Does Rhode Island require autism training for school staff? What Rhode Island law asks, and where outside training fits
The short answer
In the Rhode Island education statutes and the state's physical restraint regulations we read, we found no requirement for school staff to complete autism training. Under the Physical Restraint Regulations, every public education program must provide all staff with training on its physical restraint and crisis intervention policies at least annually within the first month of each school year; employees hired after the school year begins must receive this training within their first month of employment. Teacher assistants hired after January 1, 1999, in schools supported wholly or partly by public funds must complete a program meeting state teacher assistant standards, subject to statutory exceptions; ongoing professional development is a condition of continued employment as a teacher assistant.
What we found
On October 29, 2026, we searched section headings in Rhode Island General Laws chapters 16-11, 16-11.2, 16-12, 16-21, 16-24, 16-24.1 and 42-158 on the General Assembly's site and read the statutory provisions discussed below. We also read the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education's Physical Restraint Regulations on the Rhode Island Department of State's site. We did not read the state's teacher certificate renewal rules or the teacher assistant program standards incorporated by reference in § 16-11.2-2.
In our review of Rhode Island's Autism Spectrum Disorder Education Act (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 16-24.1), we found no requirement for school staff to complete autism training. Among the implementation steps it says "should be taken," the department of education, in conjunction with Rhode Island College, "shall produce a series of instructional modules that could be embedded into existing pre-service courses in multi-disciplines" and "shall develop a continuing education certificate in autism spectrum disorders at Rhode Island College." We did not check whether that certificate is offered today.
Related training rules for Rhode Island school staff
Restraint and crisis intervention training for all staff (200-RICR-20-30-2.3). The regulations cover publicly funded elementary and secondary education programs, including public school districts, regional districts, state-operated schools, public charter schools, educational programs run by the Department for Children Youth and Families, and educational collaboratives.
"Each public education program shall designate personnel to determine a time and methods to provide all staff with training regarding the school's physical restraint/crisis intervention policies. Such training shall occur at least annually not later than within the first month of each school year. For employees hired after the school year begins, this training shall take place within the first month of their employment."
The training "shall be approved by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education." It must cover the program's restraint policy; interventions that may preclude the need for restraint, including de-escalation; types of restraints and related safety considerations; administering restraint in line with a student's known medical or psychological limitations or behavioral intervention plan; and which staff have advanced training. It must also include the information required by R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-158-5, which lists topics including "Use of prevention tools, including positive behavior interventions and de-escalation." Staff identified at the start of each school year as a school-wide resource must receive advanced training. Section 2.6 generally restricts administering physical restraint/crisis intervention to trained personnel, but expressly preserves the ability of a teacher, employee or agent of a public education program to use reasonable force to protect students, other persons or themselves from imminent, serious, physical harm. Our course does not teach restraint, crisis intervention or de-escalation.
Teacher assistants (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 16-11.2-2 and 16-11.2-3). A teacher assistant in a school supported in whole or in part by public funds who was hired after January 1, 1999, must "complete a training program in compliance with the teacher assistant program standards developed by the department of elementary and secondary education." The law exempts teacher assistants employed in another Rhode Island district before January 1, 1999, those certified as teacher assistants in another state, and those with an associate's or bachelor's degree who have completed coursework or other training consistent with the standards. After hiring:
"(a) As a condition of continued employment every person employed as a teacher assistant shall participate in ongoing professional development."
Districts must keep records of each teacher assistant's training for the work assignment, continuing education and relevant coursework. Sections 16-11.2-2 and 16-11.2-3 do not themselves specify autism or behavior topics or training hours; we did not review the teacher assistant program standards they refer to.
Source: 200-RICR-20-30-2, Physical Restraint Regulations; R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-158-5; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11.2-2; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-11.2-3; R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-24.1-4.
Where outside training fits
The restraint and crisis intervention training must be approved by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, and our course does not teach restraint or crisis intervention. The teacher assistant training program must comply with standards set by the Rhode Island Department of Education, and the ongoing professional development rule does not name providers. We do not claim that our course satisfies any Rhode Island requirement, meets the teacher assistant program standards, counts toward ongoing professional development, or counts toward certificate renewal. Before buying outside training for any of these purposes, ask your district or the Rhode Island Department of Education how it evaluates outside courses.
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 Rhode Island 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 district'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.