ABA licensure in Kansas: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Kansas licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts through the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. K.S.A. 65-7503 restricts the practice of applied behavior analysis and lists authorized practitioners, conditions and exemptions. Licenses expire 24 months after issuance unless revoked earlier, and both license types require 30 hours of continuing education per two-year renewal period, including four hours of professional ethics. Confirm with the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board before you rely on this.
What the law says
The Act is Kansas Statutes Annotated 65-7501 through 65-7505. It defines the two license titles:
"(h) "licensed assistant behavior analyst" or "LaBA" means an individual who is certified by the certifying entity as a certified assistant behavior analyst and meets the licensing criteria as established by the board by rules and regulations;
(i) "licensed behavior analyst" or "LBA" means an individual who is certified by the certifying entity as a certified behavior analyst and meets the licensing criteria as established by the board by rules and regulations;"
The "board" is the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. The 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 the use of direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior"
Who must be licensed. K.S.A. 65-7503(a) says:
"On or after July 1, 2016, no person shall practice applied behavior analysis in this state unless they are:
(1) Licensed behavior analysts;
(2) licensed assistant behavior analysts working under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst;
(3) an individual who has a bachelor's or graduate degree and completed course work for licensure as a behavior analyst and is obtaining supervised field experience under a licensed behavior analyst pursuant to required supervised work experience for licensure at the behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst level; or
(4) licensed psychologists practicing within the rules and standards of practice for psychologists in the state of Kansas and whose practice is commensurate with their level of training and experience."
Who is exempt. K.S.A. 65-7503(b) says the licensing requirements "shall not apply to any person":
"(1) Licensed by the board who practices any component of applied behavior analysis within the scope of such person's license and scope of practice as required by law;
(2) who provides services under the individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.;
(3) who provides services under § 504 of the federal rehabilitation act of 1973, 20 U.S.C. § 794;
(4) is enrolled in a course of study at a recognized educational institution through which such person provides applied behavior analysis as part of supervised clinical experience;
(5) who is an autism specialist, an intensive individual service provider or any other individual qualified to provide services under the home and community based services autism waiver administered by the Kansas department for aging and disability services;
(6) who is an occupational therapist licensed by the state board of healing arts, acting within the scope of such person's license and scope of practice as required by law; or
(7) who is a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed by the Kansas department for aging and disability services, acting within the scope of such person's license and scope of practice as required by law."
Certification comes first. K.S.A. 65-7503(c): "The board shall not issue a license under this act until the license applicant provides proof that such applicant has met the certification requirements of a certifying entity." The Act defines "certifying entity" as "the national accredited behavior analyst certification board or other equivalent nationally accredited nongovernmental agency approved by the behavioral sciences regulatory board which certifies individuals who have completed academic, examination, training and supervision requirements in applied behavior analysis".
Discipline. K.S.A. 65-7504(a) authorizes the board to deny or restrict licensure, censure a licensee, or impose a fine of up to $1,000 per violation on specified grounds. One ground is having "Committed any violation of or assisted or enabled any person to violate any provision of this act or any rule and regulation promulgated thereunder." The board's rules list acts of unprofessional conduct, including "(rr) practicing applied behavior analysis after one's license expires; and (ss) using without a license, or continuing to use after a license has expired, any title or abbreviation defined by regulation." (K.A.R. 102-8-11)
Insurance. Kansas's autism insurance law ties reimbursement to this license. K.S.A. 40-2,194(a)(4) says: "On or after July 1, 2016, reimbursement shall be allowed only for services provided by an autism service provider licensed or exempt from licensure under the applied behavior analysis licensure act, except that reimbursement shall be allowed for services provided by an autism specialist, an intensive individual service provider or any other individual qualified to provide services under the home and community based services autism waiver administered by the Kansas department for aging and disability services."
Source: K.S.A. 65-7501, 65-7502, 65-7503, 65-7504 and 65-7505 (Kansas Office of the Revisor of Statutes); K.S.A. 40-2,194; K.A.R. 102-8-11 (Kansas Secretary of State, Kansas Administrative Regulations).
How to get licensed
The Act leaves the details to the board. K.S.A. 65-7505 directs the board to adopt rules covering applications and procedures, fees, and educational and training requirements, among other subjects. The board's rules are in Article 8 of its regulations, K.A.R. 102-8-1 and following.
K.A.R. 102-8-4 says an applicant for either license "shall request the appropriate forms from the executive director of the board." Each applicant must:
- Submit the application fee.
- Submit proof of certification. An assistant applicant must submit "proof that the applicant has met the requirements for certification to practice applied behavior analysis at the assistant level". A behavior analyst applicant must submit "proof that the applicant has met the requirements for certification to practice applied behavior analysis".
- Have transcripts sent to the board. An assistant applicant's transcripts must cover "all applicable college or university coursework, including the required baccalaureate degree". A behavior analyst applicant's must cover "all applicable college or university coursework, including the required graduate degree". Under the direct-from-institution option, applicants who graduated from a college or university outside the United States must also arrange for their transcript to be "translated and evaluated for degree equivalency by a source and in a manner acceptable to the board". Alternatively, applicants may arrange for the certifying entity to send their transcripts directly to the board.
The rule ends: "Each applicant who has met all requirements for licensure pursuant to the act and this article of the board's regulations and has paid the initial license fee specified in K.A.R. 102-8-2 shall be licensed by the board."
