An Overview of Florida Institute of Technology’s ABA Master’s Programs

Florida Tech is one of the oldest schools for behavior analysis, recognized as a world leader in the education of up-and-coming behavior analysts. In their MS in ABA ABAI-accredited program, fieldwork opportunities abound, with established fieldwork training sites including one on campus. The FIT-graduate BCBA exam pass rate is consistently high. With a staff full of scientist-practitioner experts and real-world learning opportunities, FIT’s ABA programs are second to none.

At Florida Tech, you can choose from three different ABA master’s degree programs:

• Master of Science (MS) in Applied Behavior Analysis (on campus)
• Master of Science (MS) in Applied Behavior Analysis & Organizational Behavior Management (on campus)
• Master of Arts (MA) in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice (online)

You can also choose to earn a master’s degree in Organizational Behavior Management (MS).

What Makes These Programs Unique?

FIT has been in the ABA education game for over 25 years. It offers two campuses (Melbourne, FL and Orlando, FL), an online degree option, and a faculty full of prolific BCBAs and BCBA-Ds. One-on-one mentorship is offered throughout the programs for hands-on learning experience as well as research collaboration opportunities. FIT also boasts some of the highest first-time BCBA exam pass rates in the country.

Programs Reviews and Feedback

Some students have reported the staff at FIT are highly knowledgeable. 

Students who are parents have provided insight into the flexible options and do-ability of the program while raising children.

Other students mention the board exams being easy once they’ve been through FIT’s ABA program.

Graduates report feeling prepared for the BCBA exam and felt going back to school was a smooth transition with FIT.

The MS in ABA Program Curriculum

• Core courses in behavior analysis (23 credit hours)
• Supervised field experience (10 credit hours)
• Thesis option (11 credit hours) OR Capstone option (11 credit hours)
• Final examination that simulates the BCBA exam

Total credits required: 44

FIT’s ABA Program Faculty and Research Expertise

A few notable faculty members/instructors (some for online program and some for on-campus programs):

• Dr. David Wilder, BCBA-D, Professor
  • Head of the School of Behavior Analysis at FIT
  • Research/interests: behavior problems, employee performance problems
• Dr. Kaitlynn Gokey, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor
  • Received her masters and Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from FIT
  • Research/interests: radical behaviorism, delay discounting, eSports
• Andrew Houvouras IV, MA, BCBA, ABA instructor
  • Director of Experiential Training at FIT
  • Research/interests: reducing problem behavior, teaching adaptive skills, and developing systemic changes to promote positive behavior change
• Dr. Valeria Parejo, DBH, BCBA, ABA instructor
  • Research/interests: training ABA practitioners in Latin America, teaching future BCBAs at FIT
• Corey L. Robertson, MS, BCBA, ABA instructor
  • Received his MS in ABA from FIT
  • Lead Instructional Manager
  • Former FABA president
  • Research/interests: developing competent behavior analysts at FIT
• Dr. Shane Spiker, BCBA-D, ABA instructor
  • Research/interests: dangerous problem behavior, sexual behavior, medically complex individuals

Centers and labs for research opportunities:

The Scott Center for Autism Treatment on campus is a not-for-profit healthcare center that is integrated with the FIT ABA programs. Students receive hands-on experience with a blend of clinical practice and research.

Dr. Kaitlynn Gokey’s EEEK lab works with esports teams on performance, skill development, and communication.

Program Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Statement of objectives
• Resume/CV
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• May have to complete a basic principles of behavior course if not taken during undergraduate program

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarships

Effective Fall 2026, the online MA program costs around $1,030/credit*, while the Applied Behavior Analysis Orlando Program costs about $820/credit*. For more information about tuition and fees, you may need to email the program heads. *This doesn’t include all other fees such as housing, transportation, food, books, and other miscellaneous fees.

FIT offers several opportunities for scholarships and aid.

Graduate Career Outcomes

(from the FIT ABA alumni webpage)

FIT graduates often become BCBAs working in homes, clinics, and schools with children with autism and other disabilities. They also may work as organizational behavior consultants working with companies to improve employee performance, or group home consultants working with children or adults with challenging behaviors.

FIT ABA’s Pros and Cons

Based on our thorough analysis and graduate feedback of the ABA programs offered by Florida Institute of Technology, here are some of the main strengths and weaknesses:

Pros:

• ABAI-accredited programs (on-campus only)
• 3 different programs to choose from (including online options)
• Consistently high BCBA exam pass rates
• Prolific professors—big names in the field

Cons:

• Some degrees are only offered on campus, not online
• The online MA program is not ABAI-accredited (as of February 2026)
• The high cost can be a significant barrier

Frequently Asked Questions

How does FIT compare to other Florida programs?

FIT’s pass rates can not be understated (71-100% in 2024 depending on program, versus 54% average). Florida State’s psychology degree with a specialty in ABA boasted a 94% pass rate for first-time test-takers of the BCBA exam in 2024, while Florida International University’s pass rate was 59%.

When it comes to other Florida ABA programs, some offer master’s degrees in special education or psychology programs with an emphasis on ABA, while FIT offers MS and MA degrees specifically in Applied Behavior Analysis. The University of South Florida also offers an MS in ABA, which is ABAI-accredited. 

Does FIT’s ABA Program Lead to BCBA Eligibility?

If you pass each class with a grade of B or better in the MS in ABA program, you will be eligible to sit for the BCBA examination. The on-campus programs give you the fieldwork and coursework you need to sit. Note that FIT’s MS in ABA program ends with an exam that simulates the BCBA exam, better preparing you to sit for the actual examination. 

*Online programs vary—the online MA program gives you the coursework and degree needed to sit for the exam; however, the fieldwork needs to be done separately. Note: the online MA is not ABAI-accredited, which could cause some issues when trying to sit. Do some research to make sure this is a good choice for you!

Is FIT’s ABA Program ABAI-Accredited?

FIT’s on-campus programs (the MS in ABA as well as the MS in ABA & OBM) are ABAI-accredited. As of February 2026, FIT’s online MA in ABA program is not ABAI-accredited.

Can the program be completed online?

The MS in ABA is on-campus, with weekly meetings in-person. The MA in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice is an online program.

Is the GRE required for program admission?

As of February 2026, the GRE is not required for the master’s programs in ABA at FIT.

What is the BCBA exam pass rate for Florida Tech graduates?

In 2024, 100% of first-time candidates from FIT’s on-campus ABA programs passed the BCBA exam, while the pass rate for first-time candidates from the online program was 71%. In 2023, 95% of first-time candidates from the on-campus ABA programs at FIT passed the BCBA exam. You can find the first-time pass rates of BCBA candidates sorted by program here.