For those who are empathetic, patient, compassionate, and wish to make a positive impact on people’s lives, ABA therapy can be an extremely gratifying career path.
ABA therapists use applied behavior analysis to increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease those that are harmful or affect learning. ABA is not exclusively used for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but it is a well-known and research-proven way to treat children with autism. There are many published studies that have established that intensive and long-term ABA therapy improves outcomes for many children with autism.
ABA therapists’ training allows them to understand how people learn and can change their behavior over time. Those who provide autism therapy to children with ASD use specialized treatment plans to teach skills that are useful in everyday life, improve communication ability, and reduce problems or destructive behaviors. ABA therapists administer services in many settings such as schools, clinics, or private homes.
Job outlook for ABA therapists
If a career in ABA therapy sounds intriguing, you may want to know if jobs in the field are in demand. The U.S. Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts document aggregated data over several years from more than 50 sources and found that over the past 11 years, the demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) has increased 4,209%. Annual demand has increased each year since 2010, with a 17% increase from 2019 to 2020.
According to the United States Department of Labor Statistics, the employment of all professions in the psychology field – including ABA therapists – is projected to grow by 19% in the United States by 2024. The bottom line is, ABA therapy is a growing career field.
Career path For ABA therapists
There are many paths to embark on a career in ABA therapy. Here is what is required at different levels as determined by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB), a nonprofit that establishes professional standards for behavioral analysis training:
- A Behavior Technician (BT) must have a high school diploma or equivalent and undergo training. BTs work directly with children to provide autism therapy but must work under the supervision of a board-certified BCBA.
- A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) also works under the supervision of a BCBA but undergoes specific training to pass BACB certification exams.
- A Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) requires an undergraduate certification in behavior analysis.
- BCBAs have to complete graduate-level certification. At the BCBA level and above, ABA therapists can work independently and design and implement ABA therapies. Once certified, a BCBA can become a clinical director, train staff, or perform research.
- To become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D), you must complete doctoral training in behavior analysis.
Working with GBC Autism Services
GBC Autism Services provides autism therapy based on ABA principles to families in the Bolingbrook, Bloomington-Normal, and Peoria areas. In addition to priding ourselves on exceptionally high standards of service, we strive to create a fun and communicative environment for our employees.
We provide exceptional growth opportunities for those seeking careers in ABA, including free training for all of our BTs to become RBTs. The three-part certification process includes complimentary access to 40 hours of online ABA training, a $.50 per hour pay raise upon completion, and field training so you can master the required skills to pass competencies. Upon completion of the training, GBC will pay all of the required fees for you to take your RBT exam. When you pass, you will receive an automatic $1.50 per hour pay increase.
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