Costs of healthcare and premiums took a spike. As a result, enrollment in these Obamacare plans may ultimately fall by about 5 million people in 2026 amid sharply higher premiums. ACA enrollment may fall by 5 million
The reason: annual RBT turnover commonly exceeds 65%. At the largest organizations, it approaches 100%. The field is not understaffed. It is a revolving door. Study
34% of former RBTs cited unpredictable pay as a reason they left — many are sent home unpaid when a client cancels, on a median wage of ~$20/hour.
First-time BCBA exam pass rates fell to 49% in 2026, the lowest ever recorded, while BCBA job postings climbed 58% year over year in 2024. There are social media postings of people failing the BCBA multiple times in 2026.
A 2024 University of Florida study found RBT burnout clusters around four themes: inadequate competency training, difficult working conditions, unclear career paths, and pay dissatisfaction.
Is the Drop in Pass Rates Proof Something’s Broken? I had talk to a BCBA friend from over the weekend about the exam being a moneygrab and bureaucratic gatekeeping. It was never 2000 hours to test for the exam and way almost free to take. Its profitable to fail people to retake the exam. Now they want free BACB test examination subjects. The first-time BCBA pass rate used to sit comfortably above 60% pre-COVID. Now it’s dropped below 49%
Here are the main issues
1. Poor Quality Supervision & Training (Especially Post-COVID Virtual Supervision)
2. Explosion of Low-Quality Online Programs Profit mills
3. Surge in Test-Takers, Especially Less Prepared Ones
4. The Exam Feels Like a Money Grab
At the end of the day, regurgitation is not job skill. Knowing the task list doesn’t automatically make someone an effective BCBA in the real world.
Let’s discuss solutions!
This is pretty good money. 160 questions for the exam and not needing to do 2000 hours.
Hi everyone,I’m a 37-year-old paraprofessional and substitute teacher at a therapeutic school for high school–21 students with intellectual disabilities in Illinois. I also do comepetitive sports with the students after school. We are about to be unionized. I have a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis (ASD specialization) and I’m working ESY this summer. I’d like to get married and build more stability. I couldn’t find a supervisor for the 2000 fieldwork hours needed for BCBA (would take ~1.5 years). I’m now considering a Master’s in Special Education as an alternative route (will take 1 year) that could also lead to school administration after a few years. My concerns
I’m open to other career paths too (ABA-related or otherwise). Any honest advice on whether this switch makes sense at my age, or better options in education/ABA?
This is my first year as a paraprofessional (and sub) at a therepeutic school. This week I floated into a 2:1 room for just 15 minutes and a strong student slashed my nose open with a deep cut. Blood everywhere.
The student is aggressive almost every 5 minutes—scratching, choking, punching. The regular paras come out with fresh scratches daily, and the staff say he’s only getting stronger. I wrote up the incident report, but the cut instantly triggered memories of my dad beating me as a kid. Yesterday I saw a four to one with the student. He through a punch to the social worker. I never want to support this student again. Its out of my scope.
Can I make a salary that can increase with experience that is livable as a behavioral consultant in PA where you have the License Behavioral Specialist without the BCBA? I have a masters in ABA already.
I had problems with Eastern Illinois Unviversity that have not been flexible. I live in Illinois. They have an accelerated one year programme that starts June. Is there anything that exists like that? I live in Illinois
So I work at a behavioral school placement center. Everyones signed the forms to get unionized. A lot of us were saying weed needed one as paras and teachers.
What are things we can actually do?
As someone whose gonna have a masters in special ed teaching how can this benefit me if I stay?
Any benefit to running for office?
We’ve gone from a high of 67% down to below 50% now. Thats a 17-point drop since 2020.
Many people are celebrating this, saying it means the standards are finally getting tougher and will make great BCBAs. However, my experience in the field has been the opposite:
The BCBAs I worked with who tested around 2020 and earlier (when pass rates were much higher) were some of the best clinicians I’ve ever worked with extremely knowledgeable, experienced, skilled at supervision, and strong with behavioral principles.
Many of the more recent BCBAs I’ve worked with seem significantly weaker. Some rely more on “motherly instincts” than actual ABA, others have committed ethical violations, and the culture in some companies has shifted toward more of a sorority/clique vibe than a professional clinical environment. The field also feels much more corporate-driven now.
I’m not saying every new BCBA is bad, but the sharp decline in pass rates has me questioning whether we’re actually raising quality or if something else is going on.
Veteran BCBAs, newer BCBAs, and RBTs what has your experience been?
I graduated from Capella University's MS in Applied Behavior Analysis program in December 2025 with a BACB-recognized Verified Course Sequence. I haven't started accruing my supervised hours yet and I'm worried about the big changes coming January 1, 2027.
Will my Capella coursework/degree still qualify under the new Pathway 2?
So Ill be in an accelerated one year masters programme for masters in special education teaching. I will start June this summer and I will have summer school ESY. I already have a masters in ABA. Then I start again full time M-F. Do You think I will be able to manage full time classes and full time work?
People who cant find an ABA agency for supervision hours rely on paying for supervision. Those that are in school for nursing get it all done while enrolled in classes. Why can’t it be the same?
I seen lots of posts on social media and in ABA Facebook groups where people have failed the BCBA exam 3 times and even more than 3 times. This is just sad.
She told me she was unsure about going today yesterday because of allergies and went to the venue. I told her next weekend would be better to meet. I texted her and told her I thought you were unsure about meeting. I think its over. She also deleted her dating profile. Whose at fault here?
I'm a 37-year-old guy in Illinois with a Master's in ABA and solid special ed experience. Right now I work as a paraprofessional/sub teacher making about $50K, living with my parents and my senior dog.
I'm weighing two main paths. I can stay in Illinois and become a special ed teacher ($64-70K start) August 2027 or finish my BCBA supervision locally (around $80K after 1.5 years). Staying here is strong, I have good friends, and my parents would give me their house if I get married. Getting BCBA supervision has been hard to find locally. I can stay with my dog.
Or I can move to Pittsburgh, start over meeting new people, start as a Licensed Behavior Specialist at ~$60K afford my own place, finish my BCBA, and reach $80K in 1.5 years. I would have to leave my senior dog behind again who may have two -3 years left. I used to live in Nashville. I had better luck dating in Nashville before, and I miss doing open mic comedy. Getting a home now at average is a 30 year mortgage.
At the end of the day, I just want to get married, have a garden, and enjoy life with my dog.
I do sports sometimes with the students I work with at school and thats OT. The semester is over. I will be doing summer school. What are some summer jobs that you will be doing and weekend jobs?
Tell me about youre journey and what you enjoy the most balance, life, marriage, salary, etc.
Someone said there is a hiring freeze for RBTs.
If true why is this happening?
When does it end?