California · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Schools in California
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
California has 31 entry-level occupational therapy programs listed by ACOTE: 16 doctoral (OTD) and 15 master's. 22 are fully accredited and admitting; the rest are new programs in development. Occupational therapists in California earn a median $124,510 a year.
Compare OT programs in California at a glance
NBCOT results, length, published cost and admission requirements side by side, all from official sources. Accredited programs first, sorted by 2025 pass rate.
| Program | Degree | NBCOT 2025 | Length | Published cost | Min. GPA | GRE | Obs. hours | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keck Graduate Institute Claremont | OTD | 100% | 3 years (full-time) | — | 3 | No | — | Fall |
| Loma Linda University Health Loma Linda | OTD | 100% | 3 years | — | 3 | No | 40 | Summer (June) |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences Whittier | OTD | 100% | 2 years 3 months | $113,928 | 3 | No | — | — |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles | OTD | 100% | — | $214,247* | 3 | — | — | — |
| California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson | Master’s | 98% | — | $36,696* | 3 | — | 80 | — |
| San Jose State University San Jose | Master’s | 92% | — | — | 3 | — | 30 rec. | — |
| Dominican University of California San Rafael | Master’s | 90% | — | — | — | — | 40 | — |
| Samuel Merritt University Oakland | OTD | 89% | 3 years (8 semesters) | $150,099 | 3 | No | — | — |
| Stanbridge University Irvine | Master’s | 86% | About 26–27 months | $107,753 | 3 | — | 16 | — |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus San Marcos | Master’s | 85% | 1.7 years (5 trimesters) | — | — | — | — | January, May or September (varies by campus) |
| Samuel Merritt University Oakland | Master’s | 83% | 2 years (6.25 semesters) | $119,483 | 3 | No | — | — |
| University of the Pacific-Sacramento Campus Sacramento | OTD | 83% | 32 months (8 trimesters) | $132,600 | 3 | No | 50 rec. | January |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles Los Angeles | Master’s | 83% | 24 months (6 trimesters) | $93,242* | 3 | No | — | Spring and summer |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles Los Angeles | OTD | 78% | 32 months (8 trimesters) | $110,280 | 3 | No | — | — |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus San Marcos | OTD | 67% | 2 years (6 trimesters) | — | — | — | — | January, May or September (varies by campus) |
| Loma Linda University Loma Linda | Master’s | 50% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| California State University, Dominguez Hills Carson | OTD | — | — | — | 3 | — | 80 | — |
| Dominican University of California San Rafael | OTD | — | 3 years (9 semesters) | $130,324 | 3 | No | 40 | — |
| Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego | Master’s | — | 24 months | $109,219* | 3 | No | 40 | — |
| San Jose State University San Jose | OTD | — | — | — | 3 | — | 30 rec. | — |
| Stanbridge University-Los Angeles Alhambra | Master’s | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Stanbridge University-Riverside Riverside | Master’s | — | About 26–27 months | $107,753 | 3 | — | 16 | — |
| Alliant University Candidacy San Diego | Master’s | — | 2 years (six trimesters) | — | 3 | No | 20 | January, September |
| Azusa Pacific University Applicant Azusa | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Biola University Preaccreditation La Mirada | Master’s | — | 2 years (6 trimesters) | — | 3 | — | 40 | — |
| California Baptist University Applicant Riverside | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| CBD College Preaccreditation Los Angeles | Master’s | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Gurnick Academy Applicant San Mateo | Master’s | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pacific Oaks College Applicant Pasadena | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pepperdine University Applicant Malibu | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| William Jessup University Applicant Rocklin | OTD | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— = not published or not yet verified. Costs are as each school publishes them (full-program tuition; * = all-in total). NBCOT = share of new graduates passing in 2025. Click a program for sources and quotes.
All occupational therapy programs in California
Filter by degree or format. Click a school for its verified details and a link to the program.
