| Fact | Institute of Technology |
|---|---|
| Type | Private for-profit career college; campus and hybrid programs (none fully online) |
| Campuses | 4 in 2 states: Fresno (Clovis), Modesto and Redding, CA; Salem, OR |
| Credentials | Diplomas; associate degrees (Physical Therapist Assistant, Criminology & Emergency Response Management, Salem’s AAS in Nursing) |
| Program length | Mostly 40–50 weeks; Nursing Assistant 7 weeks; associate degrees 65–90 weeks |
| Accreditation | ACCSC (California campuses; renewal due late 2026); ACCET (Salem) |
| Federal aid | Yes, except Nursing Assistant and IV Therapy |
| Founded / owner | 1986; owned by Select Education Group since 2014 |
| Students | 2,133 at the California campuses (2024) |
| Facts checked | 8 October 2026 |
A Select Education Group college in California and Oregon
Institute of Technology is a private for-profit career college founded in 1986 in the Clovis area as Central California Schools; it took its current name in 2001. Select Education Group, based in Modesto, has owned it since August 2014. It has three California campuses, in Clovis, Modesto and Redding, and one in Salem, Oregon, which began in 1995 as Valley Medical College and moved to its current address in January 2025. Most programs are 40- to 50-week diplomas in nursing, medical, trade, culinary and beauty fields. Most are hybrid, which IOT calls interactive distance learning (IDL): online coursework plus one or two set campus days a week, with labs, clinicals and externships in person. None is fully online. In 2024 the California campuses enrolled 2,133 students.
Programs at IOT’s four campuses
| Program | Credential | Hours and length | Delivery | Where | Prepares for | 2026 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Nursing | Diploma | 1,530 h; 51 wks full-time, 81 wks part-time | On campus | Clovis, Modesto, Redding | NCLEX-PN (California LVN licence) | About $36,600 |
| Practical Nursing – IDL | Diploma | 1,160 h; 50 wks | Hybrid | Salem | NCLEX-PN (Oregon LPN licence) | $34,683 |
| Associate of Applied Science in Nursing – IDL | AAS | 1,840 h, 129 credits; 90 wks | Hybrid | Salem | NCLEX-RN | $52,878 |
| Nursing Assistant | Course completion | 171 h; 7 wks | On campus, weekdays | Redding | State competency exam; CDPH certification | $2,636 |
| Professional Medical Assistant | Diploma | 860 h; 40 wks | Hybrid | All four campuses | National certification (exam not named) | $18,724–$18,865 |
| Medical Billing and Office Administration | Diploma | 860 h; 40 wks | Hybrid | Clovis, Modesto, Redding | Certification may be available (none named) | $18,794–$18,846 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Diploma | 860 h; 40 wks | Hybrid | Modesto | PTCB; California registration | $18,814 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS | 1,573 h; 75 wks | Hybrid, Mon–Thu | Clovis, Modesto, Redding | National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs | $37,160–$37,370 |
| HVAC | Diploma | 800 h; 40 wks | Hybrid | Clovis, Modesto, Redding | EPA Universal (required to graduate) | $21,636–$21,742 |
| Welding Technician | Diploma | 900 h; 45 wks | On campus or hybrid | Clovis | None named | About $19,500 |
| Industrial Maintenance & Automated Technology | Diploma | 800 h; 40 wks | On campus or hybrid | Clovis | None named | About $21,300 |
| Barbering | Diploma | 1,000 h; 50 wks | Hybrid | Clovis | California barber licence exam | $15,836 |
| Cosmetology | Diploma | 1,000 h; 50 wks | Hybrid | Clovis | California cosmetology licence exam | $16,233 |
| Culinary Arts | Diploma | 880 h; 40 wks | On campus, Mon–Thu | Clovis, Modesto | None named | $21,164–$21,233 |
| Baking & Pastry Specialist | Diploma | 890 h; 40 wks | On campus, Mon–Thu | Clovis, Modesto | None named | $20,394–$20,449 |
| Criminology & Emergency Response Management | AAS (Clovis); AOS (Modesto) | 1,300 h; 65 wks | Hybrid | Clovis, Modesto | FEMA certificates; BSIS guard card | $28,260–$28,351 |
| IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal | Certificate of completion | 36–40 h | Short course | California campuses | For IOT VN graduates and California LVNs | $575 ($395 for IOT graduates) |
Hours, lengths and totals are from IOT’s 2026 campus catalog addenda (California, revised 15 September 2026; Salem, 14 July 2026). Most programs end in an externship or clinical placement: 160 hours for medical assisting, billing, pharmacy and baking, 180 hours for culinary arts. The massage programs taught at the Clovis, Modesto and Redding campuses belong to National Holistic Institute, a separate school, and are not IOT programs.
