British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy
How Do You Become an ABA Therapist ? 18 years of age or older. High School Graduate. Complete 40 hours of training under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Complete the Registered Behavior Technician competency assessment. Pass a criminal background check.
What is a RBT ? A RBT is a Registered Behavior Technician . A BCBA or BCaBA will provide assessments of children and create treatment plans, but a RBT can still provide direct behavior analysis services (or ABA therapy ) to clients. They may also be referred to as a “paraprofessional.”
According to PayScale.com, ABA therapists with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis earn (on average) $47,281 annually. Entry-level salaries range from $25,528 to $50,862 annually. These figures typically rise with experience.
ABA therapy programs also involve therapists , or registered behavior technicians (RBTs). These therapists are trained and supervised by the BCBA. They work directly with children and adults with autism to practice skills and work toward the individual goals written by the BCBA.
Why Pursue Applied Behavioral Analysis? The opportunities and rewards within the profession are plentiful. If you are a person who wants an in-demand, rewarding, and flexible career that makes a difference in the lives of others using evidence-based, proven techniques, ABA is an excellent career choice for you.
In order to earn an ABA certificate, a person has to complete the required coursework. Most certifications require 270 hours of coursework at an accredited institution if the person holds a master’s degree.
RBT Salaries
Job Title | Salary |
---|---|
Total Spectrum RBT salaries – 14 salaries reported | $17/ hr |
ACI Learning Centers RBT salaries – 12 salaries reported | $16/ hr |
Autism Home Support Services RBT salaries – 11 salaries reported | $20/ hr |
Alternative Behavior Strategies RBT salaries – 10 salaries reported | $18/ hr |
A Registered Behavior Technician ( RBT ) is a credentialed paraprofessional who works one-on-one with people receiving Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to implement their intervention plans. As an RBT , you won’t be designing or assessing these plans.
Therapists who use ABA understand how human behaviors are learned and how they can be changed over time. The therapist evaluates a client’s behavior and develops treatment plans to help improve the communication and behavior skills necessary for success in their personal and professional lives.
In general, ABA therapy costs in the range of $120 for a one-hour session. Most insurance plans will cover this therapy, so the cost can largely be offset by insurance coverage. This means your out-of-pocket expenses will be greatly reduced.
Autism Spectrum Therapies Salaries
Job Title | Salary |
---|---|
Behavior Therapist salaries – 23 salaries reported | $18/hr |
Behavior Technician salaries – 23 salaries reported | $17/hr |
Behavior Interventionist salaries – 21 salaries reported | $18/hr |
Program Supervisor salaries – 10 salaries reported | $76,510/yr |
So what are the differences between ABA , BCBA , and CAS? An ABA therapist provides applied behavior analysis therapy to an individual. A BCBA is a board certified individual who is trained to provide and supervise behavior analysis. Often it is a BCBA who supervises individuals providing ABA .
Prominent ABA therapy examples include discrete trial training (DTT), modeling, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and reinforcement systems. Discrete Trial Training. Modeling. Picture Exchange Communication System. Reinforcement Systems.
They include rewards like verbal praise, a hug, a snack, or access to a tangible item, like a favorite toy. Some therapy sessions also include circle time with other children and their therapists . Your child is still one-on-one with his or her therapist, but in a social setting with other children.
ABA therapy is expensive . Why is that? Well, it’s administered by highly trained professionals (more on that later), it’s intended to be intensive, it requires rapidly changing supplies and materials, and the funding sources have not quite caught up to the diagnosis rates.