Do you need a license to practice ABA in Florida? What Florida law says
The short answer
We found no Florida law that licenses behavior analysts. Florida law lets the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) run a certification process for behavior analysts and requires it to recognize the certification of a national nonprofit certifying body, and APD's rules name the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as the one it recognizes. Chapters 490 and 491 exempt people who solely practice behavior analysis, provided they do not represent themselves as holding a license under those chapters or use protected titles or descriptions. Confirm with the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities before you rely on this.
What we found
On October 30, 2026, we read the 2026 Florida Statutes on the Legislature's site, the Florida Administrative Code on the Department of State's site, the Agency for Health Care Administration's Medicaid behavior analysis rule and coverage policy, and the Department of Health's telehealth registration pages. We searched the full text of the 2026 Florida Statutes for "behavior analyst," "behavioral analysis," "behavior analysis" and "registered behavior technician." We found no statute that creates a Florida board or license for behavior analysts. We did not search the whole Florida Administrative Code.
Florida's own certification rules for behavior analysts (rules 65G-4.003 to 65G-4.006 of the Florida Administrative Code, on certification, renewal and approved continuing education) show "Repealed 4-4-12," meaning April 4, 2012.
What Florida does have
### A statute that allows state certification and recognizes a national certifier (s. 393.17) Section 393.17, Florida Statutes, is titled "Behavioral programs; certification of behavior analysts." It says:
"The agency may establish a certification process for behavior analysts in order to ensure that only qualified employees and service providers provide behavioral analysis services to clients."
"The agency shall recognize the certification of behavior analysts awarded by a nonprofit corporation that adheres to the national standards of boards that determine professional credentials and whose mission is to meet professional credentialing needs identified by behavior analysts, state governments, and consumers of behavior analysis services."
In chapter 393 "the agency" means the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (s. 393.063(2)).
Source: s. 393.17, Florida Statutes (2026); s. 393.063, Florida Statutes (2026).
### APD rules: who may provide behavior analysis services, and who may use the title APD's rule 65G-4.0011 says:
"All providers of behavior analysis services must either be licensed to practice in accordance with Chapter 490 or 491, F.S., or certified under a nonprofit corporation meeting the qualifications under Section 393.17(2), F.S. All providers of behavior analysis services must submit to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities proof of their active licensure or certification in order to provide behavior analysis services."
The same rule says the agency recognizes the certification "awarded by the following organizations: Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc."
Rule 65G-4.001 defines the terms. A "Certified Behavior Analyst" is "A behavior analyst certified by a certification body, including a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral level, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and a Florida Certified Behavior Analyst." Its definition of "Provider" says:
"Only those providers holding a certificate on active status from a recognized certification organization for behavior analysis shall use the title, “certified behavior analyst.”"
These are rules of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, under chapter 393 of the Florida Statutes ("Developmental Disabilities"). Rule 65G-4.002(3) says "Programs and services provided by or for the Agency shall adhere to the policies, standards and procedures specified and made reference to in this chapter." Rule 65G-4.009(1) says "Providers of behavior analysis services shall provide services only as certified and as provided by law."
Source: Rule 65G-4.0011, F.A.C.; Rule 65G-4.001, F.A.C.; Rule 65G-4.002, F.A.C.; Rule 65G-4.009, F.A.C..
### Exemptions under the psychology and counseling licensing laws Chapter 490 of the Florida Statutes is titled "Psychological Services," and chapter 491 is titled "Clinical, Counseling, and Psychotherapy Services." Both chapters have this exemption. Section 490.014(3):
"No provision of this chapter shall be construed to limit the practice of any individual who solely engages in behavior analysis so long as he or she does not hold himself or herself out to the public as possessing a license issued pursuant to this chapter or use a title or description protected by this chapter."
Section 491.014(5) is worded the same way, ending "or use a title protected by this chapter."
Source: s. 490.014, Florida Statutes (2026); s. 491.014, Florida Statutes (2026).
### Florida Medicaid Florida's Medicaid rule for behavior analysis is 59G-4.125, F.A.C. Subsection (1) says it "applies to all providers rendering Florida Medicaid behavior analysis services to recipients." Subsection (2) requires compliance with the Florida Medicaid Behavior Analysis Services Coverage Policy, December 2024, which the rule incorporates by reference. Section 3.2 of that policy, "Who Can Provide," says "Services must be rendered by one of the following:" The first group is "Lead Analysts who are one of the following":
"Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®"
"Florida certified behavior analyst (FL-CBA) credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®"
"Practitioner fully licensed in accordance with Chapters 490 or 491, F.S., performing within their scope of practice"
The other two groups are:
"Board certified assistant behavior analysts (BCaBA) credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® working under the supervision of a BCBA"
"Registered behavior technicians (RBT) credentialed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® working under the supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA"
Section 2.2 of the policy says the service is for "Florida Medicaid recipients under the age of 21 years requiring medically necessary BA services to address behavior that impairs a recipient's ability to perform a major life activity."
Source: Rule 59G-4.125, F.A.C.; Florida Medicaid Behavior Analysis Services Coverage Policy, December 2024 (AHCA).
### Insurance coverage for autism (s. 627.6686 and s. 641.31098) Florida's "Steven A. Geller Autism Coverage Act" defines "Applied behavior analysis" as "the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including, but not limited to, the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior." For plans covered by the act, section 627.6686(3)(b) requires coverage of treatment of autism spectrum disorder and Down syndrome through speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and applied behavior analysis, and adds:
"Applied behavior analysis services shall be provided by an individual certified pursuant to s. 393.17 or an individual licensed under chapter 490 or chapter 491."