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University, Dominguez Hills Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Carson | See program | See program | 98% ’25 | Accredited |
| California State University, Dominguez Hills Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Carson | See program | See program | — | Accredited |
| Dominican University of California Accelerated Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | San Rafael | See program | See program | 90% ’25 | Accredited |
| Dominican University of California Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | San Rafael | 3 years (9 semesters) | On-campus (primarily in-person) | — | Accredited |
| Keck Graduate Institute Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Claremont | 3 years (full-time) | On-campus (in-person) | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Loma Linda University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) – Bridge | Loma Linda | See program | Online | 50% ’25 | Accredited |
| Loma Linda University Health Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (EOTD) | Loma Linda | 3 years | On-campus (primarily face-to-face) | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Point Loma Nazarene University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | San Diego | 24 months | On-campus (face-to-face) | — | Accredited |
| Samuel Merritt University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Oakland | 2 years (6.25 semesters) | On-campus | 83% ’25 | Accredited |
| Samuel Merritt University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Oakland | 3 years (8 semesters) | On-campus | 89% ’25 | Accredited |
| San Jose State University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | San Jose | See program | See program | 92% ’25 | Accredited |
| San Jose State University Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | San Jose | See program | See program | — | Accredited |
| Southern California University of Health Sciences Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Los Angeles Metro) · OTA-to-OT bridge | Whittier | 2 years 3 months | Full-time, online-hybrid (live online coursework plus on-campus intensives) | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Stanbridge University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Irvine | About 26–27 months | See program | 86% ’25 | Accredited |
| Stanbridge University-Los Angeles Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Alhambra | See program | See program | — | Accredited |
| Stanbridge University-Riverside Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Riverside | About 26–27 months | See program | — | Accredited |
| University of Southern California Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Los Angeles | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | San Marcos | 1.7 years (5 trimesters) | Residential, Hybrid Immersion or Flex (varies by campus) | 85% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | San Marcos | 2 years (6 trimesters) | Residential, Hybrid Immersion or Flex (varies by campus) | 67% ’25 | Accredited |
| University of the Pacific-Sacramento Campus Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Sacramento | 32 months (8 trimesters) | On-campus (in-person, full-time) | 83% ’25 | Accredited |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | Los Angeles | 24 months (6 trimesters) | On-campus + online synchronous classes | 83% ’25 | Accredited |
| West Coast University-Los Angeles Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) | Los Angeles | 32 months (8 trimesters) | On-campus + online synchronous classes | 78% ’25 | Accredited |
| Alliant University Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | San Diego | 2 years (six trimesters) | Online with weekly on-campus classes and labs (San Diego) | — | Candidacy |
| Azusa Pacific University Entry-level OTD | Azusa | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| Biola University M.S. in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | La Mirada | 2 years (6 trimesters) | Hybrid (online + monthly on-campus labs) | — | Preaccreditation |
| California Baptist University Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) (in development) | Riverside | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| CBD College Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) | Los Angeles | See program | Hybrid | — | Preaccreditation |
| Gurnick Academy Master in Occupational Therapy (MOT) | San Mateo | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| Pacific Oaks College Entry-level OTD | Pasadena | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| Pepperdine University Occupational therapy program (planned) | Malibu | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
| William Jessup University Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (in design) | Rocklin | See program | See program | — | Applicant |
Status and degree level from the ACOTE directory. Length and format only where confirmed on the program’s own website. NBCOT = share of the program’s new graduates who passed the NBCOT exam in the latest year reported (NBCOT school performance data, retrieved 2026-10-08); new programs have no results yet.
