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ABA licensure by state

ABA licensure in Louisiana: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it

The short answer

Louisiana requires a state credential to practice behavior analysis unless a statutory exemption applies. The Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board licenses behavior analysts, certifies assistant behavior analysts and registers line technicians. Annual renewals are due by June 30. Confirm with the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board before you rely on this.

What the law says

Louisiana's Behavior Analyst Practice Act sets up the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board inside the Louisiana Department of Health. The Act defines the three credentials this way:

"'Behavior analyst', 'licensed behavior analyst', or 'LBA' means an individual who by training, experience, and examination meets the requirements for licensing by the board and is duly licensed to independently practice behavior analysis in the state of Louisiana."

"'Assistant behavior analyst', 'state-certified assistant behavior analyst', or 'SCABA' means an individual who by training, experience, and examination meets the requirements for certification by the board and is duly certified to engage in the practice of behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst."

"'Line technician' or 'registered line technician' means an individual who works directly with the client to implement applied behavior analysis services under the direction and supervision of a licensed behavior analyst and is registered as required in this Chapter."

Source: La. R.S. 37:3702.

Who must hold a credential. The title is protected:

"No person shall hold himself out as a licensed behavior analyst, a state-certified assistant behavior analyst, or a registered line technician unless licensed, state certified, or registered in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter."

Source: La. R.S. 37:3705(A).

Practice without a credential is also a crime. The penalties section says it is a misdemeanor for any individual:

"Not licensed, state certified, or registered under this Chapter to engage in the practice of behavior analysis."

"To employ as a line technician, a line technician who is not registered pursuant to this Chapter."

Conviction is "punishable ... by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or both." Source: La. R.S. 37:3716.

What the Act says is behavior analysis, and what it leaves out:

"The practice of behavior analysis expressly excludes psychological testing, neuropsychology, cognitive therapy, diagnosis of psychiatric conditions, psychotherapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, and mental health counseling or academic teaching by college or university staff."

Source: La. R.S. 37:3702(6).

Exemptions. The Act lists persons and practices it does not restrict. They include other Louisiana-licensed human service professionals working within their own scope, family members or guardians who carry out procedures under an LBA's direction, licensed psychologists practicing within their education, training and expertise, people who teach or do research without delivering direct services, and supervised students and people pursuing experiential training. For example:

"A family member or guardian of a recipient of applied behavior analysis services who implements certain applied behavior analysis procedures with the recipient under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or a state-certified assistant behavior analyst, who is supervised by a licensed behavior analyst. Such an individual shall not represent himself as a behavior analyst."

"An individual licensed to practice psychology within the state, so long as the applied behavior analysis services provided by the licensed psychologist are within the licensed psychologist's education, training, and expertise."

The Act also names a state-certified assistant behavior analyst or registered line technician "who delivers applied behavior analysis services under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst," who "shall not represent himself as a behavior analyst." Read the full list before you decide an exemption applies to you.

Source: La. R.S. 37:3715.

Status of the law. The Act as printed on the legislature's site still carries the note "See R.S. 37:3718 regarding termination date of Chapter on July 1, 2028." A later act changed that. The legislature's digest of Act 872 of the 2026 Regular Session (House Bill 1076) reads: "New law repeals existing law relative to the termination date. Effective August 1, 2026. (Repeals R.S. 37:3718)." The bill's page shows it was signed by the Governor.

Source: Act 872 digest; HB 1076 status.

How to get licensed

The Act says an applicant for an LBA license "shall be issued a behavior analyst license by the board upon satisfaction of all the following criteria," which include:

"(1) Submission to the board of a completed application form. ... (2) Payment of all mandatory licensure fees. (3) Proof of good moral character. (4) Satisfactory completion of the criminal background check in accordance with the authority granted to the board. (5) Proof that the applicant passed a nationally recognized examination administered by a nonprofit organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, the American National Standards Institute, or a substantial equivalent to credential professional practitioners of behavior analysis related to the principles and practice of the profession of behavior analysis that is approved by the board. (6) Proof that the applicant passed the jurisprudence examination covering the laws and rules governing the practice of behavior analysis in Louisiana that is approved by the board. ... (8) Proof that the applicant holds a master's degree from any accredited university or other institution of higher learning."

Source: La. R.S. 37:3706(A). The Board's rule repeats these steps: the applicant must "submit notarized application along with appropriate fee," provide official transcripts for the master's degree, show passage of the national exam, "take and successfully pass the Louisiana jurisprudence exam issued by the board," and complete a Board-approved criminal background check and show proof of good moral character (LAC 46:VIII.302).

The Board's forms page adds: "In order to apply for licensure in Louisiana, you must first be certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board." It also says the notarized application "Can be received by email to begin processing" and the "Original MUST be received by mail before license is issued" (Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board, Applications & Forms).

