Impact Lives through Occupational Therapy
Enter the field of OT as an OTA in as few as 16 months.
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Our Online OTA program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Earn Your Degree through St. Kate’s OTA Program in California
If you want a rewarding career in a growing healthcare field, our OTA program in California makes it possible to earn an associate degree in occupational therapy in as few as 16 months. Three start dates per year in January, May, and September also allow you to get started on your OTA career sooner.
St. Kate’s ACOTE accredited online OTA program in California features a blend of 80% online and 20% onsite instruction. The online coursework can be completed from anywhere, in case you don’t live in California. However, you would need to commute to one of our sites near Fresno or San Diego to complete your in-person education.
The onsite portion of the OTA curriculum consists of two in-person components: Level I and Level II fieldwork opportunities and 12 skills labs.
If you’ve been looking to get into the field of occupational therapy, but couldn’t find the right program, speak to one of our admission counselors.
Online Courses and On-Site Labs in California
Our OTA program blends the convenience and flexibility of online learning with the hands-on experience you need. Our online curriculum will provide you with the foundational knowledge you’ll need to be competent in the field of occupational therapy. The hands-on portion of our program will challenge you to put that knowledge into action and help you gain the skills to enter the healthcare industry as a confident and skilled OTA.
Online Coursework
St. Kate’s OTA student taking notes on a computer- Mixed media coursework accommodates diverse learning styles.
- Complete and submit assignments and quizzes online.
- Participate in student discussion forums and instructor chats.
Fieldwork
- Gain real-life experience.
- Experience working with a variety of patient populations.
- Learn about diverse practice settings.
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Skills Labs
- Attend labs at one of our sites near San Jose or San Diego, California.
- Master important OT skills under expert guidance.
- Receive personalized instruction with our 12-to-1 faculty ratio.
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Occupational therapy regulations and license requirements are handled on a state level in California by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. In order to get licensed as an occupational therapist in California, prospective practitioners must at least hold a Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from an accredited program. This takes approximately four years, and it will also be necessary to have at least 24 weeks of work experience.
According to a 2018 report on Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for California, there were approximately 9,580 practicing occupational therapists in the state as of 2018. Their median hourly wage was $47, and their average annual wage was $95,160. This is significantly higher than the average salary of occupational therapists in neighboring Arizona, as well as the average national annual income for occupational therapists in the United States. However, it is only slightly higher than the average income of occupational therapists in Oregon.
There are no recent reports about the demand for occupational therapists in the state of California. However, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to increase by 18% from 2018-2028 nationwide.
Practitioners in this field can be either an occupational therapist, or a certified occupational therapy assistant.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Carson
Carson is a city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles. The average income of an occupational therapist in Carson is about $54 per hour and $112,145 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Carson is California State University.
California State University – Dominguez Hills
Department of Occupational Therapy
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747
[email protected]
California State University offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). It takes approximately 6 years to complete a master’s degree. Classes are offered year-round, and tuition is about $3,792 after aid. The acceptance rate is about 46%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Irvine
Irvine is a city in Orange County. The average income of an occupational therapist in Irvine is about $38 per hour and $79,454 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Irvine is Stanbridge University.
Stanbridge University
Stanbridge University Occupational Therapy Program
2041 Business Center Dr
Irvine, CA 92612
[email protected]
Stanbridge University offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). It takes approximately 6 years to complete a master’s degree. The tuition at Stanbridge University is about $33,751 for a 4-year program. The acceptance rate is about 58%. Stanbridge also offers degrees for occupational therapy assistants.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Loma Linda
Loma Linda is a city in San Bernardino County. The average income of an occupational therapist in Loma Linda is about $58 per hour and $121,395 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Loma Linda is Loma Linda University.
Loma Linda University
Department of Occupational Therapy
School of Allied Health Professions
Nichol Hall Room 1605
Loma Linda, CA 92350
[email protected]
Loma Linda University offers an entry-level master’s (MOT) and a doctorate (OTD) (53 credits) in occupational therapy. It takes about 6 years to acquire a master’s degree, and 8 years to acquire a doctorate degree. Tuition is about $30,000 per year. Loma Linda University does not publicly report its acceptance rate.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the U.S. The average income of an occupational therapist in Los Angeles is about $47 per hour and $99,992 per year. There are two schools with an accredited occupational therapy program in Los Angeles: the University of Southern California and West Coast University.
University of Southern California
USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133
Los Angeles, CA
90089-9003
[email protected]
USC offers a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy. A bachelor’s degree takes about 4 years to complete, and a master’s degree takes about 6 years to complete. Tuition is about $28,628 per semester for both undergraduate and graduate students. The acceptance rate at USC is about 16%.
