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ABA licensure by state

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

The short answer

Michigan generally requires a license to practice applied behavior analysis or as an assistant behavior analyst, but the law includes exemptions. Applicants must have current BACB certification in good standing and meet other application requirements. Licensees must maintain active BACB certification and complete state-required training. Confirm with LARA before you rely on this.

What the law says

Michigan's behavior analyst licensing law is Part 182A of the Public Health Code.

Who must be licensed.

"(2) Beginning 1 year after the effective date of the rules promulgated under sections 18257 and 18259 for licensure under this part, an individual shall not engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis or practice as an assistant behavior analyst unless licensed or otherwise authorized under this article." (MCL 333.18253(2))

LARA's behavior analyst page says: "Behavior Analysts are regulated by the Department and Board through the Public Health Code and the Behavior Analyst General Rules."

Title.

"(1) Beginning 1 year after the effective date of the rules promulgated under sections 18257 and 18259 for licensure under this part, an individual shall not use the titles "licensed behavior analyst", "l.b.a.", "licensed assistant behavior analyst", "l.a.b.a.", or similar words or letters that indicate that he or she is licensed as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst unless the individual is licensed or otherwise authorized under this part. The department shall provide for a 4-year license cycle." (MCL 333.18253(1))

What counts as practice.

"(i) "Practice of applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior." (MCL 333.18251(1)(i))

The definition includes functional assessment and analysis. It does not include the practice of medicine, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological testing, diagnosis of a mental or physical impairment, or the practice of neuropsychology, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, or counseling as treatment modalities. (MCL 333.18251(1)(i)(ii))

What the license does not stop. Section 18253(3) lists what subsection (2) does not prevent. Among them:

"(b) A behavior technician from implementing a care plan under the delegation and supervision of a behavior analyst."

"(c) A family member from providing a follow-up home program designed by a behavior analyst."

"(d) A school-based paraprofessional from implementing an applied behavior analysis intervention under the delegation and supervision of a licensed professional described in subdivision (e) or an authorized professional described in subdivision (f)."

"(e) An individual authorized to practice psychology in the state under part 182 from providing services included in the practice of applied behavior analysis, if the behavior analysis services provided by that individual are within his or her education, training, and experience."

Section 18253(3) also includes exemptions for self-care and certain uncompensated care; qualifying services by other Michigan-authorized professionals; qualifying supervised students and postdoctoral fellows; supervised experience compatible with BACB requirements; and activities involving nonhuman or nonpatient clients or consumers. These exemptions have specific conditions. See MCL 333.18253(3)(a) and (f) through (i).

The Board. MCL 333.18255 establishes a nine-member board consisting of four behavior analysts, one university-affiliated instructor or researcher, one assistant behavior analyst, one physician and two public members.

Source: MCL 333.18251 (Michigan Legislature); MCL 333.18253; MCL 333.18255; Michigan Board of Behavior Analysts (LARA).

How to get licensed

The statute told LARA to write the standards. It lets the department adopt in its rules, in whole or in part, the professional standards issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or by another nationally recognized professional association (MCL 333.18257). The rule says LARA issues a behavior analyst license to an applicant who:

"(a) Provides a completed application on a form provided by the department. (b) Pays the required fee to the department. (c) Has proof of current certification in good standing with the BACB." (Mich. Admin. Code R 338.1823(1)(a) to (c))

The applicant also must not have been convicted of a listed offense under section 2 of the sex offenders registration act, MCL 28.722, and an applicant denied on that ground may request a hearing. (R 338.1823(1)(d))

LARA's licensing guide, revised January 26, 2026, lists application requirements including an online application through MiPLUS, good moral character questions, a sex offender question, human trafficking training and English language proficiency. It requires 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years before license issuance. A criminal background check is required except for applicants seeking relicensure whose license expired within the last 3 years. Applicants provide a Social Security number or the required affidavit if exempt or without a number. The guide also requires verification of licenses held elsewhere and current BACB certification sent directly by the BACB to LARA.

