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ABA licensure by state

Do you need a license to practice ABA in West Virginia? What West Virginia law says

The short answer

As of October 30, 2026, we found no provision licensing behavior analysts in the West Virginia Code sections and Chapter 30 article list we checked; we did not search administrative rules. The autism insurance statutes define a certified behavior analyst as someone certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) or a similar nationally recognized organization. The version of the Medicaid manual we read recognizes BCBAs, BCaBAs and RBTs subject to current BACB certification in good standing, enrollment requirements and the supervision conditions quoted below.

Confirm with the West Virginia agency that regulates your setting, such as the Bureau for Medical Services for Medicaid, before you rely on this.

What we found

On October 30, 2026, we searched the West Virginia Code on the Legislature's official code site for "behavior analyst," "behavior analysts," "applied behavior analysis" and "behavior analysis." The searches returned six sections: §5-16-2, §5-16-7, §18A-5-1, §33-16-3v, §33-24-7k and §33-25A-8j. None creates a license, board or registry for behavior analysts. We also read the list of articles in Chapter 30 of the Code, which holds the licensing laws for West Virginia's professions. It has articles for psychologists, social workers, professional counselors, speech-language pathologists and others. It has no article for behavior analysts. A web search for 2025 and 2026 bills on behavior analyst licensure turned up none.

We did not search the West Virginia Code of State Rules by full text. We did not read the rules of other boards for mentions of behavior analysis. If another state agency licenses or registers behavior analysts, it is not in the Code sections we found.

What West Virginia does have

### Autism insurance coverage names a "certified behavior analyst" Section 33-16-3v requires autism treatment coverage under group accident and sickness insurance policies subject to that section, with eligibility conditions, benefit limits and exceptions. It says who must provide or supervise applied behavior analysis. Section 33-16-3v(b) says:

"Coverage shall include, but not be limited to, applied behavior analysis. Applied behavior analysis shall be provided or supervised by a certified behavior analyst."

The same section defines "certified behavior analyst" as:

"an individual who is certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board or certified by a similar nationally recognized organization."

Section 33-16-3v(a) says coverage applies to individuals from eighteen months to eighteen years of age, for treatments that are medically necessary and ordered or prescribed by a licensed physician or licensed psychologist and "in accordance with a treatment plan developed from a comprehensive evaluation by a certified behavior analyst" for an individual diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Eligibility under this section also requires diagnosis with autism spectrum disorder at age eight or younger. It sets limits on the benefit and exempts small employers (subsection (e)). Similar wording appears in §33-24-7k and §33-25A-8j, and for the state's Public Employees Insurance Agency in §5-16-7(8). That section requires the certified behavior analyst to "file progress reports with the agency semiannually."

Source: W. Va. Code §33-16-3v; §33-24-7k; §33-25A-8j; §5-16-2; §5-16-7.

### Medicaid: BACB certification is the standard The Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) Provider Manual, Chapter 519.23 (Applied Behavior Analysis), says:

"West Virginia Medicaid recognizes the following as qualified to perform ABA services when their certification by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is current and in good standing, and they have met participation enrollment requirements:"

It then lists three groups:

"Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), for the purposes of this policy and provider enrollment criteria this includes both Master and BCBA-D Doctoral levels;"

"Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) working under the supervision of a BCBA or who meets Behavior Analyst Certification Board supervisor requirements; and"

"Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) working under the supervision of a BCBA or BCaBA who meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board supervisor requirements."

The chapter’s eligibility requirements (§519.23.1) include age 18 months through age 20, a primary autism spectrum disorder diagnosis before the eighth birthday, and referral for necessary diagnostic and treatment services identified during an Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) encounter. Providers must also meet participation enrollment requirements. The version we read is marked "Effective Date: April 1, 2020".

Source: BMS Provider Manual, Chapter 519.23, Applied Behavior Analysis (PDF).

### Schools: behavior analysts in discipline training West Virginia's school discipline law does not license behavior analysts. It does name them as a source of training. Section 18A-5-1(g) says county board policies shall:

"provide for the training of school personnel by school social workers, behavior specialists, board certified behavior analysts, school psychologists, and other qualified employees with expertise in the behavioral area in alternatives to discipline practices"

Source: W. Va. Code §18A-5-1.

Training the staff you supervise

If you run a program in West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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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