Fees. LAC 46:VIII.305 lists $400 for an LBA application, $250 for a SCABA application, $50 for an RLT registration, $75 for the jurisprudence examination and $50 for the criminal background check (LAC 46:VIII.305).

Assistants, RBTs and technicians

Louisiana has its own two tiers below the LBA. The statute and rules we read register line technicians with the Board; they do not mention the BACB's RBT credential.

State-certified assistant behavior analyst (SCABA). The Act requires a completed application, fees, good moral character, a background check, a national exam and the jurisprudence exam as above, plus "a bachelor's degree from any accredited university or other institution of higher learning" (La. R.S. 37:3707). The Board's rule adds proof of supervision by a Louisiana LBA, and says a SCABA "may only perform services under the direct supervision of a LBA" with a written supervisory agreement (LAC 46:VIII.303 and .501).

Registered line technician (RLT). The Act says:

"A registered line technician shall be at least eighteen years of age and possess a minimum of a high school diploma or its equivalent."

"A line technician shall be registered by his supervising licensed behavior analyst with the board."

"The registration provided for in this Section shall be renewed annually by the supervising licensed behavior analyst."

It also requires the line technician to start a criminal background report "[w]ithin fourteen days from the date of application for registration." Source: La. R.S. 37:3708. The Board's rule says an RLT must be supervised "for a minimum of 5 percent of the hours spent providing applied behavior-analytical services per month," with "at least two face-to-face contacts per month," at least one of which requires the supervisor to observe the RLT providing services (LAC 46:VIII.511). The rule says an RLT is "responsible for implementing, not designing, the behavior plans designed by their supervising licensed behavior analyst" (LAC 46:VIII.509). If you employ technicians, note that employing an unregistered line technician is a misdemeanor under R.S. 37:3716(A)(4), quoted above.

Renewal and state-required training

Licenses and certificates renew every year. The Board's rule says: "A licensed behavior analyst shall renew their current license every year by July 1st, beginning in 2024. The renewal period shall open in May and will close June 30th annually." The renewal package is "the required renewal forms, renewal fee and proof of fulfillment of all continuing education requirements, as approved by the board." Renewal fees are $200 a year for an LBA, $125 for a SCABA and $50 for an RLT, each covering July 1 through June 30. The LBA renews the registration of every line technician under their supervision (LAC 46:VIII.401 and .305).

A credential not renewed by June 30 "shall be regarded as lapsed effective July 1," and "[a]n individual shall not practice or provide with supervision applied behavior analysis in Louisiana while the license, certificate, or registration is lapsed" (LAC 46:VIII.402). Under LAC 46:VIII.402(C), reinstatement of a lapsed license, certificate or registration requires Board approval, fulfillment of all applicable requirements, and payment of the renewal fee and a late filing fee.

Continuing education. The Act requires LBAs and SCABAs to complete continuing education annually, with the hours established by the Board and classes approved by the Board (La. R.S. 37:3713). The Board's rules describe biennial reporting periods and set the following credit totals:

"For the reporting period that begins July 2026 and henceforth, licensed behavior analysts will be required to report 32 total credits of continuing professional development, 4 of which must be in Ethics. State certified assistant behavior analysts will be required to report 20 total credits of continuing professional development, four of which must be in ethics."

The rule describes the reporting period as biennial ("within biennial reporting periods") and refers to "any two-year certification/licensure period." It lets credit come from the listed categories, such as graduate-level academic courses and events sponsored by providers approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, with caps on some categories. New licensees are "exempt from continuing professional development requirements for the remainder of the year for which their license or certification is initially granted." The Board may grant an extension or exemption for extended active military service outside Louisiana during the reporting period if the person does not deliver behavior analysis services within Louisiana and the Board receives timely confirmation. An extension or exemption may also be granted for illness or other personal hardship if the Board receives timely confirmation. Failing to meet the requirement "shall cause the certificate/license to lapse" (LAC 46:VIII.801, .803, .805 and .807).

The rule applies to LBAs and SCABAs. We found no continuing education hours for registered line technicians in the Board's rules.

Ethics code. The Board's rule requires LBAs, SCABAs and RLTs to follow the BACB's Professional and Ethical Compliance Code (LAC 46:VIII.1001). A licensee must also tell the Board in writing of any change of mailing address, telephone number or email address within 30 days, and everyone the Board licenses, certifies or registers is a mandatory reporter of suspected or known abuse (LAC 46:VIII.203).

Training the staff you supervise

If you run a program in Louisiana 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 Louisiana state approval or continuing education credit for this course.

Two ways to start

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.

See every state's ABA licensure rules