What the main programs cover
Vocational Nursing (California)
The VN program runs 1,530 clock hours (60.5 semester units) with clinical rotations and is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians. Classes start three times a year, in March, July and November. Full-time students finish in 51 weeks; at Redding the full-time schedule is Monday and Tuesday 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. plus Wednesday to Friday mornings, and the 81-week part-time track meets weekday evenings and Saturdays. Students pay for a background check ($70–$115). IOT pays the NCLEX-PN fees, and licensed graduates can add the short IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal course.
Practical Nursing (Salem)
Salem’s practical nursing diploma is 1,160 clock hours over 50 weeks: 420 hours of lecture and 740 of lab and clinical work, including a 210-hour off-site practicum. Theory is delivered through IDL with set campus days for skills labs. Applicants must be 18, hold a diploma or GED (or accredited home schooling) and score at least 20 on the Wonderlic and 14 on the CLIK computer-literacy test. Cohorts start in February, May, July and October, and IOT pays the NCLEX-PN fees.
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (Salem)
The RN degree takes nine ten-week terms (90 weeks, 129 credits, 1,840 clock hours). Students are on campus Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and some Mondays, and complete a 150-hour off-site practicum, 180 hours of simulation and 30 hours of community health. No LPN licence is needed to apply, but admission is selective: a HESI A2 score at the 75th percentile, Wonderlic, CLIK 14 or higher, a panel interview and a background check. One cohort starts each April; the 2026 cohort was listed to start on 6 April.
HVAC
The HVAC diploma is 800 clock hours (48.5 quarter credits) over 40 weeks. Theory is online and labs are on campus; Redding students attend one day a week, on Thursdays, and other campuses offer morning, afternoon or evening lab sessions that vary by campus. Passing the EPA Universal refrigerant exam is a graduation requirement, and students can also take the NATE Ready-to-Work test. A toolkit is included in the price. Like most of IOT’s California hybrid programs, HVAC starts about ten times a year.
Barbering and Cosmetology (Clovis)
Both programs are 1,000 clock hours over 50 weeks and are taught only at Clovis. They share a hybrid schedule: theory online and two campus days a week, Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with cosmetology students working on the student salon floor. Both prepare students for California’s state licensing exams. The programs are small: California’s 2024 state report counted 42 barbering and 39 cosmetology students available to graduate.
Physical Therapist Assistant
The PTA associate degree is 1,573 hours (65.5 semester credits) over 75 weeks, with classes Monday to Thursday, some distance coursework and clinical placements. It prepares graduates for the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs. Starts are rare: each California campus lists one in 2026 (Modesto 9 February, Clovis 18 May, Redding 13 July). IOT’s accreditation page lists the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education among its recognitions without a status or date, so confirm the program’s standing with CAPTE before enrolling.
2026 program totals by campus
From the 2026 campus catalog addenda (California, September 2026; Salem, July 2026):
| Program | Clovis | Modesto | Redding | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Nursing | $36,564 (day) | $36,637 | $36,638 day; $36,646 night | — |
| Practical Nursing – IDL | — | — | — | $34,683 |
| AAS in Nursing – IDL | — | — | — | $52,878 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $37,246 | $37,370 | $37,160 | — |
| Criminology & ERM | $28,260 (AAS) | $28,351 (AOS) | — | — |
| HVAC | $21,721 | $21,636 | $21,742 | — |
| Professional Medical Assistant | $18,805 | $18,865 | $18,724 | $18,849 |
| Medical Billing and Office Administration | $18,794 | $18,825 | $18,846 | — |
| Pharmacy Technician | — | $18,814 | — | — |
| Culinary Arts | $21,164 | $21,233 | — | — |
| Baking & Pastry Specialist | $20,394 | $20,449 | — | — |
| Welding Technician | $19,533.50 | — | — | — |
| Cosmetology | $16,233 | — | — | — |
| Barbering | $15,836 | — | — | — |
| Nursing Assistant | — | — | $2,636 | — |
Totals include registration, fees, books and supplies and tuition, and are the same for every student: there is no in-state or out-of-state price. The California totals include a $75 non-refundable registration fee and a $50 technology fee per period. Some of IOT’s own program and campus pages show different prices (for example, a lower, undated welding figure and an older Salem practical nursing price), so get the current total in writing from admissions. Niche, using federal data, lists an average net price of $21,358 a year on its Clovis listing (checked October 2026); that is a yearly average after aid, not a program total.
