r/bcba

RBT going through the absolute meat grinder that is getting the 2000 hours. Can school based BCBAs expect to make as much as clinic or home or remote BCBAs? I know that BCBAs are about to start making a lot less when all the Medicaid/insurance/PE bubble stuff finally pops. Any estimates?

INB4 "You shouldn't go in to this field for money": Not relevant. I will stop caring about money when society stops running on it.

I’m a newer BCBA and honestly the clinic I currently work at has to be one of the most bizarre work environments I’ve ever experienced.

When I signed my contract, it only covered very basic employment terms and vaguely mentioned benefits without really explaining them. I later found out after starting that there is no 401(k), even though I was initially told there was. Not ideal, but whatever.

What really shocked me was learning that the only paid holidays off are Thanksgiving and Christmas. Every other federal holiday, we are expected to work. On top of that, shifts are typically 9–10 hours long and you are expected to be there the entire time.

The clinic has around 60 clients and only 2 BCBAs. I currently have 30-35 clients honestly I’m not sure because I keep getting more without my knowledge. I’ve been at the company for 3 months and still haven’t even met all of my clients.

I’m also assigned around 5–10 direct sessions per week on top of everything else. RBTs are not getting the supervision they need because my caseload is so high that there genuinely is not enough time in the day to provide proper support and quality care.

I finally went to management and explained my concerns, and the response I got was basically: “Just do the best you can and make sure you hit your billables.” That response told me everything I needed to know about what they actually care about.

Management is disorganized, support is basically nonexistent, and the whole environment feels unsustainable. I already feel burned out and guilty because I’m a new BCBA and don’t want to look like I’m job hopping, but this workload does not feel manageable for anyone.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Is this becoming normal in ABA or is this as bad as it feels? Any advice?

I’m (32F) debating whether I want to go through with the BCBA process and could use outside perspective (Walden Grad Cert + Employment BCBA supervision, BCBA-D designation, pathway 2).

I’m a military spouse, and we’re likely settling in San Diego, but I still need a career that is portable, stable, and in demand in case we move again.

Current education:

• Doctorate of Education (Early Childhood Education) — finishing June 2026

• Master’s — Child Developmental Psychology

• Bachelor’s — Psychology

Experience (last ~10 years):

• 3 years — Community Outreach / Education Nonprofit Manager ($75k role, ended due to funding)

• 5 years — Librarian (managed different locations, youth services)

• 1 year — SPED Teacher (emergency role in Virginia, non-licensure, no credential, behavioral mild-moderate, 3rd -5th grade)

• 2 years — Early Childhood Education Teacher / Lead Staff

I’m trying to decide what makes the most sense for my next chapter and whether BCBA is worth pursuing.

Would love perspectives from people who became BCBAs later in their careers or pivoted from other careers.

How would you feel about going through your master's program being taught by an instructor(s) who have never practiced as a BCBA? Does this matter to you?

I’m a new BCBA and feel like I know nothing. I imagine walking in on my first day and being asked to do XYZ and can’t imagine it. I know I’ll learn on the job but are you really just thrown into it?

I work as an RBT right now. I will be moving away to get a master's in statistics soon. I have to say that I find the science of ABA and the data analysis aspects incredibly interesting, however I can't say I love the day to day as an RBT. It's immensely stressful and physically exhausting. Despite that, I feel the pull to be a BCBA. But then I remind myself that if ever a crisis were to come up, I'd be the one called on to intervene. I don't really like the crisis management aspects of being an RBT. Really really don't like. But were it not for that it sounds like a dream job. Recently I've started wondering if it's actually so intensive from the BCBA side of things. Whenever I see a BCBA they're always sitting at their computer and it looks real nice. Sorry if this is a dumb question haha.

Quick recap if you’re new: three guys, a web of companies in Florida and New Hampshire, a closed-loop billing structure, and a civil RICO suit filed by Publix alleging they were being charged up to $990 for 15-minute therapy sessions. Part 2 is the money story.

