Vermont’s ABA master’s programs are highly applied, with small cohorts, continuous mentoring, and faculty who combine teaching with clinical or school-based work. They are typically structured to fit professional life (evening or hybrid classes) and maintain formal ties with school districts, clinics, and community agencies, so training is integrated into real-world settings from early stages.
In parallel, the Department of Mental Health (DMH), Howard Center, and the Blueprint for Health strategy provide a guiding framework: programs align seminars, workshops, and projects with current statewide practices (e.g., early intervention, classroom supports, coordination with mental health). The result is training focused on observable competencies, interdisciplinary work, and data-based decision-making, designed so graduates can transition smoothly into schools, autism providers, and community services across the state.
Quick Facts
● ABAI/VCS-Aligned Programs in Vermont: 1
● Average Program Length: 2 years
● Tuition Range (per unit): $629–$916
Northern Vermont University
- Johnson, Vermont
- 36 hours
- Campus
Program:
Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis
Modality: On Campus
GRE Required: not specified
Length: 36 credit hours
Tuition: $629 per credit hour for in-state residents and $916 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. With a total of 36 credit hours required, the total program cost is around $22,644 for in-state students and $32,976 for out-of-state students. Does not include additional fees, materials, or personal expenses.
Program Overview
Based on the Johnson campus, this M.A. is geared toward Vermont teachers and school professionals who want to apply data-based behavioral strategies in classrooms and educational services. The experience is in-person and cohort-based, with applied projects in local districts and community agencies. Degree completion centers on a capstone project tied to a real need at the student’s site, promoting immediate impact in practice.
Key Highlights
- Direct school focus: observation, data collection, and design of behavioral supports in K–12 contexts across northern Vermont.
- Schedules designed for in-service professionals: intensive in-person classes that make it easier to balance work and graduate study.
Additional Considerations
- Close support: individualized faculty advising to map courses and applied experiences to the student’s role (general education, special education, intervention).
- “Stackable” pathway: option to continue advanced training with a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in ABA at the same institution.
Accreditation
- Institutional: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
- Program-Specific: ABAI accreditation for this concentration is not specified.
ABA Certificate Programs in Vermont
In Vermont, ABA certificates offer a direct pathway for those who already hold a graduate degree and wish to formalize and refine their practice without pursuing another full master’s. These programs typically combine instruction from faculty with applied experience within the state, involving assignments grounded in real-world settings (intervention plans, team coordination, data analysis). Many allow credits to be transferred toward advanced studies and align particularly well with roles in special education and community services, enabling students to apply what they learn immediately in their own workplaces.
Online ABA Certificate Programs in Vermont
For those who need to balance work and study, Vermont’s online ABA certificate options combine distance learning with live sessions focused on case analysis and material review (e.g., behavior records, intervention plans, clinical documentation). Regular mentoring and predictable schedules make it possible to progress without pausing employment, while coordination with local providers ensures that learning translates directly into the student’s professional setting. It’s a short, focused, and immediately applicable route for those working in schools, clinics, and community agencies across the state.
Northern Vermont University (NVU)
- Johnson, Vermont
- 18 hours
- Campus
Program:
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Applied Behavior Analysis
Modality: On Campus
GRE Required: not applicable
Length: 18 credit hours
Tuition: $446 per credit hour for in-state residents and $963 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. With a total of 18 credit hours required, the total program cost is approximately $8,028 for in-state students and $17,334 for out-of-state students. These estimates do not include additional fees, materials, or personal expenses.
Program Overview
Focused on school and human-services settings in northern Vermont, this certificate covers principles and concepts, functional assessment, and behavior-change procedures, with an applied capstone/project anchored at the student’s professional site to address a real need in their school, center, or district.
Key Highlights
- In-person cohorts and close advising, making it easier to align the plan with roles in special education, behavioral intervention, or program coordination.
- ABA offerings on the Johnson campus with a published curriculum in the institutional catalog and specific ABA course listings (EDU/PSY), useful for semester-by-semester planning.
Additional Considerations
- Designed for professionals with a prior master’s degree (education, psychology, or related fields); ideal for those seeking an advanced credential without completing another full master’s.
- Possible internal continuation to the M.A. in Education (ABA) or other CAGS options on campus, depending on professional goals and elective availability.
Accreditation
- Program-Specific: the catalog does not indicate specific ABAI accreditation for the CAGS; confirm any additional professional requirements based on the candidate’s objectives.
- Institutional: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of Vermont (UVM)
- Burlington, Vermont
- One semester
- Online
Program:
Behavior Analysis in Special Education
Modality: Online
GRE Required: not applicable
Length: One semester
Tuition: $692 per credit hour for Vermont residents and $1,860 per credit hour for out-of-state residents. For this 3-credit course, the total cost is approximately $2,076 for in-state students and $5,580 for out-of-state students. These estimates do not include additional fees, materials, or personal expenses.
Program Overview
Fully online, live graduate course introducing the use of learning principles and ABA to teach new skills and address challenging behaviors in inclusive educational settings. It is cross-listed with the undergraduate section (EDSP 6180 OL1) and taught by Justin Garwood, Ph.D. Enrollment requires graduate standing in Special Education or instructor permission.
Key Highlights
- Interactive format: weekly synchronous sessions providing immediate feedback and hands-on group work.
- Practical content orientation: emphasis on evidence-based interventions, behavior analysis, and application in inclusive classrooms.
Additional Considerations
- Graduate students enroll in EDSP 6180 OL1 (same class, different registration).
- Syllabus not available online; contact the instructor for details.
Accreditation
- Institutional: University of Vermont is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
- Program-Specific: not applicable (individual course; not an ABAI-accredited program).
BCBA Legislation in Vermont
Vermont does license behavior analysts. Licensure is administered by the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) within the Secretary of State and overseen by the Applied Behavior Analysis Advisors, which advise OPR on standards, discipline, and rulemaking for the profession. Statute establishes the license, titles, scope, and the advisors’ duties.
On coverage, Vermont has long required autism insurance benefits, including ABA when medically necessary, for state-regulated health plans. Medicaid (Green Mountain Care) also reimburses ABA under EPSDT, with defined CPT codes and policy parameters for children and youth. ZipRecruiterWhat this means in practice: to work independently you’ll hold national BACB® certification and apply for a Vermont license through OPR; families can access ABA through commercial plans subject to the mandate and through Medicaid when criteria are met. ZipRecruiter
BCBA Demand in Vermont
Demand is steady across school districts, designated mental-health agencies, hospital-affiliated clinics, and community providers, particularly in Chittenden County (Burlington area) and regional hubs. Recent public salary snapshots place BCBA pay around the mid-$80Ks statewide, with local postings commonly listing $80K+ depending on setting and experience.
Insurance mandates plus Medicaid ABA coverage sustain service availability, so employers prioritize candidates who can supervise teams, coordinate care with pediatric and developmental-disability services, and support school-based programs. Expect active openings and stable growth tied to autism and pediatric behavioral-health needs
