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Study Ayurveda at One of America’s
Foundational Institutions
respected ayurvedic school in the west
Learn Ayurveda with our Ayurvedic Education programs
We Offer Classroom, Live Streaming (Online) & Distance Learning (Mentorship)
In addition to providing students with training in the fundamental principles and practices of Ayurveda, our students study disease management and receive the clinical and business training necessary to become successful in practice.
Quality Ayurvedic Education is the Foundation of Preparation
At the California College of Ayurveda, you will receive the most extensive training available in the United States.
Join our trusted Ayurveda school to study Ayurveda through authentic teachings, gain comprehensive Ayurveda education rooted in lineage and science, and explore in-depth Ayurveda courses for students, practitioners, and lifelong learners.
A Recognized Starting Point for Rigorous Ayurvedic Study
Founded in 1995, the California College of Ayurveda established the first state-approved Ayurvedic training program in the United States. Over three decades, it has played a central role in shaping how Ayurveda is taught, studied, and practiced in the West. Today, that foundation continues through a structured academic curriculum, supervised clinical training, and an educational environment designed for students pursuing depth, clarity, and professional-level understanding.
Academic Programs
CCA’s programs are designed to move students from foundational knowledge into deeper applied understanding. Students learn Ayurvedic principles, pathology, assessment, disease management, and practical clinical application within a structured educational sequence. Internship training strengthens that learning through supervised experience, helping students develop confidence, discernment, and practitioner readiness over time.
Principles of Ayurvedic Medicine Program
This is a high-level program providing students with…
Medical Ayurvedic Specialist Program
A Medical Ayurvedic Specialist (MAS) is an Ayurvedic…
Accessible Formats. High Standards. Real Support.
CCA offers classroom learning, live online study, and mentorship-based distance learning so students can choose a format that aligns with their lives without stepping away from serious study. Most introductory and many ongoing learning opportunities can be accessed online, while advanced training includes in-person intensive components that deepen hands-on learning, diagnostics, and clinical observation. Weekend scheduling, live interaction, and faculty support make it possible for students to continue their education while balancing work, family, or distance.
- Foundational study
- Clinical progression
- Supervised internship experience
- Training designed for real-world application
- Live online classes with real-time faculty interaction
- Mentorship-based distance learning
- Weekend options for working students
- Advanced levels that include in-person intensives at the Nevada City campus
Learn from Faculty Shaped by Practice, Scholarship, and Leadership
CCA’s faculty includes senior teachers, clinicians, internship supervisors, herbal specialists, and academic leaders whose work spans education, practice, research, writing, and professional service. Founder Dr. Marc Halpern helped establish the profession in the United States and co-founded major Ayurvedic associations. Current Dean Mahadevan Seetharaman brings leadership experience across integrative healthcare, research, and higher education. Across the faculty, students learn from practitioners who bring both subject depth and lived clinical perspective into the classroom.
Online or On-Campus Intensive The first 9 days of the intensive can be attended online or in person at our Nevada City campus.
Ayurveda is growing throughout the world as societies look for holistic, natural ways to stay healthy and manage chronic diseases. The California College of Ayurveda began in 1995, and it was the first college to offer professional training programs in Ayurvedic medicine outside of India.
The California College of Ayurveda (CCA) offers the most comprehensive curriculum in the field of Ayurvedic Medicine in the United States. As the first and longest-running state-approved Ayurvedic Education Program in California, CCA is the premier destination for individuals seeking to make a difference in the world through a career in restoring the natural balance of body, mind and spirit with the wisdom of Ayurveda.
Workshops
Beyond its academic programs, CCA offers workshops and specialized training that allow students, professionals and personal wellness enthusiasts to deepen specific skills in areas such as yoga therapy, body therapies, marma, panchakarma-related study, herbalism, and daily Ayurvedic living. These shorter formats create multiple entry points into the College and allow newcomers to Ayurveda and current practitioners to build their knowledge in focused areas.
