Does Maine require autism training for school staff? What Maine law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
In the Maine education laws and rules we searched, we found no requirement that school staff complete autism training. The closest duties are in Maine's restraint and seclusion rule, Chapter 33: each covered entity must give all staff yearly overview and awareness information about the rule and its local policies, and must ensure that a sufficient number of administrators or designees and general and special education staff maintain certification in a training program approved by the Maine Department of Education.
What we found
On October 29, 2026, we searched Maine's education statute on restraint and seclusion (20-A M.R.S. §4014), the Chapter 33 rule, and Part II of Chapter 115 (requirements for teaching certificates and endorsements) for autism, behavior and training duties. Chapter 115 Part II does not mention autism. We did not read Part I of Chapter 115, which covers educational technician authorizations and general renewal rules.
Related training rules for Maine school staff
Yearly overview for all staff. Chapter 33, "Annual notification of rule and local policies":
"Annually, each covered entity shall provide overview and awareness information to all staff, including contracted providers, regarding the content of this rule and any local policies or procedures related to the use of physical restraint and seclusion."
The Maine Department of Education's restraint and seclusion page lists a "Chapter 33 Overview and Annual Notification Resource" and says: "This course meets the Chapter 33 requirement of "annual notification of rule and local policies" (Ch 33 Section 4.2)." The page shows no price.
Certified staff in approved programs. Chapter 33, Section 12:
"Each covered entity shall ensure that a sufficient number of administrators or designees, general and special education staff, maintain certification in an approved training program. A list of staff with the required approved training must be made available in each building office, as well as any central office, along with other school-wide emergency procedures and must be updated at least annually."
The rule says: "Physical restraint must be implemented by staff certified in a state-approved training program to the extent possible." Seclusion has the same standard. Section 12 says approved programs "must require participants to demonstrate competency to achieve certification," and their core components include "The use of non-physical interventions for responding to potentially dangerous behaviors, including de-escalation and the use of positive alternatives." The Maine Department of Education keeps the list of approved programs. Our course does not teach restraint, seclusion, crisis intervention or de-escalation, and it is not an approved Chapter 33 program.
Who the rule covers. Under 20-A M.R.S. §4014, a "covered entity" is "an entity that owns, operates or controls a school or educational program that receives public funds from the department." The definition lists public schools, public charter schools, private schools that receive these funds, public prekindergarten programs and others. The Maine Department of Education says: "Updates to the Chapter 33 Rule took effect September 24, 2025."
Teacher certification. Several endorsements in Chapter 115 Part II require that the applicant "Completed an approved course for teaching students with exceptionalities in the regular classroom." This is an eligibility requirement for the certificate, not a yearly training duty.
Sources: 05-071 C.M.R. ch. 33 (Maine Secretary of State); 20-A M.R.S. §4014; Maine DOE, Restraint and Seclusion; 05-071 C.M.R. ch. 115, Part II.
Where outside training fits
For the Chapter 33 certification, the rule says training must come from programs on the Maine Department of Education's approved list, and the department's page explains how a program can apply to be added. We found no Maine rule that names a provider for autism training. Before buying outside training for any Maine requirement, ask your school administrative unit or the Maine Department of Education how it evaluates outside courses. We do not claim that our course meets Chapter 33, counts toward any Maine certification or renewal requirement, or replaces any training Maine requires. We do not claim a number of training hours for it.
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. We do not claim Maine state approval or continuing education credit for this course.
A paraprofessional who took it wrote: "I want to learn everything I can to help my student succeed in the public school system. I found Special Learning's ABA level 1 course so fascinating and inspiring."
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 school unit's staff: 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 school quote
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.