How long does occupational therapy assistant training take in California?

Most people become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California through an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure.

Do occupational therapy assistants need a license in California?

Yes. California requires state-level licensing or registration for occupational therapy assistants, administered by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California (2026)

Q: How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in California?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), occupational therapy assistants in California earned a median annual wage of approximately $81,770. Employment concentration in California is roughly 0.64 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants in California?

California currently employs approximately 3,840 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California occupational therapy assistants earn a median annual wage of $81,770 ($39.31/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,840 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 13.1% above the national median of $72,300 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $81,770 ($39.31/hr)
25th percentile: $76,350 per year
75th percentile: $96,720 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $104,990 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $65,680 per year
Workers employed in California: 3,840
Versus national median: 13.1% above the U.S. median of $72,300
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.64 - this occupation is less concentrated in California than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

California employs about 3,840 occupational therapy assistants earning a median $81,770 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Occupational Therapy Assistant here means completing an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure, then applying through California Board of Occupational Therapy.

Compare Occupational Therapy Assistant Schools in California

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Santa Ana College	65.7	$1,180 - $12,375	$63,039	31%	Yes*	148 mi
2	Platt College-Anaheim	59.1	$14,922 - $28,170	$44,565	63%	Yes*	146 mi
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3	CBD College	58.4	Contact school for pricing	$54,889	72%	Yes*	120 mi
4	Clovis Community College	53.4	Contact school for pricing	$39,542	42%	—	101 mi
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5	American Career College-Anaheim	44.0	Contact school for pricing	$42,969	70%	—	140 mi
6	Monterey Peninsula College	34.5	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	35%	—	154 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

California employs approximately 3,840 occupational therapy assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $81,770 ¹. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 7,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy assistant program (find programs)
Typical timeline: an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure
Licensing authority: California Board of Occupational Therapy
Exam: NBCOT COTA
Median wage (California): $81,770 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California

How to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California? Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Apply through California Board of Occupational Therapy.

How long does it take? Most people finish an ACOTE-accredited OTA program, the NBCOT COTA exam, and state OTA licensure. Confirm current hour totals with the program and California Board of Occupational Therapy.

Do I need a license in California? Yes. California credentials this role through California Board of Occupational Therapy ³. See the licensing section below.

What do occupational therapy assistants earn in California? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in California is $81,770 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $65,680 and experienced professionals can earn $104,990 or more ¹.

How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California

Meet program entry rules. OTA programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and prerequisites.
Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program. Finish an associate-level ACOTE-accredited program in California. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass NBCOT COTA. Pass the NBCOT Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant exam.
Apply for state OTA licensure. Apply to California Board of Occupational Therapy. Do not treat occupational therapist rows as the assistant path.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Occupational Therapy Assistant License Requirements in California

Occupational therapy assistants complete an ACOTE-accredited program, pass NBCOT COTA, and apply to California Board of Occupational Therapy. See California Board of Occupational Therapy ³.

Typical path

Complete an ACOTE-accredited OTA program.
Pass NBCOT COTA.
Apply to California Board of Occupational Therapy for OTA licensure.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with California Board of Occupational Therapy before you enroll.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Wages by Metro Area in California

Occupational Therapy Assistants Wages by Metro Area in California

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), occupational therapy assistants wages in California vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim	1,720	$78,090	$81,740	$64,650	$103,140
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario	400	$80,070	$81,440	$65,660	$98,320
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad	360	$82,680	$85,120	$71,000	$103,410
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	290	$97,860	$99,250	$82,300	$122,670
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom	170	$95,180	$92,750	$77,160	$107,730
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	160	$95,370	$94,960	$74,470	$120,990
Fresno	90	$76,030	$78,490	$64,090	$100,750
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura	80	$82,060	$85,320	$64,680	$107,450
Stockton-Lodi	60	$84,400	$88,330	$73,430	$103,720
Visalia	50	$81,200	$81,670	$72,810	$98,470
Bakersfield-Delano	40	$95,190	$91,880	$67,890	$107,420
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara	40	$86,440	$87,450	$72,950	$104,350
Modesto	30	$96,210	$92,640	$76,590	$105,590

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants in California? California currently employs approximately 3,840 occupational therapy assistants ¹. Nationally, occupational therapy assistant employment is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an occupational therapy assistant in California with an out-of-state license? Contact the California Board of Occupational Therapy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.

How much do occupational therapy assistants earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in California is $81,770, which is $13,430 above the national median of $68,340 according to BLS data ¹.

In California

Best Trade Schools in California (2026)

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
California Board of Occupational Therapy - Licensing Information: https://www.bot.ca.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)