West Coast University
West Coast Occupational Therapy Program
12215 Victory Boulevard
North Hollywood, CA 91606
[email protected]
West Coast University offers a master’s of science in occupational therapy (MSOT), and an occupational therapy doctorate (OTD). A master’s degree takes about 6 years to acquire, and a doctorate degree takes about 8 years to acquire. Tuition is about $34,000 per year. The acceptance rate is about 97%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in Oakland
Oakland is a large city neighboring San Francisco. The average income of an occupational therapist in Oakland is about $49 per hour and $101,218 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Oakland is Samuel Merritt University.
Samuel Merritt University
Samuel Merritt University Occupational Therapy Program
3100 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, California 94609
[email protected]
Samuel Merritt University offers a Master of Occupational Therapy and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. A master’s degree takes about 6 years to complete, and a doctorate takes about 8 years to complete. Tuition is about $43,557 per year for a master’s degree. The acceptance rate for Samuel Merritt University is about 56%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in San Jose
San Jose is a large city in Silicon Valley. The average income of an occupational therapist in San Jose is about $49 per hour and $101,028 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in San Jose is San Jose State University.
San Jose State University
Department of Occupational Therapy
Central Classroom Building 203
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0059
[email protected]
San Jose offers an undergraduate degree in pre-occupational therapy and a master’s of science in occupational therapy. A bachelor’s degree takes about 4 years to complete, and a master’s degree takes about 6 years to complete.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in San Marcos
San Marcos is a city in southern California near San Diego. There isn’t a lot of information available about the average income of occupational therapists in San Marcos, but the average income of an occupational therapist in nearby San Diego is about $48 per hour and $99,976 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in San Marcos is the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
University of St Augustine for Health Sciences
Occupational Therapy Degree Programs
College of Rehabilitative Sciences
San Marcos, CA Campus
700 Windy Point Dr.
San Marcos, CA 92069
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences offers a Master of Occupational Therapy and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. A master’s degree takes about 6 years to acquire, and a doctorate takes about 8 years to acquire. Tuition is about $12,948 per trimester for OTD students. The acceptance rate for the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is not publicly available information.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Programs in San Rafael
San Rafael is a city along the northern edge of the San Francisco Bay. The average income of an occupational therapist in San Rafael is about $53 per hour and $110,373 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in San Rafael is the Dominican University of California.
Dominican University of California
Dominican University of California Occupational Therapy Program
50 Acacia Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
[email protected]
The Dominican University of California offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (80 credits). A master’s degree.takes about 6 years to acquire. Tuition is about $92,100. The acceptance rate of the Dominican University of California is not publicly available information.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Anaheim
Anaheim is a city near Los Angeles that is a popular destination for tourists. The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Anaheim is about $30 per hour and $62,400 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in Anaheim is the American Career College.
American Career College-Orange County Campus
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1200 N Magnolia Ave
Anaheim, CA 92801
American Career College offers an associate’s degree in occupational therapy. It takes 20 weeks to complete. The tuition is about $53,075 total. The acceptance rate at American Career College is about 100%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in El Cajon
El Cajon is a city east of San Diego. There is little available information about the average income of occupational therapy assistants in El Cajon. However, the average income of occupational therapy assistants in San Diego is about $31 per hour and $63,959 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy program in El Cajon is Grossmont College.
Grossmont College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
8800 Grossmont College Drive
El Cajon, California 92020
[email protected]
Grossmont College offers an Associate in Science Degree (with an emphasis in occupational therapy). This is 71 credits and takes about 2 years to complete. In-state tuition is about $1,386, and the acceptance rate is about 100%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Los Angeles
The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Los Angeles is about $31 per hour and $72,406 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Los Angeles is CBD College.
CBD College
CBD College Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
3699 Wilshire Blvd, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
[email protected]
Tuition at CBD College is $38,635 per year. The acceptance rate is 100%. More information is available upon request.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of California. The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Sacramento is about $31 per hour and $63,830 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Sacramento is Sacramento City College.
Sacramento City College
Occupational Therapy Assisting
3835 Freeport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95822
[email protected]
Sacramento City College offers an Associate in Science Degree (with an emphasis in occupational therapy). An associate degree takes about 2 years to complete. In-state tuition is about $1,104. The acceptance rate at Sacramento City College is 100%.
Accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs in Santa Ana
Santa Ana is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The average income of an occupational therapy assistant in Santa Ana is about $32 per hour and $65,902 per year. The only school with an accredited occupational therapy assistant program in Santa Ana is Santa Ana College.
Santa Ana College
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
1530 W. 17th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
[email protected]
Santa Ana College offers an associate’s degree in occupational therapy. An associate’s degree takes 2 years to complete. In-state tuition is about $1,160. The acceptance rate at Santa Ana College is 100%.