Federal aid, veterans’ benefits and workforce funding
IOT takes federal grants and loans. Its 2024 annual report to California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education says 79% of California students took federal loans and that the school did not use Cal Grants. Nursing Assistant and IV Therapy are not eligible for federal aid. The California campuses are approved for veterans’ training by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education and reported $1,048,719 in veterans’ aid in 2024. IOT’s accreditation page lists workforce partners, including the California Department of Rehabilitation, the Fresno/Clovis Workforce Investment Agency, Stanislaus County Alliance Worknet and the Northern Rural Training and Employment Consortium. We found no named IOT scholarships.
Admissions and start dates
- California: a high school diploma or GED for degree programs. Criminology & Emergency Response Management also requires DOJ fingerprinting, a background check and no felony or firearm-disqualifying record. IV Therapy requires an IOT VN diploma or a California LVN licence.
- Salem: age 18 or older, a high school diploma, GED or accredited home schooling (ability-to-benefit is possible for non-degree programs), a Wonderlic score of 10+ for medical assisting or 20+ for nursing, and CLIK 14+ for all programs. The AAS in Nursing adds the HESI A2 and an interview.
- Instruction is in English only, and IOT does not admit students from other countries.
Most California hybrid programs start about ten times a year. Vocational Nursing starts in March, July and November; Nursing Assistant six times a year at Redding; Salem practical nursing four times a year; and the AAS in Nursing once a year, in April.
Accreditation and results
The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) accredits the Clovis main campus and its Modesto and Redding branches. ACCSC renewed that accreditation for five years effective 5 November 2021, so the next renewal is due in late 2026, and California’s Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education approves the campuses to operate by means of that accreditation until 30 November 2026. In December 2023 ACCSC placed the school on student satisfaction reporting because Vocational Nursing students reported low satisfaction with facilities and training equipment. Salem is accredited separately by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET) and authorized by Oregon’s Office of Degree Authorization. The California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians approves the VN program, and the Oregon State Board of Nursing approves Salem’s practical nursing and AAS in Nursing programs.
Practical nursing licence exam
| Campus | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis, CA | 85% (94) | 83% (94) | 90% (106) | 87% (94) |
| Modesto, CA | 91% (74) | 94% (70) | 95% (62) | 88% (73) |
| Redding, CA | 69% (106) | 74% (90) | 81% (108) | 82% (97) |
| Salem, OR | 83% (77) | 88% (108) | 86% (94) | 87% (150) |
First-time NCLEX-PN pass rates (number of testers in brackets), from the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (updated February 2026) and the Oregon State Board of Nursing (updated January 2026). Oregon’s January 2026 NCLEX-RN table has no IOT row, so no results were reported through 2025 for the Salem AAS in Nursing.
Completion and job placement in California
| Program (California campuses combined) | Completion 2024 | In-field placement 2024 | Licence exam 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocational Nursing | 75% (278 of 369) | 63% (171 of 273) | 94% (226 of 241) |
| Nursing Assistant | 84% (63 of 75) | 72% (42 of 58) | 100% (53 of 53) |
| Professional Medical Assistant | 65% (79 of 121) | 72% (57 of 79) | — |
| Pharmacy Technician | 74% (25 of 34) | 75% (18 of 24) | — |
| HVAC | 79% (166 of 211) | 56% (92 of 163) | — |
| Welding Technician | 71% (10 of 14) | 20% (2 of 10); 31% (9 of 29) in 2023 | — |
| Culinary Arts | 72% (58 of 81) | 84% (49 of 58) | — |
| Baking & Pastry Specialist | 68% (29 of 57) | 66% (25 of 39) | — |
| Barbering | 64% (27 of 42) | 63% (17 of 27) | 100% (23 of 23) |
| Cosmetology | 64% (25 of 39) | 50% (12 of 24) | 93% (13 of 14) |
From IOT’s California School Performance Fact Sheets for calendar 2024 (revised November 2025; medical assisting revised July 2026). Completion counts students who graduated within 150% of the program’s length; placement counts graduates employed in the field within six months, or after the first available licence exam, out of those available for work. Across all programs, IOT’s 2026 Student Right to Know disclosures report a graduation rate of 78% (630 of 812) in California and 62% (122 of 198) at Salem for full-time, first-time students who started between September 2022 and August 2023.
