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ABA licensure by state

ABA licensure in Washington: who needs a license, how to get one and how to keep it

The short answer

Washington generally requires a license or temporary license to practice applied behavior analysis as defined in RCW 18.380.010, subject to the exemptions in RCW 18.380.030; behavior technicians have a separate state certification requirement. The Washington State Department of Health issues these credentials. A license or certification issued under RCW 18.380.050 is valid for two years. Washington has three credentials: licensed behavior analyst, licensed assistant behavior analyst and certified behavior technician.

Confirm with the Washington State Department of Health before you rely on this.

What the law says

Washington's law is Chapter 18.380 RCW. The licensing rule is RCW 18.380.020:

"Except as provided in RCW 18.380.030, no person may engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis unless he or she holds a license or a temporary license under this chapter."

"A person not licensed under this chapter may not represent himself or herself as a "licensed behavior analyst" or a "licensed assistant behavior analyst.""

"Except as provided in RCW 18.380.030, no person may practice as a certified behavior technician in this state without having a certification issued by the secretary."

The statute defines the practice as, among other things:

"The design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional and environmental modifications based on scientific research and the direct observation and measurement of behavior and the environment to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior;"

It says the practice "does not include psychological testing, diagnosis of a mental or physical disorder, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, or counseling as treatment modalities."

Who is exempt. RCW 18.380.030 lists eight exemptions, each with specific conditions. Two concern school employees and family members. On school employees:

"An employee of a school district, charter school, or private school approved under chapter 28A.195 RCW in the performance of his or her regular duties of employment, so long as the employee does not offer behavior analytic services to any person or entity other than the school employer and does not accept remuneration for providing behavior analytic services other than the remuneration he or she receives from the school employer;"

On family members:

"Implementation of a behavior analysis treatment plan by a family member or legal guardian of a recipient of behavior analysis services, as defined in rule, so long as the family member or legal guardian is under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed assistant behavior analyst;"

Source: RCW 18.380.010; RCW 18.380.020; RCW 18.380.030.

How to get licensed

Washington lets an applicant qualify through national certification or by meeting the state's own requirements. For a licensed behavior analyst, the Department's rule (WAC 246-805-100) asks for:

"Current certification equivalent to a licensed behavior analyst from a professional credentialing entity. Verification must be sent directly to the department from the professional credentialing entity; or"

The other route follows RCW 18.380.050(1)(a): a master's or doctoral degree in behavior analysis or a related field approved by the secretary; at least 225 classroom hours of graduate-level instruction in behavior analysis topics; a supervised experience requirement of at least 1,500 hours, or an alternative approved by the secretary by rule; and an examination approved by the secretary. The statute also requires that the applicant:

"Demonstrates good moral character;"

and has not engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined in RCW 18.130.180, is not subject to disciplinary proceedings, and is not unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety.

The Department's licensing requirements page names the Behavior Analyst Certification Board as a national accredited professional credentialing entity and lists "Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) accepted toward the Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) credential" and "Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) accepted toward the Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (LABA) credential." The rule on credentialing entities (WAC 246-805-025) requires that an approved entity hold current accreditation by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

A person who lives outside Washington may get a temporary license:

"The secretary may grant a temporary license to a person who does not reside in this state if he or she: (1) Is licensed to practice applied behavior analysis in another state or province of Canada; or (2) meets other qualifications established by the secretary."

An applicant licensed in another state or a province of Canada may be licensed in Washington "if the secretary determines that the licensing standards of the other state or province are substantially equivalent to the licensing standards in this chapter" (RCW 18.380.090).

Source: RCW 18.380.050; RCW 18.380.080; RCW 18.380.090; WAC 246-805-100; WAC 246-805-025; Department of Health, ABA licensing requirements.

Assistants, RBTs and technicians

Both are credentialed in Washington. A licensed assistant behavior analyst is "an individual who is licensed under this chapter to engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst." The applicant needs BCaBA-equivalent certification, or graduation from a bachelor's degree program approved by the secretary, 135 classroom hours of instruction in specific behavior analysis topics determined by rule and a supervised experience requirement of at least 1,000 hours, or an alternative approved by rule. The applicant must also give the name of a clinical supervisor as proof of ongoing supervision (WAC 246-805-200).

Washington's technician credential is the certified behavior technician. The statute defines it as:

"a paraprofessional who implements a behavior analysis treatment plan under the close, ongoing supervision of a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed assistant behavior analyst, but who does not design or supervise the implementation of a behavior analysis treatment plan."

An applicant for CBT certification submits, under WAC 246-805-300: fees and an application; proof of being at least 18 years of age; proof of a high school diploma or equivalent; and the name of a clinical supervisor. The applicant also shows either "Current behavior technician registration or certification from a professional credentialing entity" or completion of a behavior technician training program that meets WAC 246-805-310. The Department's page lists "Current registration as a RBT from the BACB" as one route. The training program must be at least 40 hours, supervised, and include instruction, experiential learning and an evaluation of the trainee's competency.

Source: RCW 18.380.010; RCW 18.380.050; WAC 246-805-200; WAC 246-805-300; WAC 246-805-310.

Renewal and state-required training

RCW 18.380.050(4) says: "A license or certification issued under this section is valid for a period of two years." The renewal rules are in chapter 246-805 WAC. WAC 246-805-401 sets the licensed behavior analyst rule:

"Continuing education requirements for an LBA must be met every two years in one of the following ways:"

"Maintaining certification from a professional credentialing entity that requires CE as part of certification; or"

"Completing a minimum of 32 hours of CE related to the practice of applied behavior analysis."

If the licensee completes the 32 hours, at least 20 hours must directly address behavior analytic skill development and current practices in clinical practice, at least four hours must pertain to professional ethics and boundaries of a behavior analyst, and no more than eight hours may be in professional development that enhances the licensee's business practice. The licensed assistant behavior analyst rule (WAC 246-805-402) is the same in form, with 20 hours: at least 10 on skill development and current practices, at least four on ethics and boundaries, and no more than six in business practice.

Both rules add a state-required topic:

"In addition to the requirements in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, an LBA shall complete two hours of health equity CE every four years as described in WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830."

The same two-hour health equity requirement applies to a licensed assistant behavior analyst. Licensees keep attendance records for four years under chapter 246-12 WAC (WAC 246-805-400).

For a certified behavior technician, WAC 246-805-410 asks for continuing competency. The technician either maintains certification from a professional credentialing entity, or, within 90 days before renewal, gets an assessment by a licensed behavior analyst, a licensed assistant behavior analyst or another qualified supervisor on measurement, assessment, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, documentation and reporting, and professional conduct and scope of practice. A technician who is not currently working may instead attest to that status at renewal. Within three months after obtaining employment as a certified behavior technician, that person must obtain the assessment described in WAC 246-805-410(2)(b).

These are the Department's rules.

Source: RCW 18.380.050; RCW 18.380.070; WAC 246-805-400; WAC 246-805-401; WAC 246-805-402; WAC 246-805-410.

Training the staff you supervise

If you run a program in Washington 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 Washington state approval or continuing education credit for this course.

Two ways to start

Last reviewed: October 30, 2026.

See every state's ABA licensure rules

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