As the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) grows, more people are attracted to beginning careers in the field. If you are considering pursuing a career as a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst), BCaBA (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst), or BCBA-D (Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral), it is important to do your research on Accredited Behavior Analysis Programs. Prior to pursuing the BCaBA credential, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university. For the BCBA credential, you must hold a master’s degree from an accredited university; for the BCBA-D credential, you must hold a doctoral degree from an accredited university.
As you look into graduate and doctoral programs in behavior analysis, you will find that there are very few schools that are accredited by the Association for Behavioral Analysis International (ABAI). The ABAI is an organization focused on advancing the field of behavior analysis around the world. While it is possible to earn the BCBA and BCBA-D credentials with a degree from a university that is not accredited by the ABAI, there are additional steps required in the process. You can learn more about that here (for BCBAs) or here (for BCBA-Ds). Providing ABA therapy is an incredibly rewarding career path, so be sure to put in the effort to choose the path that is right for you!
Accredited master’s-level behavior analysis programs in the U.S:
Caldwell University (located in Caldwell, New Jersey)
California State University, Los Angeles (located in Los Angeles, California)
Florida Institute of Technology (located in Melbourne, Florida)
Florida State University, Panama City Campus (located in Panama City, Florida)
Jacksonville State University (located in Jacksonville, Alabama)
McNeese State University (located in Lake Charles, Louisiana)
The Ohio State University (located in Columbus, Ohio)
Simmons College (located in Boston, Massachusetts)
Southern Illinois University (located in Carbondale, Illinois)
St. Cloud State University (located in St. Cloud, Minnesota)
Teachers College, Columbia University (located in New York, New York)
University of Cincinnati (located in Cincinnati, Ohio)
University of Houston-Clear Lake (located in Houston, Texas)
University of Kansas (located in Lawrence, Kansas)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (located in Baltimore, Maryland)
University of Nevada, Reno (located in Reno, Nevada)
University of North Texas (located in Denton, Texas)
University of South Florida (located in Tampa, Florida)
Western Michigan University (located in Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Accredited doctoral-level behavior analysis programs in the U.S.
Florida Institute of Technology (located in Melbourne, Florida)
The Ohio State University (located in Columbus, Ohio)
Queens College and Graduate Center of CUNY (located in Queens, New York)
Teachers College, Columbia University (located in New York, New York)
University of Cincinnati (located in Cincinnati, Ohio)
University of Kansas (located in Lawrence, Kansas)
University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute (located in Omaha, Nebraska)
University of Nevada, Reno (located in Reno, Nevada)
Western Michigan University (located in Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Western New England University (located in Springfield, Massachusetts)
West Virginia University (located in Morgantown, West Virginia)
If you are an aspiring ABA therapy professional, visit the ABAI or BACB websites to learn more about earning your certification. Or if you are a parent and think that your child could benefit from ABA therapy with an applied behavior analysis professional, contact Chicago ABA Therapy today! We provide a wide range of services for children, including ABA therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and a therapeutic preschool program.
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