Do you need a license to practice ABA in Puerto Rico? What Puerto Rico law says
The short answer
The sources we reviewed do not establish a separate Puerto Rico license for behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts or behavior technicians. They do not resolve every licensing requirement that may apply to ABA practice. Puerto Rico's autism law permits independent services by BCBA credential holders and requires supervision for assistant and technician credential holders. Confirm with the Puerto Rico Department of Health (Departamento de Salud) before you rely on this.
What we found
On October 30, 2026, we read the full text of Ley 163-2024, the Puerto Rico autism law as revised by the Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto (OGP) on October 6, 2026, and its repealed predecessor, Ley 220-2012. We also read the consolidated text of Ley 96-1983, the law that regulates the practice of psychology, on the Department of Health's website. We searched them for "analista," "análisis de conducta," "ABA" and "técnico." We found no examining board and no license, certificate or registration for behavior analysts in those laws. Web searches for a 2025 or 2026 Puerto Rico law that creates a behavior analyst license found none. We did not search the Senate and House bill systems or the Department of Health's full list of examining boards (juntas examinadoras) for behavior analysts.
What Puerto Rico does have
### Ley 163-2024 names the BACB credentials and sets supervision The autism law, Ley 163-2024, Artículo 21 (24 L.P.R.A. § 6221), says:
"Para el caso de las terapias de análisis de comportamiento aplicado (“Applied Behavioral Analisys”), el profesional que haya obtenido la certificación de analista de comportamiento certificado (“Board Certified Behavior Analyst”), la cual requiere tener una preparación académica, previa, a nivel graduado, podrá ofrecer sus servicios de manera independiente, sin necesidad de ser supervisado, y establecerá el plan de tratamiento según las necesidades y particularidades de cada asegurado."
(Our translation: "In the case of applied behavior analysis therapies ("Applied Behavioral Analisys"), the professional who has obtained the board certified behavior analyst certification ("Board Certified Behavior Analyst"), which requires prior academic preparation at the graduate level, may offer services independently, without needing to be supervised, and will set the treatment plan according to the needs and particulars of each insured person.")
"El profesional que haya obtenido la certificación de asistente de analista de comportamiento certificado (“Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst”), la cual requiere tener una preparación académica, previa, a nivel de bachiller, o la certificación de técnico de comportamiento registrado (“Registered Behavior Technician”), la cual requiere tener una preparación académica, previa, a nivel de escuela superior, no podrán brindar los servicios de manera independiente sin ser supervisados."
(Our translation: "The professional who has obtained the board certified assistant behavior analyst certification ("Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst"), which requires prior academic preparation at the bachelor's level, or the registered behavior technician certification ("Registered Behavior Technician"), which requires prior academic preparation at the high school level, may not provide services independently without being supervised.")
These are national credentials issued by the BACB. The law refers to them. It does not create a Puerto Rico license for them, and we did not find a Puerto Rico agency that issues one.
In the education section, Artículo 9, the law says the Department of Education must ensure:
"Que el cuidado, desarrollo y educación de las personas con Trastornos del Espectro Autista se ofrezca por personal calificado y licenciado o por un Técnico de Conducta Registrado y supervisado, y que haya sido adiestrado para trabajar con la población a nivel de pregrado o a través de educación continua, según las mejores prácticas establecidas;"
(Our translation: "That the care, development and education of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders be provided by qualified and licensed personnel or by a registered and supervised Behavior Technician who has been trained to work with the population at the undergraduate level or through continuing education, according to established best practices;")
Source: Ley 163-2024 (OGP, Biblioteca Virtual), Artículos 9 and 21.
### Health coverage for ABA Artículo 23 (24 L.P.R.A. § 6223) says private health plans must cover autism interventions:
"Los planes médicos, mediante cubierta individual o grupal, compañía de seguro, contrato o acuerdo para proveer servicios médicos en Puerto Rico, sea por compañías, individuos o entidades locales o extranjeras, vendrán obligados a ofrecer cubiertas para todas aquellas intervenciones de salud validadas científicamente como eficaces para los Trastornos del Espectro Autista."
(Our translation: "Health plans, through individual or group coverage, insurance company, contract or agreement to provide medical services in Puerto Rico, whether by local or foreign companies, individuals or entities, will be required to offer coverage for all health interventions scientifically validated as effective for Autism Spectrum Disorders.")
Artículo 23 expressly lists ABA among the covered behavioral therapies. Artículo 22 (24 L.P.R.A. § 6222) includes ABA in the government's special health coverage. It requires Autism Registry registration ("registrada en el Registro de Autismo del Departamento de Salud"; our translation: "registered in the Department of Health's Autism Registry") for access to permanent special coverage, while preserving coverage and related services for people already participating before the law's approval ("permanecerá con la cubierta y con todos los servicios relacionados"; our translation: "will remain with the coverage and all related services").
Source: Ley 163-2024, Artículos 22 and 23.
### Autism continuing education for professionals Artículo 21(b) says:
"Se dispone que todo profesional clínico, educativo, de consejería en rehabilitación y profesional o administrativo que ofrezca servicios, tratamiento o procedimiento, incluyendo a los médicos primarios y pediatras, de la población con el Trastorno de Espectro Autista, deberá tomar, dentro de los créditos de educación continua que se les requiere, un mínimo de quince (15) horas crédito sobre Autismo, cada tres (3) años."
(Our translation: "It is provided that every clinical, educational, rehabilitation counseling and professional or administrative professional who offers services, treatment or procedures, including primary physicians and pediatricians, to the population with Autism Spectrum Disorder, must take, within the continuing education credits that are required of them, a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours on Autism, every three (3) years.")
The law does not say whether this applies to a behavior analyst who holds only a BACB credential, because it ties the hours to the continuing education credits "que se les requiere" (our translation: "that are required of them"). Ask the Department of Health how it applies to your role.
### The psychology practice law Puerto Rico's law on the practice of psychology, Ley 96-1983, says in Artículo 3: "No podrá ejercer la profesión de la Psicología en Puerto Rico, ninguna persona que no haya sido autorizada por la Junta Examinadora de Psicólogos." (Our translation: "No person who has not been authorized by the Junta Examinadora de Psicólogos may practice the profession of Psychology in Puerto Rico.") Its definition of the practice of psychology in Artículo 2(c) includes, in a list, "modificación de la conducta, terapia de conducta" (our translation: "behavior modification, behavior therapy"). The same law also says, in Artículo 2(f), that nothing in it prevents members of other duly licensed professions, or people duly qualified by education or experience, from providing services consistent with their license or area of competence, as long as they do not present themselves to the public with the title of psychologist or describe their work with terms that suggest training, experience or competence in psychology. The law does not mention applied behavior analysis or behavior analysts, and we found no text that says whether either provision applies to ABA. Ask the Junta Examinadora de Psicólogos how it applies to your role.
Source: Ley 96-1983 (Departamento de Salud, texto consolidado), Artículos 2(c), 2(f) and 3.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Puerto Rico 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 Puerto Rico 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.