

Research

ā€‹Government
(non-research)

Public Use

Anti-fraudā€‹

CDPH Program (BUCP)

Local Health Department

California Cancer Registry (CCR)

Tabular

Researchers

Yes

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹ā€‹Student with sponsor

Yes

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

Universities

Yes

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

Government Agency

Yes

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

Media

 -

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Public

 -

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Law Enforcement

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Fraud Prevention Agencies

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Officers of the Court

 -

 -

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

 -

Yes

School District

Yes

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

 -

Yes

Local Health Department

Yes

Yes

Yes

 -

 -

Yes

 -

Yes

Other CDPH programs

Yes

 -

Yes

 

Yes

 -

Yes

Yes

Mortuaries/Funeral Homes

 -

 -

Yes

 -

 -

 -

 -

Yesā€‹

For information regarding the availability of data and the data request process, see the ā€‹ā€‹Vital Statistics Request Guide (PDF).

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Data Dictionarā€‹ies

Note: Please refer to the data source comparison charts posted on Data and Limitations for updated year availability and detailed data source descriptions.ā€‹ā€‹

ā€‹Bā€‹irthā€‹

Birth Cohort

Death

Fetal Death

ā€‹ā€‹Multiple Causes of Death (MCOD)ā€‹

  • ā€‹MCOD Layouts are provided by CDC and can be accessed through the CDC website.

All data dictionaries should beā€‹ filled out completely and all variables justified.

Please contact Health Information and Research Section (HIRS) for assistance if the requested Data Dictionary is not available. HIRS is currently working on updating all of the Data Dictionaries and appreciates your patience during this transition. ā€‹ā€‹

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Contact Informā€‹ā€‹ation

Please contact the Health Information and Research Section (HIRSā€‹) at HIRS@cdph.ca.gov for more information related to data.ā€‹

ā€‹Go to the CHSI Main Pageā€‹ā€‹

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