LA & Orange County · 2027 admissions
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Schools in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
By Deepam Pawar, OT · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website
Los Angeles & Orange County, CA has 8 occupational therapy assistant programs listed by ACOTE (7 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.
LA & Orange County here means programs in Los Angeles, Alhambra, Santa Clarita, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine. See all California OTA programs.
Compare OTA programs in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | — | — | — |
| 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 Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
| 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 |
| Platt College-Anaheim Associate of Science (AS) | Anaheim | As little as 20 months | See program | 88% ’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.
Online and hybrid OTA programs in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA
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 Los Angeles & Orange County, CA 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
- 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 Los Angeles & Orange County, CA?
ACOTE lists 8 occupational therapy assistant programs at 7 schools in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA: 7 associate-degree and 1 bachelor's-degree. 2 programs are still working toward full accreditation.
How long is OTA school in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA?
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. Los Angeles & Orange County, CA has 6 OT programs; see OT schools in Los Angeles & Orange County, CA and bridge programs.
Sources: ACOTE school directory (retrieved October 9, 2026); each program’s website; BLS OEWS (May 2025). Found an error? Tell us.