Section 641.31098(3)(b) says the same for health maintenance contracts. The act's definitions limit it: a "health insurance plan" is a group plan, and "does not include any health insurance plan offered in the individual market, any health insurance plan that is individually underwritten, or any health insurance plan provided to a small employer." An "eligible individual" is "an individual under 18 years of age or an individual 18 years of age or older who is in high school who has been diagnosed as having a developmental disability at 8 years of age or younger." Coverage is "limited to treatment that is prescribed by the insured's treating physician in accordance with a treatment plan," and the statute sets annual and lifetime benefit limits and provides for an annual adjustment.
Source: s. 627.6686, Florida Statutes (2026); s. 641.31098, Florida Statutes (2026).
### Out-of-state telehealth registration (s. 456.47) Section 456.47, Florida Statutes, covers health care by telehealth. It defines a "telehealth provider" to include a person "licensed or certified under s. 393.17" (the behavior analyst certification section above) and, among other categories, a person "who is registered under and complies with subsection (4)." Subsection (4)(a) says:
"A health care professional not licensed in this state may provide health care services to a patient located in this state using telehealth if the health care professional registers with the applicable board, or the department if there is no board, and provides health care services within the applicable scope of practice established by Florida law or rule."
To be registered, the professional must, among other things (s. 456.47(4)(b)), be "licensed with an active, unencumbered license that is issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a possession or territory of the United States and that is substantially similar to a license issued to a Florida-licensed provider specified in paragraph (1)(b)", and must not have been "the subject of disciplinary action relating to his or her license during the 5-year period immediately prior to the submission of the application". Subsection (4)(f) says a registered professional "may not open an office in this state and may not provide in-person health care services to patients located in this state."
The Florida Department of Health's telehealth page says "Out-of-State Telehealth Provider Registration in Florida is for health care practitioners licensed outside of Florida ONLY." Its FAQ lists "a behavior analyst" among the professions that may practice as telehealth providers, and its application says "To qualify as a telehealth provider in Florida, you must have an out-of-state license or certification that is the same or substantially similar to those listed in section 456.47(1)(b), Florida Statutes." Registration is not a Florida license: approved providers are "issued an approval letter containing their telehealth registration number, but no license is issued." Ask the Department of Health whether your own credential qualifies.
Source: s. 456.47, Florida Statutes (2026); Florida Department of Health, Telehealth; Telehealth FAQ; Application for Out-of-State Telehealth Provider Registration.
### Schools The following Florida statutes address ABA services in school settings.
Section 1003.572 sets rules for "private instructional personnel" hired or contracted by parents to work alongside public school staff. It defines them to include "Individuals certified under s. 393.17 or licensed under chapter 490 or chapter 491 for applied behavior analysis services as defined in ss. 627.6686 and 641.31098," and "Registered behavior technicians who have a nationally recognized paraprofessional certification in behavior analysis and who practice under the supervision of individuals described in paragraph (a) by assisting and supporting such individuals in the provision of applied behavior analysis services. To provide services under this section, a registered behavior technician must be employed by a provider described in paragraph (a)." Such personnel "must be permitted to observe the student in the educational setting, collaborate with instructional personnel in the educational setting, and provide services in the educational setting" if the school's staff and principal consent to the time and place and the personnel satisfy s. 1012.32 or s. 1012.321.
Sections 1003.21(2)(b)2. and 1003.24(4) deal with attendance. Section 1003.21(2)(b) says each district school board, in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education, shall adopt policies "authorizing a parent to request and be granted permission for absence of a student from school for:" and subparagraph 2. lists "An appointment scheduled to receive a therapy service provided by a licensed health care practitioner or behavior analyst certified pursuant to s. 393.17 for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder, including, but not limited to, applied behavioral analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy."
Section 1002.66(2)(a) lists "Applied behavior analysis as defined in ss. 627.6686 and 641.31098" among the specialized instructional services a parent may select for a child eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program for children with disabilities.
Source: s. 1003.572, s. 1003.21, s. 1003.24 and s. 1002.66, Florida Statutes (2026).
### Assistants, RBTs and technicians We found no Florida law that licenses or registers assistant behavior analysts or RBTs. Rule 65G-4.001 lists Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts among the providers of behavior analysis services for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and the Medicaid policy and s. 1003.572 quoted above set the supervision terms for assistants and registered behavior technicians in those settings.
### Renewal and state-required training The sources we reviewed did not establish a current Florida renewal cycle, continuing education hour requirement or required training topic for behavior analysts. Rules 65G-4.003 through 65G-4.006 show that the former certification, renewal and continuing education rules were repealed on April 4, 2012. Rule 65G-4.0011 requires providers to submit proof of active licensure or certification to APD. We did not review all Florida administrative rules or APD provider-enrollment requirements.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Florida and need new technicians or aides trained in the basics, this is what our Intro to ABA Level 1 course covers.
The Intro to ABA Level 1 course teaches methods and techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for parents and caregivers, teachers, paraprofessionals and behavior technicians who work with a child every day. Topics include what autism is, what ABA is, pairing, errorless teaching and prompting, and active student responding. Complete the course and pass its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80%. Completing this course earns a Special Learning certificate of completion. That certificate is not a continuing education (CE) certificate. It is basic training in ABA methods for daily practice, not a professional credential. It is not the 40-hour training required for the RBT credential. We do not claim Florida state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
Two ways to start
- For one person: try the first two sessions free for 7 days; account creation is required, with no payment information requested. The full course costs $199, paid once, with no subscription or recurring charge. Activate your license code within 90 days of purchase; the published completion window is 10 weeks after activation. You may request a later start date, no later than three months after purchase. Start the free sessions
- For your team: tell us how many people need training and when, and we will send a quote; each participant who completes the course and passes its 40-question final exam with a score of at least 80% earns an individual certificate of completion. Ask for a team quote
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.