ABA licensure in Montana: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Montana licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts through the Montana Board of Psychologists. MCA 37-17-403(1) prohibits representing yourself to the public as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst without a license issued under that section; MCA 37-17-404 provides exemptions. To qualify, an applicant needs current certification at the matching level from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), a passed BACB examination, good moral character, a fingerprint background check and the coursework the Board sets by rule. Confirm with the Montana Board of Psychologists before you rely on this.
What the law says
Montana's behavior analyst law is Montana Code Annotated Title 37, chapter 17, part 4 (sections 37-17-401 to 37-17-406), enacted in 2017 (Chapter 425, Laws of 2017). The Board of Psychologists administers it.
"The legislature finds and declares that the practice of applied behavior analysis in Montana affects public health, safety, and welfare, particularly of some of the state's most vulnerable citizens, including individuals with disabilities. Therefore, licensure and regulation of applied behavior analysts is in the public interest to protect the public from unauthorized, unethical, unprofessional, or harmful conduct by individuals, other than those otherwise licensed or those exempt under 37-17-404." (MCA 37-17-401)
Who must be licensed.
"An individual may not represent to the public that the individual is an assistant behavior analyst or a behavior analyst without a license issued under this section." (MCA 37-17-403(1))
We found no sentence in part 4 that bars practicing applied behavior analysis on its own. The bar in section 403 is on representing yourself to the public as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst. The Board administers the licensing; ask it how it applies the rule to your work.
What counts as practice.
"'Practice of applied behavior analysis' means the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior. The practice of applied behavior analysis includes the empirical identification of functional relations between behavior and environmental factors, known as functional assessment and analysis." (MCA 37-17-402(5)(a))
The term "does not include psychological evaluation, diagnosis of a mental or physical disorder, neuropsychology, long-term counseling as a treatment modality, or psychotherapy, including cognitive therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, or hypnotherapy." (MCA 37-17-402(5)(b))
Exemptions.
"(1) A license under this part is not required for school district personnel, including those who provide special education as defined in 20-7-401, family support specialists with autism endorsement, licensed psychologists and those acting under the psychologists' authority, licensed clinical professional counselors, licensed social workers, family members, or persons in direct contact with individuals otherwise served by behavior analysts or assistant behavior analysts licensed under this part.
(2) Organizational behavior management consultants and behavior analysts who work with animals do not require a license under this part for the practice of applied behavior analysis for working with organizations or animals.
(3) A student in an approved postsecondary program for behavior analysis may be exempted from having a license if the student, including a student intern, is working under the supervision of appropriate university faculty in the conduct of behavior analytic activities.
(4) A behavior technician who is supervised by a behavior analyst licensed under this part is exempted from having a license under this part.
(5) An individual described in subsection (1), (2), (3), or (4) may choose to apply for licensure by meeting the requirements in 37-17-403." (MCA 37-17-404)
Treatment authority and supervision. "A behavior analyst licensed under this part has treatment authority for the practice of applied behavior analysis." An assistant behavior analyst or a behavior technician practicing applied behavior analysis "must be supervised by: (a) a behavior analyst licensed under this part; or (b) a licensed psychologist certified by the American board of professional psychology in behavioral and cognitive psychology." (MCA 37-17-405)
Source: MCA 37-17-401; MCA 37-17-402; MCA 37-17-403; MCA 37-17-404; MCA 37-17-405.
How to get licensed
The Board licenses a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst who:
"(a) submits an application as determined by the board by rule;
(b) pays required applicant fees and subsequent renewal fees;
(c) submits a full set of the applicant's fingerprints to the board to facilitate a fingerprint-based criminal record background check by the Montana department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation ...;
(d) provides evidence of current certification at the appropriate level from the behavior analyst certification board;
(e) is of good moral character; and
(f) attests to abiding by professional and ethical requirements indicated in the Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts recognized by the behavior analyst certification board." (MCA 37-17-403(2))
A behavior analyst applicant must also "have passed the board-certified behavior analyst examination by the behavior analyst certification board," "be currently certified as a behavior analyst by the behavior analyst certification board" and "have met the educational course work and requirements set by the board by rule." (MCA 37-17-403(3))
The Board's checklist for behavior analyst applicants lists the documents. They include official license verification from every state where the applicant holds or has held a professional license, a completed background check sent directly to the Board, and "An original letter of good standing sent directly to the board office from the behavior analyst certification board documenting applicant's passage of the behavior analysis examination, current certification level, and date of certification, as well as disciplinary action(s), if any."
Source: MCA 37-17-403; Montana Board of Psychologists, Behavior Analyst Application Checklist.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Assistant behavior analysts are licensed. The statute defines the assistant as "an individual licensed under 37-17-403 who has a qualifying bachelor's degree and has passed the board-certified assistant behavior analyst examination of the behavior analyst certification board." (MCA 37-17-402(1)) To qualify, an applicant meets the general requirements and must "have passed the board-certified assistant behavior analyst examination," "be currently certified as an assistant behavior analyst" by the BACB, and meet the Board's coursework rule. (MCA 37-17-403(4)) An assistant "must be supervised by" a licensed behavior analyst or a psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in behavioral and cognitive psychology. (MCA 37-17-405(2))
Behavior technicians (including RBTs) are exempt, if supervised. "A behavior technician who is supervised by a behavior analyst licensed under this part is exempted from having a license under this part." (MCA 37-17-404(4)) The statute does not mention the RBT credential by name. We found no state registration for behavior technicians in part 4. The Board's checklist says an applicant who also supervises assistant behavior analysts, behavior technicians or student interns must submit the appropriate supervision forms and fees.
Source: MCA 37-17-402; MCA 37-17-403; MCA 37-17-404; MCA 37-17-405; Montana Board of Psychologists, Behavior Analyst Application Checklist.
Renewal and state-required training
Montana's statute authorizes the Board to adopt continuing education rules. The Board's rule is ARM 24.189.2110, in effect since December 9, 2023. It sets 20 hours every two years:
"Each reporting period, behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts must obtain 20 CE hours, of which two are in ethics and one in suicide prevention. The two-year cycle ends on the renewal date set by ARM 24.101.413 in odd-numbered years."
The same rule adds these points:
- "No CE is required for licensees licensed less than one full calendar year on their first reporting date."
- "CE hours cannot be carried over."
- Licensees "must maintain adequate CE records for three years following a reporting period and make those records available upon request."
- Behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts may obtain a combined maximum of five hours from an initial presentation of a meeting paper or workshop, publication of a review paper, conducting a research project reported in publishable form, or teaching a formally organized class. They may obtain up to four hours in practice management.
- "Board/staff will not preapprove continuing education (CE) programs or sponsors."
Source: MCA 37-17-406; ARM 24.189.2110.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Montana 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 Montana 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.