I still have three questions I can’t answer and I’m putting them out there:

1.	The security contract was signed November 11, 2024 -what spooked him so much that he felt like he needed 24 hour armed security with him (Pre-Mangione, so not that).

2.	CASP (Council of Autism Service Providers) — is there a connection beyond shared legal representation? (Dan Unumb is litigating the big MA case for him) 

3.	Barnett registered a company in Medellín in 2022. Who did he know there before that filing? And why did he choose Medellin? In that same vein, why did he then open a whole other company there?

Next up: clients, then employment lawsuits and such, and finally I’m going to spend real time on what good clinical leadership in ABA actually looks like.

So I’m currently new to the field of ABA, as I was previously an educator and studied psych, but now am transitioning into what I believe aligns better for my long term goals and natural abilities. I am in my first semester of my Masters program and am already loving it and excited to begin my field work. I’ve already started interviewing with companies for practicum and supervision hours as well. Before even stating classes I did much research into the field, joined groups such as this one, downloaded apps to familiarize myself with terminology and question framing, as well as watched many videos on YouTube and Tik Tok with personal experiences and overall things to know.

My questions are:

What do you wish you knew or did differently at the very beginning of your BCBA journey?

What do you think separates a standard proficient BCBA from a truly well-rounded or exceptional one?

For those who have survived the corporate clinic burnout, what are the green flags you look for in a sustainable workplace?

I see a lot of discussion about the technical side of the field, but I want to know about the human element and the behind the scenes realities of the career. I’d love to get some insight from those of you who have been in the trenches!

Hi! I am a new BCBA. I had a new client begin last month. They are 5 and recently began working on using a speech device through an external speech therapist. This client has began having an increase in wandering, aggression, refusal, and disruptive physical behavior (rolling on the floor, laughing, being unsafe). Based off direct observation, ABC data collection, and parent interview I hypothesize all of these behaviors occur under the escape, access to tangible, and attention conditions. Does anyone have recommendations for successful strategies to implement? I am thinking of introducing a DRO interval procedure where this client earns tokens leading to time with a high value item (videos on the device). Any advice would be so helpful, I am new and would appreciate any positive support or ideas!

Hey guys! I need some salary help from people that understand these things better than I do.

I’m currently located in NJ. I am two months away from finishing my masters in ABA, and have already acquired about 600 fieldwork hours during my journey.

I was recently hired by a company that does dayhab and community focused work with developmentally disabled adults 21+. I was originally hired under the title of RBT and told I would be the first person they’ve ever had in that role, and that they were in the process of figuring out what it would look like. I was originally hired at $52,500 with that disclaimer.

Coming up on one month in what it looks like is that I’m fully replacing a BCBA that recently left. I receive enough supervision to meet the BACB requirements, and they provide supervision for my fieldwork for free, however, I am alone most of the time and making a lot of clinical decisions day-to-day. I train staff, I monitor behavior, I do assessments, soon I’ll be writing behavior plans.

I have over 20 clients on my caseload, but not all are billable — a handful are acuity. & about 25-30 billable hours expected of me a week, plus sometimes covering community clients after hours. The behaviors aren’t intense to me, and I love the flexibility of floating around between locations, going on outings, and making my own schedule in regards to when I see people.

All that being said, what’s a realistic salary expectation for negotiating after I graduate? It’s a medicaid funded program. I’m not sure how much it matters in regards to reimbursement if I’m a certified BCBA yet, or masters level clinician, when it comes to this setting.

TLDR: Reasonable salary ask in NJ for a new masters in ABA grad, before BCBA certification, while working as a behaviorist in the dayhab setting — funded by medicaid

I have 3 offers. I am a second year BCBA. I live in New Jersey.

School: 75k a year, have to work the summer (additional 3k), no billable hours

Clinic: 90k a year, 25 billable hours, 30+ min commute.

In-home: 100k a year, 20 billable hours, drive time unknown?

