ABA licensure in Oklahoma: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Oklahoma requires state licensure for behavior analysts and state certification for assistant behavior analysts, subject to statutory exemptions; supervisees may provide ABA under a licensed behavior analyst's supervision. The Department of Human Services' Developmental Disabilities Services Division handles licensing through October 31, 2026. Under Senate Bill 1557, the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists takes over on November 1, 2026. Confirm with the responsible agency before you rely on this.
What the law says
Section 1928, as amended by Senate Bill 1557 and posted on the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists' website, says:
"No person shall claim the title of licensed behavior analyst or certified assistant behavior analyst unless that person meets the applicable requirements in this section. No person shall practice applied behavior analysis without obtaining a license or certification in accordance with this section. Supervisees may only provide applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst."
It defines the practice:
"“Applied behavior analysis” means the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior through skill, acquisition, and the reduction of problematic behavior."
Section 1928(F)(2), as amended, says:
"A violation of this subsection shall be punishable by a fine not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), the suspension or revocation of licensure or certification issued pursuant to this section, or both such fine and loss of licensure or certification."
### The change on November 1, 2026 Before the amendment, § 1928 directs applications to the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Department of Human Services. Senate Bill 1557 replaces that division with the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and states: "This act shall become effective November 1, 2026." The Board's own site says the legislation "transferred responsibility for the licensure and regulation of behavior analysts from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to the Oklahoma State Board of Examiners of Psychologists."
### Who is exempt Section 1928 says it "shall not restrict the practice of applied behavior analysis by human services professionals, provided such individuals are working within the scope of their professions and the practice of applied behavior analysis is commensurate with their level of training and experience." The statute lists those professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, clinical social workers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, professional counselors, marital and family therapists, and licensed behavioral practitioners. It also says:
"Persons employed by a school district in this state who provide services solely to the school district under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C., Section 1400 et seq., shall be exempt from the requirements of this section."
Source: 59 O.S. § 1928, as amended (State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Laws and Rules); Enrolled Senate Bill 1557 (2026); Title 59, Oklahoma Statutes (Oklahoma Legislature); About the Board.
How to get licensed
The following Board application requirements take effect November 1, 2026. Section 1928(B), as amended, says each person wishing to practice "shall apply to the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists using a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board and shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that such person:"
"1. Is of good moral character; 2. Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; 3. Has passed the applicable examination and is certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst or a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst, as applicable; 4. Has not had a professional license or certification refused, revoked, suspended, or restricted and does not have a complaint, allegation, or investigation pending in any regulatory jurisdiction in the United States or in another country for reasons that relate to unprofessional conduct unless the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists finds, to its satisfaction, that the conduct has been corrected or that mitigating circumstances exist that prevent its resolution; and 5. Has at least the minimum graduate or undergraduate degree, appropriate for the level of certification, from an accredited institution of higher learning in a qualifying field of study, as determined by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board."
The amended law also says "The Board shall require that each applicant submit to a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes." Fees are set by the Board and must be "in an amount sufficient to cover the cost and expense incurred" (§ 1928(G)(3)). The text of the law in effect before November 1, 2026 capped fees at $100. We did not find a fee schedule for behavior analysts on the Board's site. Its page for behavior analyst applicants says it is being updated.
Source: 59 O.S. § 1928, as amended; Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Behavior Analyst Applicants.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Oklahoma certifies assistant behavior analysts. Beginning November 1, 2026, § 1928 defines a certified assistant behavior analyst as someone certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst and certified by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Section 1928(B) lists application requirements for both behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts. Section 1928 does not name registered behavior technicians. It permits supervisees to provide applied behavior analysis only under a licensed behavior analyst's supervision.
For SoonerCare (Oklahoma Medicaid), the Oklahoma Health Care Authority's rule, OAC 317:30-5-311, describes the registered behavior technician. In short, it is a paraprofessional with at least a high school education who is certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and practices under the close and ongoing supervision of a BCBA. The RBT works under a BCBA's license number, is mainly responsible for directly carrying out the behavior-analytic services a BCBA designs and prescribes, and must get supervision for at least 5% of the hours they spend providing those services each calendar month (OAC 317:30-5-311).
That rule is a program rule for SoonerCare providers. It is not a state license for technicians. Its text still names the Department of Human Services' Developmental Disabilities Services Division as the licensing body for behavior analysts. The rule was last revised September 1, 2025, according to the Authority's posting.
Source: 59 O.S. § 1928, as amended; OAC 317:30-5-311 (Oklahoma Health Care Authority).
Renewal and state-required training
Section 1928(D), as amended, says:
"A person holding a state license or state certification shall apply for renewal of the state license or state certification on or before April 30 of each odd-numbered year. The application shall be accompanied by a renewal fee to be set by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in accordance with paragraph 3 of subsection G of this section."
Section 1928(E), as amended, requires maintaining active national BACB certification and fulfilling its renewal or recertification requirements. It also requires professional activities to follow accepted standards such as the BACB's Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. The § 1928 text reviewed does not specify continuing education hour totals or required training topics. We could not verify additional requirements in agency rules.
Source: 59 O.S. § 1928, as amended.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma 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.