Skip to main content
Store Sign in ES
For schools and districts

Virginia's autism training rules for school aides and staff (Va. Code § 22.1-298.3 and § 22.1-253.13:5): what the law asks, and where outside training fits

The short answer

Virginia law requires each school board to ensure that aides assigned to work with a teacher who has primary oversight of students with autism spectrum disorders receive training in student behavior management within 60 days of that assignment. School board employees who assist in transporting students with autism on school buses, including bus drivers and bus aides, must participate in the Board of Education's autism training program. Separately, each local school board must offer professional development each year on communicating with and supporting students with autism to staff who have regular contact with students; taking it is optional for staff.

What the law says

Virginia Code § 22.1-298.3(A):

"Each school board shall ensure that aides assigned to work with a teacher who has primary oversight of students with autism spectrum disorders receive training in student behavior management within 60 days of assignment to such responsibility."

"The Board of Education shall provide training standards that school boards may use to fulfill the requirements of this subsection."

Subsection (B) tells the Board of Education to set up a training program on autism spectrum disorders for school board employees who help transport students on school buses, including bus drivers and bus aides. It covers the characteristics of autism, strategies for interacting with students with autism, and working with other transportation staff. The statute says: "Each school board employee who assists in the transportation of students with autism spectrum disorders on school buses shall participate in such training program."

The 2012 act that created this section also told the Board of Education, in consultation with Virginia Commonwealth University, to develop online training for it:

"Such training shall be made available to local school divisions free of charge."

Virginia Code § 22.1-253.13:5(E)(6) adds a yearly offering for a wider group. Each local school board shall provide:

"High-quality professional development each year in communicating with and supporting students with autism spectrum disorder for any instructional personnel and school board employees whose duties include regular contact with students, in accordance with the guidance provided by the Board pursuant to clause (x) of subsection C, that includes (i) an overview of the characteristics and behavioral recognition of autism spectrum disorder, (ii) strategies for communicating and interacting with and supporting students with autism spectrum disorder, and (iii) best practices for responding to and de-escalating certain behavioral challenges and situations. Such professional development shall be optional, provided, however, that any instructional personnel or school board employee who completes such professional development shall be eligible for professional development points toward renewal of his license for the number of in-person hours of coursework completed."

Two related rules apply to school staff more broadly. Under 8VAC20-750-100, school divisions that employ physical restraint or seclusion must "ensure that all school personnel receive training that focuses on skills related to positive behavior support, conflict prevention, de-escalation, and crisis response," along with initial training on the restraint and seclusion rules. And under § 22.1-298.1(D)(11), every person seeking renewal of a teaching license "shall complete training in the instruction of students with disabilities"; that provision does not name autism.

Source: Va. Code § 22.1-298.3, 2012 Acts of Assembly, Chapter 755, Va. Code § 22.1-253.13:5, 8VAC20-750-100, Va. Code § 22.1-298.1.

Where outside training fits

Section 22.1-298.3(A) puts the duty on the school board and says the Board of Education's training standards are something school boards "may use." It does not name a provider or require a board to buy an outside course, and state law provides for free online training for this purpose. Section 22.1-253.13:5(E)(6) also does not name a provider; it follows the Board of Education's guidance, and its license-renewal points are tied to in-person hours of coursework. Before buying outside training for either duty, ask your school division what training it uses and how it evaluates outside courses. We offer this course as introductory ABA training. We do not claim that it satisfies § 22.1-298.3 or § 22.1-253.13:5(E)(6), meets the Board's training standards, or earns professional development points toward license renewal. Our course does not teach restraint, crisis intervention or de-escalation.

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 Virginia 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

Last reviewed: October 29, 2026.

See every state's school autism-training rules