Fees. K.A.R. 102-8-2 lists: "(1) Initial assistant behavior analyst license, $70; (2) initial behavior analyst license, $70; (3) renewal of an assistant behavior analyst license, $70; or (4) renewal of a behavior analyst license, $120." It adds: "Fees paid to the board shall not be refundable."
Source: K.S.A. 65-7505; K.A.R. 102-8-4; K.A.R. 102-8-2.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Assistant behavior analysts are licensed. The Act creates the licensed assistant behavior analyst (LaBA). K.A.R. 102-8-6 says: "(a) Each licensed assistant behavior analyst shall be supervised by a licensed behavior analyst. (b) Each licensed assistant behavior analyst shall receive at least 12 supervision sessions annually. Each supervision session shall require two-way interactions involving real-time visual and auditory contact." The rule requires at least one supervision session each month, lasting at least one hour, and says "At least two of the 12 supervision sessions shall be conducted with the supervisee in person and shall include direct observation of the supervisee's provision of applied behavior analysis services to clients." Except as the rule specifies, "no more than half of the supervision sessions may be conducted in group supervision." Supervisor and supervisee must each "maintain documentation of the supervision for three years after the date of supervision."
People earning supervised experience. K.S.A. 65-7503(a)(3), quoted above, covers an individual with a bachelor's or graduate degree who has completed course work for licensure and is obtaining supervised field experience under an LBA.
RBTs and technicians. The Kansas Act and Article 8 regulations reviewed do not name registered behavior technicians or RBTs. K.S.A. 65-7502 defines "line therapist" as follows:
"(j) "line therapist" means an individual who:
(1) Provides supervision of an individual diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders pursuant to the prescribed treatment plan; and
(2) implements specific behavioral interventions as outlined in the prescribed treatment plan under the direct supervision of a licensed behavior analyst;"
These texts do not establish a separate RBT registration or certification requirement. They also do not expressly exempt someone from K.S.A. 65-7503 merely because that person is called an RBT or line therapist. Ask the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board how the Act's practice restrictions and exemptions apply in your setting.
Source: K.A.R. 102-8-6; K.S.A. 65-7502; K.S.A. 65-7503.
Renewal and state-required training
Cycle. K.A.R. 102-8-7(a): "Each license issued pursuant to the act shall expire 24 months after the date of issuance unless revoked before that time." To be considered for renewal, a licensee submits "(1) A completed renewal application; (2) the continuing education reporting form; (3) the renewal fee specified in K.A.R. 102-8-2; and (4) for each licensed assistant behavior analyst," proof of supervision: the name and identifying information of any licensed behavior analyst providing supervision, and "documentation that supervision was provided, including dates, format, and length of time as verified by the supervisor." A licensee who renews late must say on the form "whether the individual has continued to engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis in Kansas or has continued to represent that individual in Kansas as a licensed assistant behavior analyst or licensed behavior analyst and, if so, under what circumstances."
Continuing education. K.A.R. 102-8-9 sets the same amount for both licenses:
"(a) Each licensed assistant behavior analyst shall complete 30 hours of documented and approved continuing education oriented to the enhancement of the licensee's practice, values, ethics, skills, or knowledge during each two-year renewal period. Continuing education hours accumulated in excess of the requirement shall not be carried over to the next renewal period.
(b) Each licensed behavior analyst shall complete 30 hours of documented and approved continuing education oriented to the enhancement of the licensee's practice, values, ethics, skills, or knowledge during each two-year renewal period. Continuing education hours accumulated in excess of the requirement shall not be carried over to the next renewal period."
Ethics. "(c) During each two-year renewal period and as a part of the required continuing education hours, each licensee shall complete four hours of professional ethics. These hours shall be obtained from any of the activities specified in paragraphs (e)(1), (e)(2), (e)(3), (e)(4), (e)(9), and (e)(10)."
What counts. The rule defines an hour: "One hour of continuing education credit shall consist of at least 50 minutes of classroom instruction or at least one clock-hour of any other type of acceptable continuing education experience listed in subsection (e)." Subsection (e) lists acceptable activities, "whether taken in Kansas or outside the state," including an academic course, "a seminar, institute, conference, workshop, or course", and a "computerized interactive learning module, viewing a telecast or videotape, listening to an audiotape, or reading with a posttest" (and the same "without a posttest"). Some categories have a ten-hour cap, including cross-disciplinary offerings, a self-directed project preapproved by the board, providing supervision to practicum or intern students, first-time presentations, published articles, and participation in a professional organization. The rule also says credit shall not be granted for "In-service training, if the training is for job orientation or job training or is specific to the employing agency", and "for identical programs if the programs are completed within the same renewal period." The rule does not name approved providers or sponsors.
Records and audits. "Each licensee shall maintain individual, original continuing education records for three years after the renewal date." K.A.R. 102-8-10 lists the accepted proof, for example "a signed statement from the provider of a seminar, institute, conference, workshop, or course indicating that the licensee attended the program". A licensee picked for a random audit must send the documents "within 30 days after the license expiration date", and "Continuing education hours that a renewal applicant earns after board receipt of the renewal application form shall not be approved for continuing education credit for the period being audited." (K.A.R. 102-8-8)
Other state-required topics. In the Kansas Act and Article 8 as we read them, the only required topic is the four hours of professional ethics. We did not find a separate Kansas requirement for jurisprudence, human trafficking, child abuse reporting or implicit bias in those texts.
Source: K.A.R. 102-8-7; K.A.R. 102-8-8; K.A.R. 102-8-9; K.A.R. 102-8-10.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Kansas 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 Kansas 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.