California · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools in California
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
California has 12 occupational therapy assistant programs listed by ACOTE (11 associate, 1 bachelor's). Graduates take the NBCOT COTA exam and then apply for a state license. OTAs in California earn a median $81,770 a year.
Compare OTA programs in California
NBCOT COTA results, length and published cost side by side. Accredited programs first, sorted by 2025 pass rate.
| Program | Degree | NBCOT 2025 | Length | Published cost | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis Community College Fresno | Associate | 100% | — | — | — |
| Grossmont College El Cajon | Associate | 95% | 2 years | — | Summer |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos San Marcos | Associate | 88% | About 20 months | — | — |
| Platt College-Anaheim Anaheim | Associate | 88% | As little as 20 months | — | — |
| American Career College-Orange County Campus Anaheim | Associate | 85% | As little as 20 months | $66,680* | — |
| Stanbridge University Irvine | Associate | 79% | About 22–23 months | $58,820 | — |
| Santa Ana College Santa Ana | Associate | 75% | — | — | — |
| Sacramento City College Sacramento | Associate | 73% | — | — | January |
| CBD College Los Angeles | Associate | 69% | — | — | — |
| Stanbridge University-Los Angeles Alhambra | Associate | — | — | — | — |
| College of the Canyons Candidacy Santa Clarita | Associate | — | — | — | — |
| Santa Ana College Candidacy Santa Ana | Bachelor’s | — | — | — | — |
— = 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 OTA programs in California
| Program | City | Length | Format | NBCOT | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Career College-Orange County Campus Associate of Occupational Science (AOS) | Anaheim | As little as 20 months | Blended (online + on-campus) | 85% ’25 | Accredited |
| CBD College Associate of Applied Science (AAS) | Los Angeles | See program | Hybrid | 69% ’25 | Accredited |
| Clovis Community College OTA associate degree | Fresno | See program | See program | 100% ’25 | Accredited |
| Grossmont College Associate Degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant | El Cajon | 2 years | See program | 95% ’25 | Accredited |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos Associate of Occupational Science (AOS) | San Marcos | About 20 months | See program | 88% ’25 | Accredited |
| Platt College-Anaheim Associate of Science (AS) | Anaheim | As little as 20 months | See program | 88% ’25 | Accredited |
| Sacramento City College Associate in Science (AS) | Sacramento | 4 semesters + 2 summer sessions | Evening and Saturday classes | 73% ’25 | Accredited |
| Santa Ana College OTA associate degree | Santa Ana | See program | See program | 75% ’25 | Accredited |
| Stanbridge University Associate of Occupational Science (AOS) | Irvine | About 22–23 months | See program | 79% ’25 | Accredited |
| Stanbridge University-Los Angeles Associate of Occupational Science (AOS) | Alhambra | See program | See program | — | Accredited |
| College of the Canyons Associate in Science (AS) | Santa Clarita | See program | See program | — | Candidacy |
| Santa Ana College Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies | Santa Ana | See program | On campus, online and hybrid (designed for working adults) | — | Candidacy |
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.
OTA schools by city in California
Online and hybrid OTA programs in California
No OTA program is fully online: every accredited program includes in-person labs and at least 16 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork. These California programs offer the most flexibility, based on the school’s own description or ACOTE’s distance-education figure:
- American Career College-Orange County Campus (Anaheim) — format: Blended (online + on-campus)
- CBD College (Los Angeles) — format: Hybrid — ACOTE: 75-100% delivered by distance education
- Sacramento City College (Sacramento) — format: Evening and Saturday classes — ACOTE: 50-74% delivered by distance education
- Santa Ana College (Santa Ana) — format: On campus, online and hybrid (designed for working adults)
- Stanbridge University (Irvine) — ACOTE: 50-74% delivered by distance education
Pay in California
U.S. median for occupational therapy assistants: $72,300. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Compare all states.
OTAs in California are licensed by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. How to get licensed in California → · How to become an OTA · OTA salary by state
Frequently asked questions
How many OTA programs are in California?
ACOTE lists 12 occupational therapy assistant programs at 11 schools in California: 11 associate-degree and 1 bachelor's-degree. 2 programs are still working toward full accreditation.
How long is OTA school in California?
Most OTA associate programs take about two years including fieldwork, and every accredited OTA program includes at least 16 weeks of full-time Level II fieldwork. Check the length we confirmed for each program in the table above; some schools also require prerequisite courses before you start.
How much do OTAs make in California?
The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in California was $81,770 (BLS, May 2025).
How do I become a COTA in California?
Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, pass the NBCOT COTA exam, then apply for a license from the California occupational therapy licensing board. See how licensing works.
Can I become an occupational therapist later?
Yes. Many OTAs later complete an OTA-to-OT bridge program. California has 31 OT programs; see OT schools in California and bridge programs.
Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website; BLS OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us.