Context:
I know in home looks the most obvious. For context was a teacher for years and then eventually school BCBA. I also have autism. The bright loud chaotic school energy stresses me, but I like the schedule. Clinic seems alright. In home is intriguing, but I have no experience with it.

Btw have 2 days to make a choice lol

Hey lovelies. I got accepted into a BCaBA program, it’s only $4k. Accredited, great pass rates, ect. However, with the new changes, will I still have the same job security or will I be struggling for a job as an assistant Behavioral analyst? Can you guys tell me what’s the word in your clinics? I’m in South Florida so demand is high overall but would BCaBA be a waste? I’m a young mom and need to maximize my FASFA refunds and make money asap. I love this field but stability is important. I don’t want to pursue the BCaBa and struggle to get hired! Lmk beautiful people!

I had an RBT that I know was under supervision hours for a couple months and I don't have the total number of hours she worked for those months (I was never able to keep track of that). I also reported that organization for fraud so I'm not super sure what to do about not knowing the hours.

Edit: if anyone knows what will happen to me I would appreciate being told

I heard from a colleague that we can bill phone calls with parents as parent training under the code 97156 as long as it’s parent training and updates regarding treatment plan . However, I’m not sure if this is accurate. All the clinics I’ve worked for have consistently stated that it must be face-to-face, either in person or via video.

Using Central Reach, I am able to view the previous few sessions’ data for a client’s targets. I noticed that my data looks quite different from many of my coworkers.

For example, we collect data on the frequency that Client A uses his choice board, including when prompted with modeling. His previous sessions had 1 to 4 mands per session, while in my session, I collected 24 mands, most of which were independent. For some other natural environment baseline data collection, I’ve gotten up to 10x the rate of my coworkers. Whether it’s due to how we engage in play with clients (or lack thereof) or frequency of running trials / tracking data, it’s a large discrepancy.

So, I was wondering for BCBAs: assuming very different quality and quantity of data from technicians that work with a client, how do you make data-driven decisions, modifications, and goals for a client?

I’m a grad school student that has about a year and 4/5 months left of school left. I’m really wanting to finish my supervision before/around time of graduation. I’ve got like 200+ hours collected and trying to do concentrated all the way. I quit my current job that pays for unrestricted hours bc of personal reasons and wanting more experience with other BCBAs. This clinic I’m going to expect you to be direct regularly and to accrue hours while being direct or to do unpaid unrestricted work at home without pay. How hard is it to collect hours while being direct with clients? My new supervisor has said that people don’t really struggle with unrestricted hours and she’s super flexible, but I’m a little unsure. Has anyone else experienced this? I haven’t begun working there yet. Any advice???? (Pls be kind)

Hi!

I’m exploring leaving my current place of employment. No reason other than i need a change.

I have an interview on thursday with a company for hourly. I am salary right now. Potentially nervous to switch, but wanted some feedback

I received an email today asking for volunteers to write questions for the certification test. And you are required to go to Colorado. The email does not allow for replies.

Why is this not a paid position?  If the BACB values the quality of the profession, why are they not paying a qualified person to complete the job?  Do you value the work people put into the exam assessing for competency?  To ask for volunteers for such an important task is not only showing a lack of respect for the professional, but I would imagine also sends the message to those outside the profession that licensing and certification standards are not prioritized as evidenced by the assessments being formulated by volunteers.    

I really hope no one responds, although I doubt that will be the case. If you are being asked to use your highly specialized credentials, you should be getting compensated! To accept less than that not only devalues yourself but also the profession.

Hey. My company sent out an email last week(one of the massive. Nationwide companies, operating in nearly every state). The email said that we are going to be discharging ALL Optum clients after their current auth period. I've never heard of something like this. Is this normal? Justifiable?

Anyone else having anything like this happen?

I have never heard of this company, but their reviews from clients (Google Reviews) are great. I am looking at companies to work remote for, and I am interviewing with them. Anyone have insights about them? Thanks!