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ABA licensure by state

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

The short answer

Under Mississippi's 2015 licensing Act, a Mississippi Autism Board license is generally required to practice applied behavior analysis, subject to Section 4's exemptions. The Act also requires a license to use the titles "Licensed Behavior Analyst" or "Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst." The Board's published 2024 rules require behavior analyst applicants to have at least a master's degree, BCBA or BCBA-D certification, and an oral examination. Confirm with the Mississippi Autism Board before you rely on this.

What the law says

Mississippi created its behavior analyst licensing law in House Bill 885 of the 2015 Regular Session. The Act's licensing sections became a new chapter of Title 73 of the Mississippi Code, and the Board's rules cite it as Miss. Code Ann. § 73-75-1 and following. The Mississippi Autism Board administers it and is assigned to the Office of the Secretary of State "for administrative and ministerial purposes." The Act's text below is quoted as sent to the Governor in 2015; we did not check the current codified text or any later amendment.

Who must be licensed.

"In order to safeguard life, health and property, no person shall practice applied behavior analysis in this state, or use the title "Licensed Behavior Analyst" or "Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst," unless such person has secured a license under this chapter." (H.B. 885 (2015), § 2)

What counts as practice.

"'Practice of applied behavior analysis' means interventions based on scientific research and the direct observation and measurement of behavior and the environment. Behavior analysts utilize contextual factors, motivating operations, antecedent stimuli, positive reinforcement, and other consequences to help people develop new behaviors, increase or decrease existing behaviors, and emit behaviors under specific environmental conditions. The practice of behavior analysis expressly excludes psychological testing, diagnosis of a mental or physical disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, and long-term counseling as treatment modalities." (H.B. 885, § 3(c))

Exemptions. Section 4 says nothing in the chapter "shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice of" these people:

"(a) A licensed psychologist, subject to any rules or regulations of the Mississippi Board of Psychology;

(b) Other licensed health care professionals authorized to practice in the state, so long as the services of the professional are commensurate with the professional's demonstrated competence and training and within the scope of practice regulated by the professional's licensing authority;

(c) A behavior technician who implements certain applied behavior analysis procedures under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst, provided that the behavior technician is supervised in accordance with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's supervision standards;

(d) A family member or guardian of a recipient of applied behavior analysis services who implements certain applied behavior analysis procedures in compliance with the training and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed psychologist;

(e) A behavior analyst who practices with nonhumans, including applied animal behaviorists and animal trainers;

(f) An individual who is pursuing supervised experiential training to meet eligibility requirements for Behavior Analyst Certification Board certification, provided that such training is supervised by a licensed behavior analyst and who meet Behavior Analyst Certification Board supervisor requirements, and that the supervised experience is conducted in accordance with other Behavior Analyst Certification Board standards and requirements;

(g) An individual who teaches behavior analysis or conducts behavior analytic research, provided that such teaching or research does not involve the delivery of direct behavior analytic services;

(h) A professional behavior analyst who provides general behavior analytic services to organizations, so long as those services are for the benefit of the organizations and do not involve direct services to individuals;

(i) A matriculated college or university student whose applied behavior analysis activities are part of a defined course, internship, practicum, or program of study and are supervised by a licensed behavior analyst or an instructor in a Behavior Analyst Certification Board-approved course sequence or practicum. Students and interns must not represent themselves as professional behavior analysts but must use titles that clearly indicate their trainee status, such as "student," "intern," or "trainee"; and

(j) Individuals employed by a school board while performing the regular duties of their office or position. Such individuals shall not represent themselves as professional behavior analysts unless they are licensed behavior analysts or licensed assistant behavior analysts, and shall not offer behavior analytic services to any persons or entities other than their school employer or accept remuneration for providing behavior analytic services other than the remuneration they receive from their school employer." (H.B. 885, § 4(1))

Section 4(2) adds that the exemptions are not to be read "to expand the scope of practice of any licensed professional who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter."

Penalty. "Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned in the county jail for a period not exceeding six (6) months, or both." (H.B. 885, § 14)

The Board. The Board has five members: a licensed psychologist who practices applied behavior analysis, three licensed behavior analysts and a public member who is a family member of a recipient of services. (H.B. 885, § 5)

Source: House Bill 885, 2015 Regular Session, as sent to the Governor (Mississippi Legislature); Mississippi Autism Board.

