Nevada has been licensing applied behavior analysts since 2009; however, in 2021, the responsibility for regulating and licensing these professionals moved from the Aging and Disability Services Division to the new Nevada Applied Behavior Analysis Board.
To practice applied behavior analysis (ABA) in Nevada, you’ll need to become licensed as one of the following:
- Licensed Behavior Analyst
- Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst
- Registered Behavior Technician
But before you can earn licensure in Nevada as a Licensed Behavior Analyst, you must first earn certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA®).
The following steps will guide you through the national certification and state licensure process to become a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Nevada:
Earning a Master’s Degree and Pursuing BCBA® Certification in Nevada
The path to earning the BCBA® designation and state licensure as a Licensed Behavior Analyst begins with earning a master’s or doctoral degree in behavior analysis or in a similar field like education or psychology and completing specific, graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis.
You can meet the educational requirements for certification in one of two ways:
- Earn a graduate degree that’s accredited by either the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) or accredited/recognized by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)
- Earn a graduate degree in behavior analysis or a related field and complete the following, graduate-level 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
If you plan to qualify for certification by completing graduate-level coursework, you can either: (a) complete an ABAI-approved Verified Course Sequence, which is usually delivered as a graduate certificate; or (b) complete the required courses and then provide the BACB with proof through a course-by-course review by your department chair, dean, or BCBA-certified VCS Coordinator.
*Note: The ABAI is discontinuing its VCS system on December 31, 2025. Beginning in 2026, your university must provide proof that the coursework standards have been met through a course-by-course review.
Practicum and Exam Requirements
Eligibility for BCBA® certification also requires the completion of between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. Your fieldwork, which can begin as soon as you start taking graduate-level courses in behavior analysis, must be supervised by a qualified professional (qualified BCBA®, licensed, registered psychologist certified in behavioral and cognitive psychology, or an ABAI-verified instructor). The total number of hours of required fieldwork will depend on the level of supervision you receive during this time.
If you complete an ABAI- and APBA-accredited program, you’ll likely satisfy most or all of the fieldwork requirements through your program’s practicum. Otherwise, you’ll complete it independently of your program. Your program director will be helpful when it comes time to locating and securing a fieldwork site and qualified supervisor.
There are countless ABA providers throughout Nevada where you can gain the field experience necessary for certification. Just a small sampling of these providers include:
- Impact ABA Services, Reno
- Nevada Autism Center, Las Vegas
- Autism & Behavioral Consulting Services, Las Vegas
- Oasis ABA, Fallon
- Lacuna Autism Services, Las Vegas
After you’ve satisfied the fieldwork and educational requirements, you must apply with the BACB to take the BCBA® exam. After the BACB has approved your application, they’ll send you instructions on how to register for the exam, which is administered through Pearson VUE. You’ll schedule the day, time, and location of the exam. Pearson VUE has testing sites throughout the country, including Reno and Las Vegas in Nevada.
Earning State Licensure as a Licensed Behavior Analyst Through the Nevada Applied Behavior Analysis Board
Once you’ve received your BCBA® certification, it’s time to apply to become a Licensed Behavior Analyst with the Nevada Applied Behavior Analysis Board. The application process is completed online, so you’ll need to first create a Certemy account (if you haven’t already done so).
As part of the application process, you’ll need to electronically submit your fingerprints through the LiveScan process. You must begin your application before heading to a LiveScan vendor to have your fingerprints completed and sent to DPS. Most law enforcement agencies offer this service. You can call the Nevada Department of Public Safety at 775-684-6262 if you need help finding a LiveScan provider near you.
You will also need to take the Nevada Jurisprudence Exam. This online exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions that must be completed in one hour. You’ll take the exam upon receiving a unique link from ClassMarker that will be sent to your email address on file.
Certification and Licensure Renewal Requirements
Your BCBA certification must be renewed every two years upon the completion of at least 32 continuing education units.
Your Licensed Behavior Analyst license must be renewed every odd-numbered year upon the completion of at least 2 hours of instruction on evidence-based suicide prevention and awareness and at least 6 hours of instruction relating to cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion.
Nevada ABA Providers Making a Difference
ABA services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disorders are readily available throughout Nevada. From hospital-based systems to small, privately owned clinics, you’ll find a wealth of ABA providers where you can jumpstart your career.
Just some of the ABA providers throughout Nevada include:
Nevada Autism Center, Las Vegas
Nevada Autism Center is a leading ABA provider in Las Vegas. Their team of BCBAs® identify and target the behavior, write intervention plans, and then provide one-on-one ABA therapy in their immersive clinic environment. They also provide evidence-based neurofeedback therapies for ASD and offer a variety of summer camps for focused groups and therapies.
Tandem Therapy Services, Las Vegas
Tandem Therapy Services, which has four locations throughout Las Vegas, offers a variety of services for children with autism. For more than two decades, they’ve specialized in early treatment for children on the autism spectrum. They utilize a contemporary ABA approach that takes each child’s unique needs into account to allow them to develop a tailored plan for them.
Proud Moments ABA, Las Vegas
Proud Moments offers both in-clinic and at-home ABA services for children with autism. They currently offer clinic services at their Village Center Circle and Prairie Road locations and are also opening a new location on Jones Road. BCBAs® and a therapist team create personalized treatment plans, and they also offer regular parent training and direct supervision to ensure that caregivers are able to continue the strategies at home.