It takes a special kind of therapy to garner the attention of state government, and that’s exactly what applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy did in Iowa in 2013.
Today, Iowa’s children with autism enjoy access to what has been described as one of the most promising therapies for children with autism, thanks to the Autism Support Program (ASP), created through the Iowa Legislature to provide funding for ABA therapy for children under the age of 14 who meet certain diagnostic and financial eligibility criteria.
In 2018, the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science was created, and in 2014, Under Iowa Acts SF 2385, the Board of Behavioral Science was consolidated with the Board of Psychology and the Board of Social Work to create the Board of Behavioral Health Professionals.
The Board of Behavioral Health Professionals is responsible for regulating behavioral analysis, martial and family therapy, mental health counseling, psychology and social work in Iowa. The Board regulates the practice of behavior analysts in the state and grants licenses. Like many other states, Iowa defers to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to set standards for behavior analysts in the state. Therefore, to become a behavior analyst in Iowa, the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® credential (BCBA®) is what you’ll need to earn before applying for state licensure.
Earning a Master’s Degree and Qualifying for the BCBA® Credential
Earning a master’s degree and qualifying for the BCBA® is the starting point for working as a behavior analyst in Iowa and a requirement for state licensure with the Iowa Board of Behavioral Health Professions.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) not only offers the credentials that applied behavior analysts need to enter the field as competent practitioners, it also has written the model regulation for licensing that most states use for the basis of their licensing laws.
The BACB approves both online and campus-based graduate programs, making the process of earning a graduate degree in ABA easier and more convenient than ever. Online programs allow students to complete some or all their coursework requirements through distance-based study, making them a great option for busy professionals and those looking for a greater variety of options that align with career goals, which may mean earning a master’s in education or psychology with a focus in applied behavior analysis.
Education Requirements
Qualifying for BCBA® certification requires a master’s degree earning a master’s degree or above and completing specific graduate-level courses in behavior analysis.
Earning a master’s degree from an Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA)-accredited program or an Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)-accredited or recognized behavior analysis master’s or doctoral degree serves as the most streamlined path to BCBA® certification because it includes all of the necessary coursework to qualify for certification.
You may also satisfy the educational requirement by earning a master’s or doctoral degree in behavior analysis or a similar area of study such as education or psychology and completing at least 315 hours of graduate coursework in behavior analysis:
- BACB Ethics Code and Code-Enforcement System; Professionalism: 45 hours
- Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts and Principles: 90 hours
- Measurement, Data Display and Interpretation; Experimental Design: 45 hours
- Behavior Assessment: 45 hours
- Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions: 60 hours
- Personnel Supervision and Management: 60 hours
The ABAI maintains a directory of programs offered by colleges and universities that satisfy the above graduate coursework. These programs are called Verified Course Sequences (VCS).
You can also complete the required courses and have your department chair, dean, or BCBA-certified VCS Coordinator complete a Non-Verified Course Content Attestation that signifies that they have conducted a course-by-course review of the required courses.
Note: The VCS program is ending on December 31, 2025. As of 2026, if you complete a program that is not accredited/approved by the ABAI or accredited by the APBA, you must submit a Non-Verified Content Attestation to the BACB to demonstrate that the coursework standards have been met.
Experience Requirements
To be eligible to sit for the BCBA® Exam, you must also complete a period of supervised fieldwork. Depending on the amount of supervision you receive, you’ll need to complete between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork.
ABAI-accredited/recognized programs and APBA-accredited program usually include an embedded practicum that will allow you to also satisfy most or all of the experience requirements needed for certification. Your program director will help you find a qualified supervisor and site where you can begin accruing the required fieldwork hours.
Just some of the ABA providers in Iowa where you may be able to complete the required practicum/field experience include:
- ABA of Iowa, Bellevue
- KMK Consulting Inc., Bettendorf
- Mental Health Associates, Sioux City
- Regional Autism Assistance Program, Iowa City
- Tanager Place Mental Health Clinic, Cedar Rapids
- Balance Autism, Pleasant Hill
As the final step to qualifying for the BCBA® credential, you must take and pass the BCBA® National Examination. You must apply to and receive authorization from the BACB before scheduling to take the exam through a Pearson VUE testing center near you. Pearson VUE testing centers are located throughout Iowa, including Davenport, Coralville, West Des Moines, and Iowa City.
Click here for detailed step-by-step instructions on the BCBA® credentialing process.
