The state of Idaho does not currently require licensing for the practice of applied behavior analysis, and there are no proposals or political efforts within the state to begin ABA licensing.
In many states, the push to license applied behavior analysts has come in concert with efforts to improve care for patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Applied behavior analysis is one treatment for ASD that has been scientifically validated, and the epidemic of autism diagnoses in the United States has led to a huge demand for ABA therapists. One in every thirty-six American kids are diagnosed with ASD, a number that has exploded since the year 2000.
Idaho is no stranger to patients with autism and other afflictions that have been shown to be treatable with behavior therapy, including:
- Depression
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Fears and phobias
- Anger management issues
In lieu of a professional license, many practitioners in Idaho have made the effort to become certified as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s) by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The BACB is a national non-profit organization founded in 1998 to handle the needs of states, the insurance industry, and the profession itself by establishing certification, as well as ethics and practice standards.
BCBA® Certification as the De Facto Standard for Professional Behavior Analysts in Idaho
Although a BCBA® is not required to practice behavior analysis in Idaho, many practitioners find advantages in obtaining the certification for a variety of reasons. In the absence of a license law, a BCBA® provides employers and potential clients some assurance that the provider has met rigid professional standards and has been trained according to industry best practices.
Although insurance companies are not required to cover ABA services in Idaho, some insurers also require providers to hold a BCBA® in order to bill for providing ABA therapies.
The BACB’s rigid requirements for awarding a BCBA® fall into three categories.
 | Education to Qualify for BCBA® Certification |
 | Experience to Qualify for BCBA® Certification |
 | Taking the Test to Qualify for BCBA® Certification |
Education to Qualify for BCBA® Certification
An advanced degree is the cornerstone of becoming qualified as an ABA. A masters or doctorate in applied behavior analysis, education, or psychology that meets BACB curriculum requirements is the standard route to becoming a BCBA®.
Earning a qualifying degree at an institution that is on the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) accredited programs list, or that has been accredited by the newly created Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) is the clearest way to obtain qualification for the BCBA®. Each of these programs has been certified to have the right mix of classes that make up the BACB’s pre-verified course sequence for BCBA® certification.
If you do obtain a master’s or higher degree in another field or from another institution, you may still meet the requirements, however. Some schools offer BACB Verified Course Sequences (VCS) independent of a graduate program for those that already hold a degree but still need to take the required courses. It’s possible to incorporate these into a focus or concentration in other advanced degree programs, or to take them as a separate graduate certificate at some colleges. Either route can satisfy the BCBA® requirements.
Idaho Students in Applied Behavior Analysis May Need Online or Other Solutions to Meet Educational Requirements for a BCBA®
It’s still possible to obtain a BCBA® without following any of these steps, provided that whatever courses you did take in achieving your master’s or doctoral degree have sufficient content to meet the course content allocation requirements and your institution is accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). A VCS Coordinator can attest to your classes meeting the requirements, or the BACB has to evaluate each of these special cases separately. That will have to happen prior to allowing you to take the National Behavior Analyst Exam.
Since there are no institutions in Idaho that offer a BACB-verified course sequence, you will probably be looking at online graduate degree programs that meet the necessary requirements. By enrolling in an online master’s program in applied behavior analysis, you can avoid many of the hassles and expenses that come with relocating to attend a traditional degree program.
Out-of-state tuition fees can be enormous if you do not establish residency, making online offerings far more affordable. You can also time-shift many of your class responsibilities in online courses, completing the coursework at times that are convenient for you and allowing you to continue working a regular job or fulfilling other obligations.
Experience to Qualify for BCBA® Certification
A great deal of hands-on experience in ABA practice is also required in order to obtain certification. This comes in the form of supervised independent fieldwork, working in a school or hospital or clinic with real patients under the supervision of an experienced BCBA®-holder.
The BACB requires 2000 hours of this type of experience before you will be eligible to take the National Behavior Analyst Exam. Alternatively, you may be able to meet the goal faster, in only 1500 hours, by pursuing an option called concentrated supervised fieldwork. This involves more supervisory contacts and more intensive oversight. It’s also possible to mix and match the two types of training.
You are responsible for lining up your own supervised fieldwork opportunities through a private clinic offering ABA services, such as:
- Access Point, Pocatello
- Peak Behavioral, Idaho Falls
- Autism Behavior Services Incorporated, Boise
Accredited ABA degree programs will offer ways to cover at least some of these experiential hours through practicum courses, which integrate teaching with on-the-ground experience.
Taking the Test to Qualify for BCBA® Certification
The final step in acquiring a BCBA® is to take the National Behavior Analyst Exam. The exam is administered by Pearson VUE.
Pearson Professional Centers in Boise, Idaho State University in Pocatello, and BYU’s Idaho Testing Center in Rexburg are the available venues VUE offers in Idaho.
You will be given four hours to complete 175 multiple-choice questions. The questions are separated into nine designated content areas, each with its own level of emphasis. They cover categories of knowledge and training such as:
- The Philosophical Foundation of Behaviorism
- Ethical and Professional Issues
- Behavioral Assessment
- Experimental Design
- Selecting and Implementing Behavior-Change Interventions
Click here for detailed step-by-step instructions on the BCBA® credentialing process.
Practicing as an ABA in Idaho
The provider community in Idaho is small and the largely rural nature of the state means that most BCBA® positions involve some travel and a lot of home-based services. Most positions will require a driver’s license and having your own transportation.
Some positions require a BCBA® while others only require ABA experience or an intention to pursue certification.
ABAs spend quite a lot of time working with parents and caregivers of patients, as well as teachers and other medical professionals who have regular contact with the patient. Coordination is necessary to implement consistent and effective Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs) that all caregivers adhere to.
Being a provider in a small community can also mean having a degree of independence uncommon in other areas. As an ABA working in Idaho, you will find relatively few peers in the field, creating the potential for more opportunities for employment and independent practice.
Membership in the Idaho Association for Behavior Analysis is one good way to stay connected to peers here. It’s also your best resource for keeping track of any regulatory updates or insurance billing practice changes that may come down the line in the Gem State.