Licensed in another state. The rule has an endorsement route for an applicant who "Holds a current behavior analyst license in another state or in a province of Canada" and has BACB certification in good standing. (R 338.1824(1))

Relicensure. An applicant may be relicensed within 3 years of the expiration date with BACB certification in good standing, good moral character and no listed offense; after more than 3 years the rule also requires fingerprints. (R 338.1825)

Criminal history. MCL 333.18261 directs LARA to adopt rules requiring denial when the required criminal history check reveals a listed offense, and permanent revocation when a licensee is convicted of a listed offense while licensed under this part. The department must provide an opportunity for a hearing.

Source: MCL 333.18257; MCL 333.18261; Behavior Analysts - General Rules, R 338.1801 to R 338.1835 (Michigan Administrative Rules); Michigan Behavior Analyst Licensing Guide (LARA).

Assistants, RBTs and technicians

Assistant behavior analysts are licensed. The statute defines an assistant behavior analyst as an individual licensed or otherwise authorized under this part to practice as an assistant behavior analyst, and that practice as the practice of applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a behavior analyst. (MCL 333.18251(1)(b), (h)) The rule's requirements match the behavior analyst's, with one addition:

"(e) Provides proof acceptable to the department that supervision will occur under a Michigan licensed behavior analyst in this state who is currently certified and in good standing with the BACB, and that the supervision satisfies current BACB supervision requirements." (R 338.1823(2)(e))

Behavior technicians are not licensed, but the statute sets requirements. The statute defines a behavior technician as "an individual who is not licensed or authorized to practice a profession under this part and who delivers applied behavior analysis services under the delegation and supervision of a behavior analyst and meets the requirements of section 18263." (MCL 333.18251(1)(e)) Section 18263 says an individual shall not act as a behavior technician in this state if any of these apply:

"(b) Beginning April 3, 2020, he or she has not completed a training program that is based on the BACB's registered behavior technician task list."

Section 18263(1)(a) and (c) through (e) also sets restrictions involving sanctions, criminal history, specified court orders or dispositions, and substantiated findings from investigations conducted under 42 USC 1395i-3 or 1396r. The conditions and look-back periods vary. Section 18263(2) states:

"A behavior technician shall not use words, titles, or letters that indicate that he or she is a behavior analyst or an assistant behavior analyst or that he or she is engaging in the practice of applied behavior analysis or practice as an assistant behavior analyst." (MCL 333.18263(2))

We found no state registration requirement for behavior technicians in the statute or the rules.

Source: MCL 333.18251, 333.18263; R 338.1823.

Renewal and state-required training

Cycle. R 338.7002a establishes a 4-year renewal cycle for behavior analysts. A license with a limitation may be renewed for a shorter term. LARA's guide says renewal applications may be submitted no sooner than 90 days before the current license expires.

Renewal requirements. The rule says LARA renews a behavior analyst license for a licensee who completes an application, pays the fee, has "proof of current certification in good standing with the BACB" and has not been convicted of a listed offense. (R 338.1827(1)) The licensee "shall keep active status certification with the BACB throughout the duration of the license cycle." (R 338.1831) The statute allows LARA to require this evidence at renewal. (MCL 333.18265) For an assistant, renewal also needs proof that supervision will occur under a Michigan licensed behavior analyst. (R 338.1827(2)(e))

State-required training. LARA's guide lists two items at renewal:

"Human Trafficking Training – Licensees seeking renewal must certify on their renewal application that prior to renewing their license they have completed a one-time training in identifying victims of human trafficking that meets the standards in Administrative Rule 338.1821."

"Implicit Bias Training – Licensees and registrants are required to complete 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of their license or registration cycle. Please note, this is not a one-time training and must be completed for each renewal cycle prior to the renewal being completed."

For Michigan behavior analysts, R 338.7004 requires at least 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the license cycle at renewal. Hours cannot carry forward to the next renewal cycle. Documentation must be retained for 6 years after applying for licensure, registration or renewal, and LARA may audit compliance. The rule specifies training content, acceptable sponsors and permitted formats. (R 338.7004(2), (3), (5), (6))

The fetched behavior analyst rules and licensing guide do not specify a separate state total of continuing education hours. They do require current BACB certification and the state-required training described above.

Source: R 338.7002a and 338.7004 (Public Health Code - General Rules); R 338.1821, 338.1827, 338.1831; MCL 333.18265; Michigan Behavior Analyst Licensing Guide (LARA).

Training the staff you supervise

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

Two ways to start

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.

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