Applying to Become a State Licensed BCBA in Iowa
Once you’ve earned the BCBA® credential, you’ll need to apply for licensure as a behavior analyst in Iowa. Applying for licensure includes completing the following:
- Download, print, and complete the Application for Behavior Analysts or Assistant Behavior Analysts Licensure
- Submit proof of your current BCBA® certification (you can submit it with your application or email it to [email protected])
- Pay the application fee of $120 (make checks payable to the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science)
Send the application, proof of BCBA® certification, and check to:
Iowa Board of Behavioral Science
6200 Park Avenue
Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321-1270
Your Iowa behavior analyst license renewal period will run concurrent with your BCBA® license, which is every two years. You’ll apply for renewal at the same time you apply for renewal with the BACB.
Grants Program Aimed at Increasing BCBA®s in Iowa
In 2015, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Rural Health and Primary Care adopted the BCBA®/BCaBA® Grant Program, part of Chapter 107 of the Iowa Administrative Code, with the express goal of expanding the number of behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts in the state.
Individuals who want to apply for the BCBA®/BCaBA® Grant Program must demonstrate financial need and meet the following requirements:
- Be accepted for admission, be enrolled in, or attending an accredited BCBA®/BCaBA® educational program
- Provide proof of Iowa residency (if Iowa resident)
- Agree to practice in Iowa for two years (full-time) or four years (part-time)
- Upon certification, agree to assist another individual working toward BCBA®/BCaBA® certification OR serve in a consulting role with schools or services providers that support or provide services to individuals with autism in Iowa
You can learn more about the Grant Program here.
Iowa’s Autism Support Program Ensures Autistic Children Have Access to ABA Therapy
Since its inception more than ten years ago, the Autism Support Program (ASP) continues to deliver supportive services and resources to children with autism and their families. ASP delivers benefits of up to $36,000 per child per year for up to two years.
Legislators almost never set aside millions of dollars for treatment for a specific illness or disorder, but the chance to get autistic kids in Iowa back on track was too important to pass up, said State Rep. Dave Heaton (R), who spearheaded the proposal to provide ABA services to Iowa’s autistic children.
ABA has received endorsements from many well-respected groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Surgeon General.
According to Heaton, requiring health insurers to pay for ABA therapy would have been a “tough sell,” and adding a special Medicaid program to include autism therapies would have been too expensive. Paying directly for ABA was the best course of action, said Heaton, who referred to ABA as the “most successful approach” to treating Iowa’s children with autism.
Applied behavior analysts, using four decades of research as a foundation, implement teaching strategies that encourage useful behaviors and discourage those that may cause harm or interfere with learning. The goal of applied behavior analysts is to bring about meaningful and positive change in the behavior of patients with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Professional Opportunities in Telehealth for Behavior Analysts in Iowa
Applied behavior analysts in Iowa may find professional opportunities in a wide array of settings, such as:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Private clinics
- Nonprofit organizations
- Home care
- Telehealth
The large rural population in Iowa has made telehealth a quickly growing setting for applied behavior therapists.
According to a report by Scott Lindgren, PhD, of the University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital, a pervasive disparity exists in access to ABA therapy for Iowa’s rural and underserved areas. Telehealth is a practical strategy that can help overcome this rural disparity and provide proper ABA services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disorders.
According to Lindgren, telehealth—using telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care—has been shown to be an “innovative and effective” method for solving access problems resulting from a shortage of rural providers.
One of the unique ways Iowa is making strides in telehealth is the Virtual Parent Training (VPT), which connects behavior analysts with parents to provide services via webcam and Bluetooth technology. Parents of VPT can provide direct care while measuring their child’s behavioral progress with real-time guidance from behavior analysts.
The VPT program is a pilot program provided by Balance Autism, a leading provider of autism services in Iowa.
ABA Providers in Iowa
The following is a sampling of some of Iowa’s ABA providers:
Balance Autism: Altoona
Balance Autism provides campus and community services to enrich the lives of people with tautism through work, play, and community. The work of Balance Autism helps people with autism adapt to mainstream society, and helps society better adapt to people with autism.
Seasons Center – Center for Behavioral Health: Rock Rapids, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Paullina, Estherville, Sioux Center
Seasons is a non-profit, comprehensive behavioral health center that offers a range of psychiatric and behavioral health services. The behavioral health intervention services include skill-based programs for children and youth. They are provided in an individual, family, or group setting.
ChildServe: Johnston, Aimes, and Iowa City
ChildServe offers an autism diagnostic clinic, outpatient therapy, autism day health, autism intensives, behavioral support, social group programming, a life skills program, supported community living, medical nutrition therapy, and family education support. The autism program is ABA-based, meeting the needs of children at various developmental levels.