Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a scientific discipline based on learning principles that are used to teach useful skills and reduce behaviors that cause difficulties in people’s daily lives. This applies to situations such as at home with children, in schools during instruction, in clinical settings, or in teamwork. ABA uses tools such as systematic observation and data analysis to understand what is maintaining a behavior and to design interventions that are clear, measurable, and adjustable for each individual.
In the field of behavioral science, licenses and credentials are fundamental because they establish a professional structure and provide a framework for the professional roles. They define not only the roles and functions that each accredited professional can assume but also the contexts and their level of autonomy in each position.
Not all credentials are created equal. Some correspond to direct support roles, while others are qualified to design and oversee advanced programs.
In other words, they define “who does what” in ABA services, requiring verifiable training governed by ethical standards that prevent intrusions into the profession and protect both clients, teams, and organizations receiving the service.
There are really four core licensures/credentials associated in the ABA space. If you would like to learn about the specific requirements and function of each, you can click on the links below:
1. Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
2. Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
3. Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
4. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
5. Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D)
Understanding the path of each credential is often the first and most important step in deciding on the academic and training path to consider.
The purpose of this article is to serve as a general overview summarizing the main certifications and licenses related to ABA, providing an opportunity to identify which one best suits the student’s academic level, interest, and other responsibilities.
Certification pathways in ABA
One way to understand the different certification pathways in ABA is to view them as a progressive scale of levels of professional responsibility. As individuals advance along this path, requirements also change, including academic level, examinations, supervised practice hours, and the scope of the professional role.
RBT → BCaBA → BCBA → BCBA-D → LBA
From left to right, starting with RBT, the main role is the implementation of an intervention program under the close supervision of a supervisor. With a BCABA, greater responsibilities are added related to techniques and support in case evaluation and monitoring. Then, the BCBA certification marks a point of greater clinical autonomy, including program design, data-based clinical decision-making, and the supervision of other professionals. Moving on to BCBA-D, this level is characterized by doctoral academic specialization, with an emphasis on leadership, research, and teaching. Lastly, LBA corresponds to a state license that, in most states, enables independent legal practice.
Credentials
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
It is an entry-level credential for professionals. Individuals certified as RBTs directly implement ABA intervention programs by applying previously established procedures and collecting data during sessions. Their work takes place across different service settings, including schools, therapeutic centers, homes, and community-based programs.
A defining feature of the RBT is that it does not involve clinical decision-making. That is, RBTs do not design intervention programs, modify goals, or independently interpret results. All activities are conducted under the ongoing supervision of an authorized BCBA or BCaBA.
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
Within the certification system, this professional has the greatest clinical autonomy. They hold postgraduate university training and are qualified to lead full-scope ABA intervention processes and programs.
Their responsibilities include behavioral (and in some cases, functional) assessment, defining therapeutic goals, designing evidence-based plans, data analysis, and supervising BCaBAs and RBTs.
Furthermore, the BCBA is responsible for upholding compliance with ethical standards, client confidentiality, and technical fidelity in the ABA services provided.
In multiple contexts, the BCBA collaborates with families, schools, and institutions, ensuring that these procedures are socially meaningful and sustainable over time.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
Within the certification system, this role holds the highest level of clinical autonomy. It requires university-level graduate training and prepares professionals to lead full ABA intervention processes and programs.
Key responsibilities include behavioral and, in some cases, functional assessment, the definition of therapeutic goals, the design of evidence-based intervention plans, data analysis, and the supervision of BCaBAs and RBTs. In addition, the BCBA is responsible for ensuring compliance with ethical standards, protecting client confidentiality, and maintaining technical fidelity in the ABA services provided.
In many contexts, BCBAs collaborate with families, schools, and institutions to ensure that intervention procedures are socially meaningful and sustainable over time.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D)
It is not significantly different, nor does it have greater clinical scope than that of a BCBA. The fundamental difference lies in the fact that a BCBA-D has advanced academic preparation that allows them to obtain certification with a doctoral designation. This means that, in addition to having earned the BCBA credential, the professional holds doctoral training (Ph.D., Ed.D., or Psy.D.) and has a background in research in applied behavioral analysis or related areas.
The role of the BCBA-D is typically associated with leadership, advanced supervision, university teaching, and the development of scientific programs. However, these functions do not confer additional clinical privileges.
Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA)
LBA, as its initials indicate, is a professional license granted by the state. This means that, unlike all the previous cases, the LBA is not a national certification but rather a professional authorization that legally regulates which professionals may practice ABA independently within a specific jurisdiction.
To obtain the license, several requirements are typically requested, including a formal application, background checks, and credential verification. In some cases, BCBA certification serves as supporting evidence to demonstrate and ensure an adequate level of professional competence.
Additionally, the license defines and requires certain extra responsibilities, such as compliance with local regulations, credential renewal criteria, and ongoing academic or continuing education requirements, along with other conditions that may be added depending on the state in question.
An important point to highlight is that obtaining a credential such as the BCBA does not, by itself, guarantee full legal authorization to practice the profession—particularly in states where an LBA is required as a legal and regulatory condition for providing services.
Growth in ABA Licensure and Credentialing from 2020 to 2024
| US Behavior Analyst Workforce Growth 2020-2024 | ||||||||
| Year | BCBA-D | YoY | BCBA | YoY | BCaBA | YoY | RBT | YoY |
| 2020 | 2,288 | — | 37,951 | — | 4,030 | — | 88,009 | — |
| 2021 | 2,414 | 5.50% | 46,370 | 22.20% | 4,375 | 8.60% | 110,568 | 25.60% |
| 2022 | 2,534 | 5.00% | 51,638 | 11.40% | 4,180 | −4.5% | 127,654 | 15.40% |
| 2023 | 2,637 | 4.10% | 57,704 | 11.70% | 4,094 | −2.1% | 158,676 | 24.30% |
| 2024 | 2,784 | 5.60% | 64,907 | 12.50% | 4,100 | 0.10% | 196,759 | 24.00% |
Additional Resources
BACB guidelines
Through the BACB guidelines, the training standards, supervised experience criteria, and the various procedures for application, renewal, and ethical obligations required for professional practice as an RBT, BCaBA, BCBA, or BCBA-D are defined.
Below is a set of guidelines that are useful both for individuals in training and for professionals already in practice, whether to verify updates or to clarify role-specific responsibilities. Consulting these guidelines on a regular basis is a basic professional responsibility and can help prevent many issues during the certification process.
An important resource is the credential-specific handbooks, which detail the current requirements and provide a step-by-step overview of the certification process, supervision requirements, and the conditions for maintaining an active credential.
- Official Handbook – BACB https://www.bacb.com/handbooks/
Another key resource is the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, which outlines all the mandatory ethical principles for certified professionals.
This code addresses topics such as professional competence, informed consent, confidentiality, and other client protection frameworks.
Compliance with this code is mandatory and is part of the requirements for maintaining an active credential.
- Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts https://www.bacb.com/ethics-code/
Finally, the BACB publishes ongoing updates that explain how to interpret and/or apply certain requirements, particularly those related to supervision, continuing education, and changes in eligibility criteria.
- Resources and policies https://www.bacb.com/resources/
State licensure directories
In states where the provision of ABA services is regulated, state directories allow verification of who holds legal authorization to practice.
These state entities are typically managed by licensing boards, departments of health, or specific regulatory agencies whose role is to oversee not only institutions and professionals but also employers and families.
As a first step, it is important to identify which states have regulation and active licensure for ABA. The BACB provides this information through the following resource:
At the state level, each territory maintains its own registry. For example:
- New York – Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA):
https://www.op.nysed.gov/licensed-behavior-analysts - New York – Verificación pública de licencias:
https://eservices.nysed.gov/professions/verification-search
Training and supervision requirements
Both state entities and the BACB require specific criteria related to academic training and professional supervision, which vary depending on the credential being pursued and the state in which one intends to practice.
Some of these criteria specify which courses are considered valid, the number of required supervised experience hours, and which professionals are authorized to serve as supervisors, among other requirements.
As mentioned earlier, depending on the certification level being sought, the official guidelines and handbooks provide reliable and precise information.
The Verified Course Sequence (VCS) system managed by ABAI also provides a list of programs that meet the requirements set by the BACB.
Finally, at the state level, most jurisdictions require mandatory licensure (LBA), and some impose additional requirements. For this reason, it is necessary to review not only the BACB requirements but also the state-specific regulations applicable in each jurisdiction.