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Each student comes to Ayurveda with a different intention. By completing the form below, you help us understand your goals, experience, and level of interest so we can provide relevant program options and thoughtful guidance on how to move forward.
Student Testimonials
Being a student at CCA was completely life changing for me. The education I received changed how I view the world and how I live my life. From the beautiful setting/community in which the college is set to the wonderful instructors, my experience at CCA was more than I could have ever expected. I chose the college for the comprehensiveness of the program, and was not disappointed. My AHP internship really solidified my knowledge of the material, and I feel well equipped
I am incredibly grateful and blessed by the teachers and staff at CCA. Their knowledge, wisdom, support and guidance has been life changing and instrumental in my decision to become an Ayurvedic practitioner. Moving to Nevada City to attend CCA and pursue my passion has been a dream come true – thank you!
I am incredibly grateful and blessed by the teachers and staff at CCA. Their knowledge, wisdom, support and guidance has been life changing and instrumental in my decision to become an Ayurvedic practitioner. Moving to Nevada City to attend CCA and pursue my passion has been a dream come true – thank you!
Every day in my Ayurvedic practice I am so very grateful and inspired by this wonderfully inclusive science and for the depth of training I received from the California College of Ayurveda. My training has given me the opportunity to see the world in a new way and to help people recreate balance and harmony in their lives.
My education at CCA was outstanding. CCA’s complete instruction in Ayurveda enabled me to establish a successful clinical practice.
I was ready for a major change in my life. The study of Ayurveda has turned out to be a profoundly transformative process. I am studying and experiencing healing, joy, and connectedness on amazingly deep levels.
At CCA I gained access to the world of knowledge I was searching for: Ayurveda. I emerged as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, competent in my dharma as an ayurvedic practitioner and lifelong student of Ayurveda.
I chose CCA for two reasons. Their monthly classes allowed me to keep working while learning Ayurveda, and the hands-on training I received in the Pancha Karma Clinic, the Herb Lab, and the many workshops and seminars gave me personal insight into what my future clients will experience as they adopt an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Academically challenging, CCA’s curriculum provides both a strong foundation for a future professional practice and an opportunity to get in touch with our own self healing abilities as we develop a healing relationship to Ayurveda in our lives.
Since graduating from the Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist program in 2011, I have been doing a lot of traveling. Over a year in India studying Yoga and Ayurveda, and back and forth across the USA. Wherever I go, Ayurveda has helped and guided me. I have had the amazing opportunity to learn and share Ayurveda with so many people to the benefit of that person and myself. CCA helped me to begin to live my truth, a path I will always walk down
Ayurveda is the medicine of nature. It taught me how to care for the body, mind, and spirit. Through diet, herbs, and lifestyle choices, it brings you to health and higher yogic awareness. It is a divine blessing to mankind. The language of nature is a simple universal truth; close your eyes and hear its divine song.
All of my teachers have been Ayurvedic Inspirations. And Dr. Halpern’s text was concise, detailed and easy for a western-trained student to use.
Each of the teachers had knowledge and experience and offered us a unique perspective in the classroom. Their ability to translate the world into the terms of Ayurveda was amazing and has helped me internalize the concepts.
My experience with the CCA has not only provided me with a solid foundation upon which my Ayurvedic career flourishes, but has also catalyzed deep healing and growth on a personal level. I appreciate that the teachers at the CCA are inspiring, and the entire staff committed the success of their students.
The California College of Ayurveda has shown me a path to healing myself and the world at large. I am excited and forever grateful for all that I have learned and all the places this knowledge will take me.
I have enjoyed my time at CCA so much. I feel I have transformed some of my old habits by learning about their roots, I have connected with a group of like minded and spirited people, and I am loving everything I’m learning! Ayurvedic theory is so simple, but when applied to the myriad imbalances people have, as they manifest differently in everyone, it becomes very complicated. And it all works, if we apply the principles! I am so grateful for my time here, not to mention the fantastic staff who contribute to the smooth running of the school.
Ready To Take The Next Step
Join the vibrant network of CCA graduates making a difference in the world of Ayurveda