OTD programs in California
- Azusa Pacific University · Azusa
- California Baptist University · Riverside
- California State University, Dominguez Hills · Carson
- Dominican University of California · San Rafael
- Keck Graduate Institute · Claremont
- Loma Linda University Health · Loma Linda
- Pacific Oaks College · Pasadena
- Pepperdine University · Malibu
- Samuel Merritt University · Oakland
- San Jose State University · San Jose
- Southern California University of Health Sciences · Whittier
- University of Southern California · Los Angeles
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus · San Marcos
- University of the Pacific-Sacramento Campus · Sacramento
- West Coast University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles
- William Jessup University · Rocklin
Master’s (MOT/MSOT) programs in California
- Alliant University · San Diego
- Biola University · La Mirada
- California State University, Dominguez Hills · Carson
- CBD College · Los Angeles
- Dominican University of California · San Rafael
- Gurnick Academy · San Mateo
- Loma Linda University · Loma Linda
- Point Loma Nazarene University · San Diego
- Samuel Merritt University · Oakland
- San Jose State University · San Jose
- Stanbridge University · Irvine
- Stanbridge University-Los Angeles · Alhambra
- Stanbridge University-Riverside · Riverside
- University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus · San Marcos
- West Coast University-Los Angeles · Los Angeles
New OT programs opening in California
9 programs in California are in ACOTE’s accreditation process (Applicant, Candidacy or Preaccreditation). Under ACOTE policy, a new program must be granted full Accreditation status before its graduates can sit for the NBCOT exam, so ask each school where it is in that process.
- Alliant University — Entry-level master's, candidacy (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- Azusa Pacific University — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2031/2032)
- Biola University — Entry-level master's, preaccreditation (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- CBD College — Entry-level master's, preaccreditation (ACOTE on-site visit: 2026/2027)
- California Baptist University — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
- Gurnick Academy — Entry-level master's, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
- Pacific Oaks College — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2029/2030)
- Pepperdine University — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2030/2031)
- William Jessup University — Entry-level OTD, applicant (ACOTE on-site visit: 2028/2029)
All new OT programs nationwide and what each ACOTE status means →
OTD or master's in California?
Both degrees qualify you for the NBCOT exam and a California license. The difference is time, cost, and the 14-week doctoral capstone.
- 16 OTD programs, typically 2 years to 3 years.
- 15 master's programs, typically 20 months to 26 months.
- 2 OTA-to-OT bridge programs for working assistants. About bridge programs.
- 9 with hybrid, online or weekend formats (confirmed on the school’s site).
- NBCOT pass rate: the median program here reported 88% of new graduates passing in 2025 (16 programs). Compare nationally.
- 4 programs start in January or spring: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences-California Campus, University of the Pacific-Sacramento Campus, West Coast University-Los Angeles. All spring-start programs.
- 11 confirmed no-GRE programs. No-GRE list.
Pay in California
U.S. median for occupational therapists: $100,330. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 29-1122). Compare all states.
How to become an occupational therapist in California
- Earn a bachelor’s degree and the prerequisites your target programs require (usually anatomy and physiology, psychology, and statistics). See OT school prerequisites.
- Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited master’s or OTD program, including at least 24 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork (plus a 14-week capstone for the OTD).
- Pass the NBCOT OTR exam to become a registered occupational therapist.
- Apply for a California license from the California Board of Occupational Therapy before you practice. See how to get licensed in California.
OT schools by city in California
Frequently asked questions
How many occupational therapy schools are in California?
ACOTE lists 31 entry-level OT programs at 25 schools in California: 16 doctoral (OTD) and 15 master's. 9 programs are new and still working toward full accreditation.
Should I choose an OTD or a master's program in California?
Both are entry-level degrees: graduates of either take the same NBCOT exam and get the same state license. The OTD adds a 14-week doctoral capstone, so it usually takes longer and costs more. California has 16 OTD and 15 master's programs. See master's vs. doctorate.
How long is OT school in California?
Master's programs here that publish a length run 20 months to 26 months (8 programs). OTD programs run 2 years to 3 years (8 programs). Lengths are from each program’s website; most include fieldwork.
How much do occupational therapists make in California?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in California was $124,510 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 80% earned $85,550 to $158,560.
Are there occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs in California?
Yes: 12 OTA programs. See OTA schools in California.
Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website (linked on its page); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check the source.