Before you enroll
- IOT’s California accreditation and state approval are both up for renewal at the end of 2026: the ACCSC grant from November 2021 runs about five years, and BPPE approval runs to 30 November 2026. Ask admissions for the outcome before you sign.
- Welding results are weak. California’s state reports show 31% of welding graduates working in the field in 2023 and 20% (2 of 10) in 2024, and HVAC placement fell to 56% in 2024.
- Salem’s RN degree has no licence-exam record yet: Oregon’s January 2026 NCLEX-RN table lists no IOT testers, so there is no pass rate yet, and IOT’s materials name state board approval but no national nursing accreditation.
- Medical assisting and medical billing say national certification is available but name no exam, so check which credential employers near you ask for.
- Hybrid means set campus days plus online work on your own time. Nursing Assistant and IV Therapy are not eligible for federal aid, and the massage programs on IOT’s California campuses are run by a separate school, National Holistic Institute.
IOT’s four campuses
- Fresno (Clovis), CA: 564 W. Herndon Ave., Clovis, CA 93612
- Modesto, CA: 5601 Stoddard Rd., Modesto, CA 95356
- Redding, CA: 1755 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 96002
- Salem, OR: 3993 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97302
Each campus teaches a different mix of programs (see the programs table above). Clovis is the main campus, Modesto and Redding are its branches, and Salem operates under its own accreditor and its own catalog. A Stockton branch listed in IOT’s catalog history is no longer among its campuses.
Externships and career help
IOT does not offer student housing. Most programs include an externship, practicum or clinical placement (for example, 160 hours for medical assisting and 210 hours for Salem practical nursing), and IOT pays NCLEX-PN fees for its vocational and practical nursing students. Ask admissions what job-search help is offered after graduation.
What students say
On Niche, the Clovis listing scores 3.99 out of 5 from 75 reviews (grade C+, checked 8 October 2026). Reviewers praise hands-on trade training, such as culinary externships and HVAC fundamentals, and support for adult learners. Complaints centre on the LVN program: inconsistent instructors, schedule changes and poor organization, which is in line with the December 2023 ACCSC finding on Vocational Nursing. The reviews date from 2020 to 2023, so they may not reflect the school today, and Niche’s Clovis listing is the only review page we checked.
Sources
Checked 8 October 2026: IOT tuition and expenses · IOT disclosures (catalogs, addenda, performance fact sheets, Student Right to Know) · IOT accreditation page · ACCSC letter, 6 December 2023 · BPPE 2024 annual report · California BVNPT NCLEX-PN pass rates · Oregon State Board of Nursing NCLEX pass rates · Niche: Institute of Technology (Clovis)
Programs & Courses
Nursing
- Vocational Nursing (Clovis, Modesto, Redding)
- Diploma Practical Nursing – IDL (Salem)
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing – IDL (Salem)
- Nursing Assistant (Redding)
- IV Therapy & Blood Withdrawal, for LVNs (California campuses)
Medical and Allied Health
- Professional Medical Assistant (all four campuses)
- Medical Billing and Office Administration (Clovis, Modesto, Redding)
- Pharmacy Technician (Modesto)
- Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS (Clovis, Modesto, Redding)
Skilled Trades
- HVAC (Clovis, Modesto, Redding)
- Welding Technician (Clovis)
- Industrial Maintenance & Automated Technology (Clovis)
Culinary
- Culinary Arts (Clovis, Modesto)
- Baking & Pastry Specialist (Clovis, Modesto)
Barbering and Cosmetology
- Barbering (Clovis)
- Cosmetology (Clovis)
Criminal Justice
- Criminology & Emergency Response Management (AAS at Clovis, AOS at Modesto)
Campus Locations
Fresno (Clovis), CA 564 W. Herndon Ave., Clovis, CA 93612
Modesto, CA 5601 Stoddard Rd., Modesto, CA 95356
Redding, CA 1755 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA 96002
Salem, OR 3993 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97302