How to get licensed

The Act says a person must submit an application with the fee and personal references, certify that "the applicant has not been convicted of a felony as defined by the laws of the State of Mississippi", and undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history check. A behavior analyst must also:

"(i) Possess at least a master's degree, or its equivalent, from an educational institution recognized by the board;

(ii) Have current and active certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D), verified by the board; and

(iii) Comply with such other requirements of the board." (H.B. 885, § 8(d))

The Board's rules, in Title 30, Part 3301, add that the education qualification "shall be at least a master's degree, e.g., M.S., M.A., or M.Ed." and that the recognized institutions are those whose academic programs the Behavior Analyst Certification Board has approved (Rule 3.2.A). The rules also say:

"Applicants for licensure as a behavior analyst must complete an oral examination administered by the Board." (Rule 3.2.C.1)

Applicants send all materials, including the application, fee, transcripts, BCBA verification and fingerprint cards, "no later than seven (7) days before the published examination date." (Rule 3.2.C.2) Temporary license. A temporary license may go to an applicant who has taken the national examination and is awaiting the score, or to a behavior analyst applicant awaiting the next oral examination. It runs six months, requires supervision by a licensed behavior analyst, and limits the practice setting to Mississippi. (Rules 3.5 and 3.6)

Licensed in another state. "The board may waive the examination for licensure of any applicant who presents proof of current licensure in another state, including the District of Columbia, or territory of the United States which maintains professional standards considered by the board to be equivalent to those set forth in this chapter." (H.B. 885, § 9) The rules call this licensure by reciprocity. (Rule 3.4)

Source: House Bill 885 (2015), §§ 8, 9, 10; Mississippi Autism Board, Part 3301 rules (Final, March 13, 2024), Rules 3.1 to 3.6_3.13.2024.pdf).

Assistants, RBTs and technicians

Assistant behavior analysts are licensed. The Act defines the license as one for "an individual currently certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCABA)" licensed "to practice applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst." (H.B. 885, § 3(e)) An applicant needs a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from a recognized institution; current and active BCaBA certification verified by the Board; and "proof of ongoing supervision by a licensed behavior analyst." (H.B. 885, § 8(e); Rule 3.3)

Behavior technicians are registered with the Board by their supervisor. The Act defines a behavior technician as an individual "currently certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)" who provides treatment "under the supervision and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst." (H.B. 885, § 3(f)) It then says:

"Licensed behavior analysts and licensed assistant behavior analysts must register with the board all behavior technicians providing services under their supervision." (H.B. 885, § 13)

The rules say the technician "is not a separately licensed professional and works solely under the license of the behavior analyst." (Rule 9.1) The supervising licensee submits the registration application, and must determine that the applicant is at least 18, is of good moral character, has at least a high school diploma or the equivalent, has "adequate communication skills," has "current qualifications as a Registered Behavior Technician™ from the BACB®" and works under supervision. "No examination shall be required for registration." (Rule 9.3) The licensee must give the Board written notice within seven days after supervision ends. (Rule 9.4) The Board keeps a public register of registered technicians. (Rule 9.2.C)

Source: House Bill 885 (2015), §§ 3, 8, 13; Part 3301 rules, Rules 3.3 and 9.1 to 9.4_3.13.2024.pdf).

Renewal and state-required training

Cycle. The Act says licenses are "for a term of three (3) years, but shall not exceed the expiration of the licensee's certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board." (H.B. 885, § 8(f)) A licensee renews with current BACB certification verified by the Board and "evidence of the satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements as determined by the board." (H.B. 885, § 12(2)) The rules say the licensure period "shall not exceed three (3) years." (Rule 5.1.B) The renewal application, proof of continuing education, and the renewal fee are filed before the expiration date. (Rule 5.2)

Continuing education. The rules make continuing education mandatory (Rule 6.1.B) and say:

"Each licensee must report a minimum of twelve (12) hours of continuing education each year, including one (1) hour of ethical or legal continuing education. Continuing education hours earned in excess of twelve (12) hours will carryover and apply to subsequent year(s) record." (Rule 6.2.A)

Reports are "due to the Board no later than June 30." (Rule 6.2.B) "No more than fifty percent ... of the total hours reported may result from asynchronous courses," with a petition process for extenuating circumstances. (Rule 6.2.C) A licensee licensed less than a year reports based on months licensed: none if licensed less than six months by June 30, six hours for six to nine months, and twelve hours for ten or more months. (Rule 6.2.D)

On who may provide the hours, Rule 6.4.A accepts for licensure renewal only courses, or providers of CE courses, approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or by a verified course sequence accrediting body specific to behavior analysis, such as ABAI or APBA. Rule 6.4.A also allows the Board to review a course without those approvals before attendance. Graduate behavior analytic courses, teaching, and a peer-reviewed publication also earn credit on the schedule in Rule 6.4.B. Rule 6.4 lists activities that do not count, including self-directed podcasts, CPR education and regular work activities. Continuing education credit must be awarded by the approved provider on the provider's form, and the certificate must be submitted by June 30 of each year. (Rule 6.5)

Lapsed licenses. A license that lapses "may be reinstated by the Board, in its discretion" if the application is made within two years of the last expiration date, with the renewal, a late renewal penalty and verification of continuing education. "A license may not be reinstated after having lapsed for two (2) consecutive years," and a new application is needed. (Rule 5.3; H.B. 885, § 12(3))

Other state-required training. A jurisprudence examination appears in the rules for temporary licensure: "Any individual who has failed to pass the oral jurisprudence exam will not be granted a temporary licensure." (Rule 3.6.G)

Source: House Bill 885 (2015), §§ 8, 12; Part 3301 rules, Rules 5.1 to 5.3 and 6.1 to 6.5_3.13.2024.pdf).

Training the staff you supervise

If you run a program in Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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