ABA licensure in North Dakota: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
North Dakota generally requires a state license to practice applied behavior analysis, subject to exemptions in its licensing rules. The state licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts through the North Dakota State Board of Integrative Health Care. Exemptions include qualifying behavior technicians working under a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst, and individuals providing services in public school settings.
What the law says
Confirm with the North Dakota State Board of Integrative Health Care before you rely on this.
North Dakota's behavior analyst law is Chapter 43-64 of the North Dakota Century Code. The Board of Integrative Health Care, created under Chapter 43-57, issues the license. The licensing duty and the protected titles:
"Effective January 1, 2020, an individual may not practice applied behavior analysis without a current license issued by the board under this chapter."
"A licensed behavior analyst may use the title "licensed behavior analyst." A licensed assistant behavior analyst may use the title "licensed assistant behavior analyst.""
The statute defines the practice this way:
""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 term includes the empirical identification of functional relations between behavior and environmental factors. The term does not include the diagnosis of disorders, psychological testing, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, psychoanalysis, and counseling."
A violation is a crime and can also be stopped by court order:
"A person that violates this chapter or chapter 43-59, 43-61, or 43-64 is guilty of a class B misdemeanor."
The Board's rules list who is exempt. Section 112-05-01-14 of the North Dakota Administrative Code says "The following individuals are exempted from the licensure requirements of this chapter:" and then lists, among others:
"Unlicensed individuals pursuing experience in applied behavior analysis consistent with the experience requirements of the certifying entity, provided such experience is supervised in accordance with the requirements of the certifying entity."
"An individual providing applied behavior analysis services to an individual in a public school setting. Such individuals may not represent themselves as licensed behavior analysts or licensed assistant behavior analysts unless licensed under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-64."
"An individual or caregiver who is implementing applied behavior analysis services to an immediate family member or as a paid or volunteer caregiver implementing procedures established by the family, the individual served, or a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed assistant behavior analyst in any setting, if the individual or caregiver does not represent themselves as a "licensed behavior analyst" or "licensed assistant behavior analyst"."
The same section also exempts students in a supervised program of study, licensed psychologists and the people who work under their supervision (for services within their scope of practice and competence), other licensed professionals under the same conditions, lecturers and professors when lecturing, and professionals who provide general applied behavior analysis services to organizations without direct services to individuals. Read each exemption's conditions in full at the source.
Source: NDCC Chapter 43-64, Behavior Analysts; NDCC Chapter 43-57 (including 43-57-11), Integrative Health Care; NDAC Chapter 112-05-01, Behavior Analysts.
How to get licensed
The statute says an application must show the applicant "has satisfied the requirements of this chapter and chapter 43-57," including "Successful completion of education, examination, and experience requirements established by the board, such as certification from the behavior analyst certification board or a certifying entity accredited by the national commission for certifying entities or the American national standards institute;"
The Board's rule sets the requirements for a licensed behavior analyst. The applicant must meet all of these:
"The applicant has a doctorate or master's degree from a program accredited or verified by the association for behavior analysis international or approved by the behavior analyst certification board."
"The applicant has passed the board-certified behavior analyst examination offered by the behavior analyst certification board."
"The applicant is certified by the behavior analyst certification board."
"The applicant has passed the North Dakota professional responsibility examination once developed and approved by the board."
An application is considered complete when the Board has received "A signed and dated completed official application form;" "Proof of current certification in good standing issued directly from the behavior analyst certification board;" the application fee and the initial license fee. The rule sets the application fee at fifty dollars and the initial license fee at five hundred dollars, prorated quarterly for the time left in the two-year cycle. The form "may be secured from the board's official website."
A person licensed in another state may apply by endorsement. Under Section 112-05-01-04 the applicant must hold "a verified current valid license in good standing to practice as a behavior analyst professional in another state or jurisdiction", and another condition reads: "The current board certification requirements of the other state or jurisdiction are substantially similar as the current licensure requirements of this state." The rule lists other conditions, including a diploma copy and the application fee.
Source: NDCC 43-64-04; NDAC 112-05-01-02, -03, -04 and -13; North Dakota State Board of Integrative Health Care.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
North Dakota licenses assistant behavior analysts. The statute defines a licensed assistant behavior analyst as "an individual who is licensed under this chapter as a licensed assistant behavior analyst and is supervised by a licensed behavior analyst." The Board's rule sets these requirements:
"The applicant has a bachelor's degree from a school or college that meets one of the following requirements: (1) A bachelor's degree in a program accredited or verified by the association for behavior analysis international. (2) A bachelor's degree in a program approved by the behavior analyst certification board."
"The applicant has passed the board-certified assistant behavior analyst examination offered by the behavior analyst certification board."
The rule also requires the North Dakota professional responsibility examination once developed and approved by the Board. Applicants must provide proof acceptable to the Board that they will be supervised by a North Dakota licensed behavior analyst who is currently BACB-certified and in good standing, and that the supervision complies with current BACB supervision requirements.
Behavior technicians are exempt from these licensure requirements when delivering applied behavior analysis services under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst. Section 112-05-01-14 reads:
"Behavior technicians who deliver applied behavior analysis services under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed assistant behavior analyst. Such individuals may not represent themselves as professional behavior analysts, and must use titles that indicate their nonprofessional status, such as "ABA technician", "behavior technician", "registered behavior technician", or "tutor"."
We found no North Dakota statute or rule that registers or licenses RBTs by name.
Source: NDCC 43-64-01; NDAC 112-05-01-02 and 112-05-01-14.
Renewal and state-required training
The Century Code sets the license term:
"A license issued under chapter 43-59 expires on December thirty-first of every odd-numbered year. A license issued under chapter 43-61 or 43-64 expires on December thirty-first of every even-numbered year."
A license "may be renewed by payment of the renewal fee and completion of any continuing education requirements set by the board". If the renewal application is not received by the expiration date, "the license expires and the individual may not practice until a new application is made and a license is granted by the board." The Board's administrative rule describes the renewal date differently from the statute, so confirm the current date and fee with the Board.
The Board's rule sets the continuing education:
"All active licensees shall complete a minimum of thirty-two hours of approved continuing education credits biennially, including four credits in ethics. Only hours earned at board-accepted continuing education programs will be allowed. One hour of credit is earned for every fifty minutes of actual class time."
"In order to receive board approval, a continuing education program must be accepted by the behavior analyst certification board."
The rule also puts the check on the licensee: "All licensees must verify eligibility for continuing credit and the appropriate credit designation before taking any particular course." The Board audits randomly selected licensees each biennium. Licensees must retain continuing education records for at least two years after those activities were reported to the Board. The rule sets the renewal fee at one hundred dollars. We found no other state-required training topic, such as jurisprudence or human trafficking, in Chapter 43-64 or Chapter 112-05-01.
Source: NDCC 43-57-07; NDAC 112-05-01-10, -11, -12 and -13.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in North Dakota 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 North Dakota 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.