ABA licensure in Texas: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it
The short answer
Texas requires a license to practice applied behavior analysis unless an exemption in Subchapter B applies. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) issues behavior analyst and assistant behavior analyst licenses, which expire on the second anniversary of issuance. Renewal requires an application, a fee and verification of continued certification. Licensed behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts who provide direct patient care must complete HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training as a condition of license renewal.
What the law says
Confirm with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before you rely on this.
Texas's behavior analyst law is Chapter 506 of the Texas Occupations Code, which "may be cited as the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act." (The human trafficking training rule discussed below is in a different chapter, Chapter 116.) The license requirement and the protected titles:
"Except as provided by Subchapter B, a person may not engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis unless the person holds a license under this chapter."
"A person may not use the title "licensed behavior analyst" or "licensed assistant behavior analyst," as appropriate, unless the person is licensed under this chapter."
"Except as provided by Subchapter B, a person may not use the title "behavior analyst" unless the person is licensed under this chapter."
The statute defines the practice and the two licenses:
"The practice of applied behavior analysis is the design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior."
"The practice of applied behavior analysis does not include:"
"psychological testing, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, or counseling as treatment modalities; or"
"the diagnosis of disorders."
""Department" means the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation."
Subchapter B lists who the chapter does not apply to. Among them are licensed psychologists and other licensed professionals whose behavior analysis services are within their scope and training, family members and guardians who carry out a treatment plan under a licensed analyst's authority and direction, students, interns and fellows in a supervised program, and people gaining supervised experience. Two exemptions matter to schools and to supervised staff:
"This chapter does not apply to a teacher or employee of a private or public school who provides applied behavior analysis services if the teacher or employee is performing duties within the scope of the teacher's or employee's employment."
"This chapter does not apply to a paraprofessional technician who delivers applied behavior analysis services if:"
"the applied behavior analysis services are provided under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst; and"
"the person is designated as an "applied behavior analysis technician," "behavior technician," "tutor," or "front-line therapist.""
A school employee may not "offer applied behavior analysis services to any person, other than within the scope of the person's employment duties for the school" or "receive compensation for providing applied behavior analysis services, other than the compensation that the person receives from the person's school employer." A behavior analyst licensed in another jurisdiction, or certified by the certifying entity, may work in Texas without a Texas license if the activities and services are within the analyst's customary area of practice and:
"are conducted not more than 20 days in a calendar year; and"
"are not otherwise in violation of this chapter."
The analyst must also tell the recipient (or a parent or guardian, if the recipient is under 18) that the analyst is not licensed in Texas and that the services are time-limited.
Source: Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 506, sections 506.001, 506.002, 506.003, 506.054, 506.057, 506.058 and 506.251.
How to get licensed
The application goes to TDLR with the required fees and criminal background check evidence:
"Each applicant for a license under this chapter must submit an application and the required fees to the department. The application must include sufficient evidence, as defined by commission rules, that the applicant has successfully completed a state-approved criminal background check."
For a licensed behavior analyst, the applicant must present evidence that the applicant:
"is currently certified by the certifying entity as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst--Doctoral or an equivalent certification issued by the certifying entity;"
"has met the educational requirements of the Board Certified Behavior Analyst standard or the Board Certified Behavior Analyst--Doctoral standard or an equivalent standard adopted by the certifying entity;"
"has passed the Board Certified Behavior Analyst examination, or an equivalent examination offered by the certifying entity, in applied behavior analysis;"
"is in compliance with all professional, ethical, and disciplinary standards established by the certifying entity; and"
"is not subject to any disciplinary action by the certifying entity."
The law says the certifying entity is "the nationally accredited Behavior Analyst Certification Board or another entity that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute to issue credentials in the professional practice of applied behavior analysis and approved by the department." TDLR's renewal page says a license holder needs "a valid, current, and active certification issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® or the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board®."
Texas also licenses by reciprocity:
"The department shall issue a license to a person who is currently licensed as a behavior analyst or as an assistant behavior analyst from another state or jurisdiction that imposes licensure requirements similar to those specified in this chapter."
Source: Texas Occupations Code, sections 506.002, 506.252, 506.253 and 506.256; TDLR, How to Renew a Behavior Analyst or Assistant License.
Assistants, RBTs and technicians
Texas licenses assistants. The statute says an applicant for a licensed assistant behavior analyst license must present evidence that the applicant:
"is currently certified by the certifying entity as a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst or an equivalent certification issued by the certifying entity;"
"is currently supervised by a licensed behavior analyst in accordance with the requirements of the certifying entity."
The other requirements parallel those for a behavior analyst, at the assistant level: the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst education standard and examination, compliance with the certifying entity's standards, and no disciplinary action by it.
Texas does not require a license for technicians who meet the paraprofessional exemption quoted above. That exemption covers paraprofessional technicians designated as applied behavior analysis technicians, behavior technicians, tutors or front-line therapists whose services are provided under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst or licensed assistant behavior analyst. The statute does not use the term registered behavior technician.
Source: Texas Occupations Code, sections 506.054 and 506.254.
Renewal and state-required training
A license has a two-year term, and renewal rests on the certifying entity's certification:
"A license issued under this chapter expires on the second anniversary of the date of issuance."
"providing verification to the department of continued certification by the certifying entity, which signifies that the applicant for renewal has met any continuing education requirements established by the certifying entity."
TDLR's renewal page lists a renewal fee of $165 for a behavior analyst and $110 for an assistant behavior analyst, and says:
"When you renew, we will verify your current certification, which we will accept as proof that you have completed the continuing education hours required to maintain your certification."
TDLR's continuing education page says "Do not include completed continuing education course certificates with your renewal application" and "You must maintain a record of your completed continuing education course certificates and provide them to the department, if requested." The page leaves the hour count to the certifying entity. Texas also sets a state-required training topic, human trafficking prevention:
"A health care practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, shall successfully complete a training course described by Section 116.002 as a condition for renewal of a license issued to the health care practitioner under this title."
TDLR lists "Behavior Analyst" and "Behavior Analyst Assistant" among the license types that must complete the training, and says:
"A human trafficking prevention training course, approved by the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), must be completed to renew your license."
You keep the certificate rather than send it: "You do not need to submit a copy of your course completion certificate with your license renewal." Two more renewal rules from TDLR:
"License holders must notify the department within 30 days of any initiation of disciplinary action by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board."
"A person whose license has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the license by paying to the department a renewal fee that is equal to 1.5 times the normally required renewal fee."
Source: Texas Occupations Code, sections 506.301 and 506.302; Texas Occupations Code, section 116.003; TDLR, How to Renew a Behavior Analyst or Assistant License; TDLR, Behavior Analysts Continuing Education; TDLR, Human Trafficking Prevention Training.
Training the staff you supervise
If you run a program in Texas 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 Texas 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.