ABA licensure in Georgia: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Georgia licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts through the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board, under O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-7A, effective July 1, 2023. Board Rule 75-5-.01 sets out two licenses: Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) and Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (LaBA). The Board says it sets no continuing education of its own. Confirm with the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board before you rely on this.
What the law says
Georgia's law is the Official Code of Georgia, Title 43, Chapter 7A, "Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis." We read the Code's section titles but not its text, so we do not quote the statute here. The titles include "43-7A-6. Unlicensed practice prohibited; penalty." and "43-7A-7. Other practices not prohibited." Because we have not read those sections, this page does not state who is exempt or what the penalty is.
The Georgia General Assembly's official summary of the laws enacted in 2022 describes Act 811 (House Bill 412):
"This Act provides for the licensure of individuals in the practice of applied behavior analysis. The Act provides for legislative findings and definitions. The Act creates the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board and provides for its membership and duties. The Act also provides for licensing requirements, temporary licenses, and reciprocity and for penalties for unlicensed practice and other violations of the Act."
The summary adds: "The Act enacts O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-7A." and "Effective July 1, 2023."
Source: Official Code of Georgia, Chapter 43-7A contents; Georgia General Assembly, Summary of General Statutes enacted in 2022, Act 811 (HB 412).
How to get licensed
Board Rule 75-5-.01(1) says each person seeking an LBA license "shall submit the appropriate application to the Board, the fee (see fee schedule) and all required supporting documents." The application must show, among other things, that the applicant:
- is of good moral character
- follows the ethical standards of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or another accredited certifying entity identified by the Board
- has satisfactory results from a fingerprint record check by the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- passed a behavior analyst examination by the BACB or another such entity
- "Conferred a master's degree based on applied behavior analysis coursework in an approved sequence"
- "Maintains active status as a board certified behavior analyst" through the BACB or another such entity
- provided a secure and verifiable document and an affidavit of citizenship
These requirements rely on the "certifying entity", a term the Georgia Code defines. A 2026 law, Act 514 (SB 485), amended this definition effective July 1, 2026. The General Assembly's summary says: "The Act requires a certifying entity for the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board to be a nonprofit organization." The Board's rules quoted here may not yet reflect it.
Reciprocity. Rule 75-5-.02 says:
"The board shall issue a license to a person who is actively licensed as a behavior analyst in good standing in another state if such state imposes comparable licensure requirements as those imposed pursuant to this chapter and such state offers reciprocity to individuals licensed in this state."
Temporary license. Rule 75-5-.03 lets a BCBA or BCaBA who lives and practices in another state apply when temporarily serving a Georgia resident:
"A temporary behavior analysis license may be issued only if the behavior analysis services are to be delivered during a limited and defined period of not more than a total of 30 days within a calendar year or shorter term otherwise approved by the board."
Rule 75-2-.01 refers applicants to the Board's fee schedule. We have not read the schedule, so this page gives no fee amounts.
Source: Board Rules, Chapter 75-5; Board Rules, Chapter 75-2.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Georgia licenses assistant behavior analysts as LaBAs. Rule 75-5-.01(2) has the same core steps, with these differences. The applicant must have passed an assistant behavior analyst examination, must "Hold a bachelor's degree based on applied behavior analysis coursework in an approved sequence," must maintain active status as a board certified assistant behavior analyst, and must:
"Maintain ongoing supervision by a licensed behavior analyst in a manner consistent with the certifying entity's requirements for supervision;"
The Board's page tells assistants to wait for their supervisor:
"Assistant Behavior Analysts should not apply for Georgia licensure until his/her supervisor has obtained his/her Georgia Behavior Analyst license."
The Board's rules we read do not address RBTs or behavior technicians. Ask the Board how it treats these roles.
Source: Board Rules, Chapter 75-5; Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board.
Renewal and state-required training
The Board's FAQ says it sets no continuing education of its own:
"There are no continuing education requirements set forth by the Board. All CE hours must be obtained as required through your certifying entity."
The Code has a section titled "43-7A-10. Term of licensure and renewal." We have not read its text, so this page gives no renewal cycle. Ask the Board for its current renewal requirements.
Source: Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board, FAQ; Official Code of Georgia, Chapter 43-7A contents.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Georgia 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 Georgia 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.