Licensure Requirements: An Overview
To obtain licensure as a BCBA, you must have a relevant degree, completed behavior analytic coursework, and the minimum requirement of supervised fieldwork hours. Generally, the two options to fulfilling your behavior analytic coursework requirements are a graduate program that the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has accredited or a Verified Course Sequence (VCS) that the ABAI has also certified. Students can choose to pursue 2,000 hours of supervised independent fieldwork or 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork to fulfill their experience hours.
The BACB also requires that upcoming licensees complete a board examination in behavior analysis as a final step toward pursuing licensure. This examination combines knowledge from both degree programs and field experiences. If you successfully complete this examination, you can earn your certification as a behavior analyst from the BACB and apply for individual licensure through your state. State requirements for licensure may vary, and you are encouraged to review your state’s licensure requirements prior to starting any degree program in this field.
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| School and Program Information | Online Program? Entry Requirements |
Course Information |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
|
✔ Online
No GRE Required |
Earn a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Learn MoreComplete online in as few as 15 months |
| Purdue University Global
Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Applied Behavior Analysis
HLC Accredited |
✔ Online
High School Diploma or GED |
Gain the skills to help address behavioral, mental, and social problems in children and adults. The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the course sequence toward the requirements for eligibility to take the BCaBA® exam. Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree Required. |
The Chicago School’s Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis Online Program prepares students for a rewarding career in the rapidly growing field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Guided by practitioner faculty, students gain experience and exposure in a wide variety of ABA applications and specialties. Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis
Credential Track options are also available. |
✔ Online
Master's Degree Required. |
The Chicago School’s Online Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program provides a solid knowledge base in the experimental analysis of behavior, applied behavior analysis, and radical behaviorism, equipping graduates with the skills needed to bring about socially significant behavioral changes through evidence-based program development. Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
Bachelor's Degree Required. |
Applied Behavior Analysis is the ethical design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental changes to produce socially significant improvements in behavior. The Post-Bachelor’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis develops mastery of the principles of behavior analysis and their application in clinical work and everyday life. Learn More |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Post - Master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
Master's Degree Required. |
Helping students develop mastery of applied behavior analysis principles, The Chicago School’s post-master’s online certificate program in Applied Behavior Analysis prepares students to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Learn More |
| Capella University
Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
No GMAT or GRE required |
Designed to meet the academic requirements for eligibility to pursue the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Learn More |
| Capella University
Masters of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
No GMAT or GRE required |
Help improve the lives of those with behavior disorders with an MS in Applied Behavior Analysis specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior Analysis in Education or Organizational Behavior Management. This degree program is designed to help prepare you to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam and help patients of all ages and backgrounds in a variety of settings. Learn More |
| Capella University
Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis
|
✔ Online
No GMAT or GRE required |
Designed to meet the academic requirements for eligibility to pursue the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. Learn More |
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Counseling Programs for BCBA Licensure
Students interested in counseling fields can take advantage of the flexible degree options currently required by the BACB. Students currently undertaking a master’s in counseling, psychology, or education program can pursue future certification in applied behavior analysis (ABA) after completing their master's-level program, leading to licensure in the future. New college students looking for faster ways to get their certification can locate online master's in ABA programs to complete their curriculum requirements while finishing their graduate degree.
Below, our team of educational experts has pulled together a few examples of online degree programs to help you visualize your educational path toward licensure in this field. The degree programs can be found at online or traditional universities all over the country. If you have completed a master's degree in any of these areas, or even another related field, you could be considered for post-master's certification programs in ABA. Read more about these degree paths in the list below.
Counseling Careers
BCBA Certification Paths
Those who wish to work in behavioral counseling may choose from a number of specific academic focuses and certification paths. Options include the following:
- ABA
- Behavioral science
- Cognitive behavioral health
- Behavior modification
- Autism studies
- Social behavior
- Occupational behavior
Career Options and Salary
ABA is a relatively new field in comparison to counseling and psychology. Students currently considering a move into this field may be interested in learning how this degree program can get them involved in the field and in which fields they may be most successful. Our team has put together this helpful career information guide to enlighten you on ABA careers in the U.S.
- ABA Clinics: ABA clinics are a growing necessity in cities all over the country. These settings involve providing observation, behavior planning, and treatment for children in need of behavioral services. Children with autism are often serviced in these locations, as well as children with learning disabilities and other physical impairments. Clinics providing ABA services can employ BCBAs to initiate behavior planning and supervise the implementation of behavioral therapy conducted by registered behavior technicians.
- Contractual Services / State Agencies: State agencies that work with delinquent youth and children in foster care often employ BCBAs to work in home with children under their care. The purpose of the BCBA in this setting is to analyze a child’s environment to determine antecedents of bad behavior, modify a child’s environment, and implement positive reinforcement techniques aimed at changing behavior. State agencies can seek out BCBAs to help teach families alternative methods for changing behavior for lasting positive change.
- Schools: In educational settings, children with significant behavior problems can work with BCBAs who are employed to help with behavior change. BCBAs may conduct observations during normal school hours to identify factors in the classroom that may be contributing to behavior issues, and they may develop intervention plans that can be implemented during classroom hours and while in other areas throughout the schools. BCBAs can also train parents and teachers on how to implement strategies within a behavior plan to foster improvement during school and home hours.
According to PayScale, BCBAs earned a median annual salary of $64,397 (2021). This salary can increase with specialized skill sets; for example, BCBAs with a specialization in ABA earned a median annual salary of $65,207 (2021), and BCBAs with a specialization in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) earned a median annual salary of $65,496 (2021).
Once you have successfully completed your exam and earned your BCBA licensure, you may have access to a wide range of career options in several different specialized areas. Your title as a behavior analyst may be different depending on the type of work you do in the field and the organization that has hired you. Some common job titles for ABA professionals are:
- Behavior analyst
- Behavior technician
- Behavior specialist
- Interventionist
- Autism specialist
- Behavior therapist
- Behavior consultant
Source List:
ABAI Accreditation Board, Accredited Programs
Association for Behavior Analysis International, Verified Course Sequence Directory
Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Board Certified Behavior Analyst
PayScale, Average Board Certified Behavior Analyst Salary
PayScale, Average Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Skills Salary
PayScale, Average Board Certified Behavior Analyst with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Skills Salary
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