An ABA therapist is a healthcare professional trained in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). ABA therapy is a resource often used by families with children who have autism, behavioral delays, or other neurodivergent conditions. ABA therapists and their team work with clients on a case-by-case basis to help them improve their quality of life.
Learn more about what an ABA therapist is, how they train for their roles, and how they might help your family.
What Does an ABA Therapist Do?
An ABA therapist helps clients overcome behavioral challenges. The underlying goal is to reduce unwanted behaviors in order to build positive skill acquisition and social outcomes. All therapy plans are customized to the individual, so ABA sessions will look different for each person.
A therapist will use:
- Evaluation: The first step of ABA therapy is an initial assessment. This helps the therapist get to know the client, including their strengths, struggles, and desired outcomes. They will often interview those around the potential client to get a full picture of their needs.
- Goal setting: The therapist and the client’s loved ones will set goals for treatment. This can include identifying the behaviors they want to reduce and the skills they want to reinforce. Goals are informed by the insights gleaned from evaluations.
- Different communication methods: Two-way communication with the client is necessary for progress in therapy, but that doesn’t always mean talking verbally. Therapists may try alternative methods like drawing, facial expressions, or special devices to find what works best for the client.
- Prompting and playing. The majority of ABA therapeutic interaction happens through prompting and playing. Therapists shape behavior by interacting with clients through direct instruction and other types of prompts that can include imaginative play driven by the client.
- Reinforcement. Desired behaviors are cemented with reinforcement. When a client takes a productive step or reaches a desired outcome, the therapist uses positive reinforcement, which offers confidence and motivation to clients.
- Family support. ABA therapists and their clients rely on support systems outside of therapy, too. Cooperation from families or other social connections helps clients maintain progress between sessions.
Confused by all these new terms? Get clarity with our Essential ABA Terms Glossary.
How Are ABA Therapists Trained and Certified?
Just like with any other healthcare professional, the path to become an ABA therapist includes academic education, experiential training, and certification. ABA therapists take these steps:
- Get an undergraduate degree: Psychology, child development, and education is the most common undergraduate degree for those wanting to pursue a career as an ABA therapist. Other degrees may also offer stepping stones to certification, like education or special education.
- Get a graduate degree: Graduate-level coursework offers the opportunity for specialization. Some universities offer degrees specifically in Applied Behavior Analysis that prepare students to complete training hours and pass certification exams.
- Complete training hours: Education programs, local governments, and certification boards may all have their own requirements for training hours. A minimum of 1,500 hours of concentrated fieldwork should be expected. Take note, these requirements do change from time to time.
- Pass certification requirements: The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is the certification body for ABA therapists in the United States. They offer three levels of certification with varying requirements for education, training hours, and exams.
- Maintain certifications: To continue working as an ABA therapist, providers must stay up to date on training and standards. This includes renewing certifications periodically through the BACB.
What are the BACB certifications? Providers can become a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Learn more about the requirements for each ABA certification.
Where Do ABA Therapists Work?
Work locations for ABA therapists fall into one of two categories: in-home or on-site. The best environment depends on your family’s needs and availability in your location.
Learn how to choose the right ABA environment for your child.
With in-home sessions, an ABA therapist comes directly to your house. These sessions allow clients to apply behavioral techniques in a practical, everyday setting. On-site offerings provide an out-of-home setting for therapists and clients to work together. They may happen in a:
- Private clinic: When you imagine the workplace of a therapist, you likely picture a private clinic with dedicated offices. It’s an ideal space for many clients, as it provides structure and supplies necessary for this unique work.
- Treatment center: Treatment centers with inpatient and outpatient programs often offer ABA therapists as part of their care teams. In these cases, the ABA therapist works as part of a scheduled treatment plan that includes other interventions.
- School: Children, teenagers, and young adults may have access to ABA therapists at school or through school referral programs. Depending on the school setup, appointments may be offered after school or as an integrated educational option—but they do not replace school instruction or socialization.
- Hospital: Hospitals provide all kinds of supplementary services, from physical therapy to behavioral support. Whether clients are hospitalized for an issue separate or interrelated to behavioral issues, ABA in a hospital setting may be available.
- Nursing home: Though ABA therapy is commonly thought of as an option for young clients, older residents in care centers can benefit from it. It can help with dementia symptoms and other cognitive shifts that are common with age.
Who supervises ABA therapists? There is no singular answer to this question, as it varies from therapist to therapist and location to location, but usually BCBAs.
In a private clinic or treatment center, ABA therapists may be part of a mental health program supervised by a psychologist or social worker. At schools, therapists are typically supervised by education administrators and coordinators. In a hospital or nursing home, they are more likely to be part of a broader medical team run by doctors and medical administrators.
How Do ABA Therapists Support Families and Treatment Teams?
ABA therapy offers an alternative to the frustration and confusion so many families experience without behavioral intervention tools. But an ABA therapist is just one link in a chain of support. A group of professionals (including BCBAS, parent consultants, assistants, technicians, and teachers) may all be on your ABA therapy team.
You may also receive professional support outside of ABA therapy. This is known as coordination of care, where multiple providers collaborate to develop a comprehensive wellness plan. Depending on the client’s needs, the efforts of occupational therapy, talk therapy, and other medical teams work together to create a holistic environment that enables individuals to thrive.
It’s important to note that you are also part of this chain of support.
Why Your Role Is Important in ABA Therapy
For some clients, the family unit is an important part of therapeutic success. Parents and other household members support the journey, and may even be involved in sessions. ABA therapists can work directly with parents to provide tools and resources to maintain progress at home.
For example, a therapist may work with a young client on a teeth brushing routine. Once the client has experience with this routine in therapy, the therapist can review it with the client’s parents. The child is then able to replicate the exact routine in their everyday environment with the support of those around them—all of whom have a foundational understanding of the ABA tools.
ABA Therapist FAQs
Is an ABA therapist the same as a BCBA?
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a specific type of ABA practitioner who has achieved graduate training and certification in Applied Behavior Analysis. They can practice independently and may supervise other ABA team members, like assistants and technicians.
Do ABA therapists only work with children?
No, ABA therapists do not only work with children. While early intervention (with children under the age of three) is a significant application of ABA therapy, a wide range of clients can benefit from these therapeutic techniques.
Therapists may work with older children, teens, or adults who want professional support for increasing desired behaviors.
What is the difference between an ABA therapist and an occupational therapist?
Treatment philosophy and approach differentiate ABA therapists from occupational therapists. Occupational therapy focuses on skills-based improvement for a wide variety of patients. ABA therapy focuses on human behavior in those with developmental or cognitive challenges.
In many cases, an ABA therapist and an occupational therapist may both be part of a comprehensive support plan that facilitates independence and a greater quality of life.
Knowing Your Options Helps You Find the Right Support
If you or a loved one needs support, an ABA therapist is a compassionate guide on your journey. Together, you and your care team can develop goals, implement practical learning tools, and improve quality of life.
Learn more about how ABA is used as an autism intervention strategy.
