ABA licensure in Rhode Island: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Rhode Island requires the corresponding Chapter 5-86 license to represent yourself as a licensed applied behavior analyst (LBA) or licensed assistant applied behavior analyst (LABA). Licensing is administered through the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the chapter includes exemptions and restrictions on those exemptions. Confirm with the Rhode Island Department of Health before you rely on this.
What the law says
Section 5-86-3 protects the titles:
"(a) Any individual licensed under this chapter may use the title "licensed applied behavior analyst" and the abbreviation "LBA" or the title "licensed assistant applied behavior analyst" and the abbreviation "LABA," or the title "psychologist with equivalent experience," provided that the title and abbreviation correspond to the license held pursuant to this chapter. (b) It is unlawful for any person to represent herself or himself as a licensed applied behavior analyst, LBA, licensed assistant applied behavior analyst, LABA, or psychologist with equivalent experience, unless he or she is licensed ..."
Section 5-86-2 defines the practice:
"(8) "Practice of applied behavior analysis" means the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications by a behavior analyst to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior."
Section 5-86-19 makes it a misdemeanor, "in offering his or her services to the public," to use a designation "tending to imply that he or she is a licensed applied behavior analyst, licensed applied behavior assistant analyst, or psychologist with equivalent experience" unless licensed. The penalty is "a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each offense."
### Who is exempt Section 5-86-21 lists exemptions. Among them:
"(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit teachers, guidance personnel, social workers, and school psychologists in public or private schools from full performance of their duties..."
"(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting those persons who are implementing applied behavior analysis services to an immediate family member or as a paid or volunteer caregiver, if the individual or caregiver does not represent himself or herself as a licensed applied behavior analyst, licensed assistant applied behavior analyst, or psychologist with equivalent experience."
These exemptions have limits. Section 5-86-21(e) restricts consulting services and compensation for people covered by subsections (b) and (f), unless they are licensed under this chapter or exempt under subsection (a).
Other subsections cover members of other licensed professions practicing within their own scope, students and people completing supervised fieldwork, and a behavior analyst licensed or certified in another state, who "may perform applied behavior analysis services in this state without obtaining a license for up to ten (10) calendar days per calendar year with no more than five (5) days of this activity occurring consecutively." The chapter was amended with an effective date of June 30, 2025.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-86-2; § 5-86-3; § 5-86-19; § 5-86-21.
How to get licensed
Section 5-86-9(a) says an applicant for licensure as a licensed applied behavior analyst must show, on forms furnished by the department, that the applicant:
"(1) Is of good moral character; (2) Has obtained a graduate degree in applied behavior analysis or a related field, as approved by the board ... (3) Has successfully completed the amount of coursework in applied behavior analysis acceptable to the board; (4) Has appropriate supervised experience that aligns with the behavior analyst certification boards (BACB) supervision requirements ... (5) Has passed the behavior certification behavior analyst (BCBA) examination administered by the behavior analyst certification board (BACB); (6) Has maintained active status and fulfilled all relevant requirements for renewal and relicensing with the behavior analyst certification board ..."
The section lists three ways to meet the experience requirement: 1,500 hours of supervised independent fieldwork over one year, 1,000 hours of practicum in a university experience program approved by the national or regional certifying authority, or 750 hours of intensive practicum in such a program. Section 5-86-11 sets an application fee: the applicant "shall pay a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) to the department." The Department of Health fee rule (216-RICR-10-05-2, section 2.9) lists $150.00 for an initial application and $150.00 for renewal, for both the analyst and the assistant analyst, and a $40.00 late renewal fee.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-86-9; § 5-86-11; 216-RICR-10-05-2 (Rhode Island Department of State rules portal).
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Rhode Island licenses assistants. Section 5-86-9(b) requires an applicant for a licensed assistant applied behavior analyst license to have a bachelor's degree in behavior analysis or a related field, coursework acceptable to the board, supervised experience (1,000 hours of supervised independent fieldwork, or the practicum options in the section), supervision by a licensed applied behavior analyst, and a passing score on "the examination administered by an appropriate nationally recognized accrediting organization as approved by department of health licensing for this function."
An assistant works under supervision. Section 5-86-26(b) says: "a licensed assistant applied behavior analyst may practice limited applied behavior analysis only under the supervision of a licensed applied behavior analyst."
The law also defines an "applied behavior analyst aide":
"(2) "Applied behavior analyst aide" means a person not licensed pursuant to the laws and rules applicable to the practice of applied behavior analysis, who works under the supervision of a licensed applied behavior analyst, who assists in the practice of applied behavior analysis and whose activities require an understanding of applied behavior analysis, but do not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical, psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of applied behavior analysis."
Section 5-86-26(d) says an aide "shall be a worker trained on the job," and that the licensed analyst must provide "close supervision." The statute does not mention the BACB's RBT credential or a state registration for aides.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-86-2; § 5-86-9; § 5-86-26.
Renewal and state-required training
Section 5-86-13 sets a two-year cycle:
"(a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the first (1st) day of July of the next even-numbered year following the issuance of his or her license."
"(c) Every licensed person who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the department a renewal application, executed, together with a renewal fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150), on or before the first (1st) day of June in each even-numbered year."
A license that lapses "may be reinstated by the department on payment of the current renewal fee, plus an additional fee of forty dollars ($40.00)."
On continuing education, the statute says the licensee must present evidence "that the licensed applied behavior analyst ... has completed a prescribed course of continuing applied behavior analysis education" (§ 5-86-13(d)). The Department of Health's regulation, 216-RICR-40-05-28, section 28.8.3, says:
"Every person who desires to continue licensure as an applied behavior analyst or applied behavior assistant analyst shall present satisfactory evidence to the Board that they have met BACB continuing education unit requirements to maintain that certification."
We found no Rhode Island-specific topic requirement, such as a set number of ethics hours, in the text we read.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-86-13; 216-RICR-40-05-28 (Rhode Island Department of State rules portal).
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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.