ABA licensure in New York: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
New York allows only people licensed, certified or exempt under Article 167 of the Education Law to practice applied behavior analysis. The State Education Department's Office of the Professions licenses licensed behavior analysts (LBAs) and certifies certified behavior analyst assistants (CBAAs), and only people holding those credentials may use the titles. Confirm with the Office of the Professions before you rely on this.
What the law says
Education Law section 8803 says:
"Only a person licensed, certified or exempt under this article shall practice applied behavior analysis. Only a person licensed or certified under this article shall use the titles "licensed behavior analyst" or "certified behavior analyst assistant.""
Section 8802 defines the licensed behavior analyst's practice and ties it to an order from another professional:
"pursuant to a diagnosis and prescription or order from a person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to provide such diagnosis and prescription or ordering services pursuant to a profession enumerated in this title, for the purpose of providing behavioral health treatment."
The same section limits that treatment to people with conditions listed in the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association or an equivalent system the department accepts, and it says:
"The practice of applied behavior analysis shall not include diagnosis of a disorder or condition for which ABA may be appropriate, or prescribing or ordering ABA for a particular individual."
Section 8807 lists exemptions. The ones that apply by employment say nothing in the article prohibits a person from performing the duties of a licensed behavior analyst or certified behavior analyst assistant in the course of such employment, if the person is employed:
"by a federal, state, county or municipal agency, or other political subdivision;"
"by a chartered elementary or secondary school or degree-granting institution;"
The section also covers certified teachers and teaching assistants in approved programs, certified teachers and teaching assistants working in early intervention, students and interns, assessments and service plans unrelated to an ABA plan, early intervention ABA aides under supervision, family members, household members and friends, and graduates completing supervised experience toward national certification under a New York licensed behavior analyst. A separate sunset provision, Chapter 554 of the Laws of 2013, section 13, as amended, says:
"Nothing in this act shall be construed as prohibiting a person employed or retained by programs licensed, certified, operated, approved, registered or funded and regulated by the office for people with developmental disabilities, the office of children and family services, or the office of mental health from performing the duties of a licensed behavior analyst or a certified behavior analyst assistant in the course of such employment or retention; provided, however, that this section shall not authorize the use of any title authorized pursuant to article 167 of the education law; and provided further, however, that this section shall be deemed repealed on July 1, 2030."
Source: Education Law Article 167 (NYSED Office of the Professions copy).
How to get licensed
Section 8804 sets the statutory requirements for a licensed behavior analyst: an application, a master's or higher degree from an acceptable program, experience satisfactory to the board and the department, an examination, age 21, good moral character, and a fee. The Office of the Professions says there are two paths:
"Pathway One (standard licensing provisions): Applicants may be licensed/certified as licensed behavior analysts if they meet the following requirements established by section 8804 of New York State's Education Law and Subpart 79-17 of the Commissioner's Regulations."
"Pathway Two (licensure based on national board certification): Changes to Education Law that took effect on November 22, 2022, allow individuals to apply for a New York State Applied Behavior Analyst (LBA) license based on certification from an acceptable national certifying body."
Both paths include child abuse training and an age requirement:
"Child Abuse Training: Submit evidence of completing coursework or training in the Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment in accordance with Section 6507(3)(a) of the Education Law."
The Office's page says the fee for licensure and first registration as a licensed behavior analyst is $300. A graduate permit, for graduates who are completing supervised experience or exam requirements for national certification, is available for $10 and, under the permit rules, allows practice only under the supervision of a New York licensed behavior analyst.
Source: Education Law Article 167; NYSED Office of the Professions, License/Certification Requirements; 8 NYCRR Subpart 79-17.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
New York certifies behavior analyst assistants. Section 8802 says their work is limited:
"a "certified behavior analyst assistant" means the services and activities provided by a person certified in accordance with this article who works under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst to perform such patient related applied behavior analysis tasks as are assigned by the supervising licensed behavior analyst."
and
"No licensed behavior analyst shall supervise more than six certified behavior analyst assistants."
To be certified, section 8804 asks for an application, a bachelor's or higher degree from an acceptable program, experience, an examination, age 21 and good moral character. Section 8805 lets a person who meets the other requirements for a license or certificate and is certified or registered by a national certifying body the commissioner accepts be licensed or certified without meeting additional examination, experience and education requirements.
Article 167 does not use the term registered behavior technician or license technicians. The exemptions in section 8807 allow unlicensed people to take part in an ABA plan in some settings:
"A license under this article shall not be required for persons to participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to implement an ABA plan;"
provided that the team includes professionals licensed under this article or certain other articles and that team members who are not authorized do not perform listed restricted activities.
Source: Education Law Article 167.
Renewal and state-required training
The Office of the Professions says licensure and registration are separate steps:
"Your New York State professional license is good for life, however, you are required to:"
"register with us periodically if you wish to practice your profession or use your professional title in New York State"
Section 8804 sets the registration fee for a licensed behavior analyst at "one hundred dollars for each triennial registration period." We did not find a continuing education requirement for licensed behavior analysts or certified behavior analyst assistants in Article 167 or in Subparts 79-17 and 79-18 of the Commissioner's Regulations.
The Office of the Professions identifies child abuse and maltreatment identification and reporting coursework as a training requirement for licensed behavior analysts and certified behavior analyst assistants. The Office of the Professions says it is required when applying initially for licensure or a limited permit, effective for licensed behavior analysts and certified behavior analyst assistants on July 1, 2014. It also posted this notice on the same page:
"This law requires that mandated reporters, including those who have previously undergone the current training, complete the updated training curriculum by November 17, 2026"
The notice explains that Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024 added protocols and guidance on identifying abused or maltreated children with intellectual or developmental disabilities to the coursework, and that an earlier update, Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2021, added implicit bias, adverse childhood experiences and virtual interaction content. The Office says some people who completed the training between November 1, 2022 and August 31, 2025 may take a 15-minute addendum.
Source: NYSED Office of the Professions, Online Registration Renewal; Education Law Article 167; NYSED Office of the Professions, Mandated Training.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in New York 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 New York 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.