Vermont began to edge toward licensing for behavior analysts in 2012 when the state legislature passed Act 158, a bill mandating insurance coverage for a range of early childhood developmental disorders. Notably, the bill required coverage for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and specifically named applied behavior analysis among the treatment methods.
With the passage of Act 38 in 2015, the state made the leap to embrace full professional licensure for both behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts.
That legislation, as expressed in Title 26, Chapter 95, offers two paths to becoming licensed: 1) by examination, if this is your initial professional license as an ABA, or 2) by endorsement, if you have already earned a license in another state or a professional certification from BACB, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
That means that earning either BCBA® (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) or BCaBA® (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) certification will check all the boxes required for licensure at these respective levels.
Click here for step-by-step instructions on the BCBA® credentialing process.
Earning a Master’s or Higher Degree with Substantial Coursework in Behavior Analysis
Vermont requires a doctoral or master’s degree from a program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Accreditation Board, or from an institution approved by the Director of the state’s Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), the body responsible for licensing ABAs in the state.
In theory, Director-approved programs should include schools accredited by APBA (Association of Professional Behavior Analysts), a new accrediting body recognized by BACB after Vermont’s laws were written. However, these alternative Director-approved institutions are not currently published, so you’ll need to petition the OPR for a review to determine if your program meets the eligibility standards if it is not ABAI-accredited.
It’s most common for these master’s programs to be in applied behavior analysis, psychology, or education. Some schools also offer Verified Course Sequences as part of non-degree programs for those that already hold a graduate degree but that need to complete required ABA course content to be eligible for the certification exam.
Standards for the BCaBA® are similar but apply to undergraduate degree programs at the bachelor’s level; a master’s is not required.
You can have the faculty member in your school who serves as the VCS Coordinator attest that the course content qualifies for BACB credentialing. In fact, at the end of 2025, VCS Coordinator review will be your only option if you did not attend an ABAI or APBA accredited program, or one that is recognized under the ABAI tiered education model.
Increasingly, students are choosing to attend accredited online master’s programs in applied behavior analysis. Particularly in states like Vermont where there are relatively few nearby options, online programs are often the obvious choice. This avoids the disruption and costs associated with moving to a location where a traditional program is available. Also, the ability to perform coursework on your own schedule can make attendance easier if you are still working or have other obligations.
Qualifying for Licensure: Gaining Supervised Practice Experience and Passing the Exam
Vermont requires successful completion of approved hands-on practicum or supervised experience in applied behavior analysis totaling at least 1,500 hours over the course of at least one year. Seventy-five hours of that experience must involve direct one-on-one contact with your supervisor.
At least in part, you will likely have to line up your own fieldwork experience, working in a clinical setting where you will perform duties such as:
- Performing assessments of patients
- Designing behavior analysis programs
- Supervising the implementation and providing oversight for behavior modification programs
If you are obtaining a BCBA®, you may have to go slightly further. BACB requires 2000 hours of supervised fieldwork (1300 for BCaBAs®) or 1500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork (1000 for BCaBAs®). The supervision requirement differs slightly from the Vermont standard—your supervisor must be a BCBA®-holder and will have to fill out a specific evaluation form rating your performance.
The other difference is the option of participating in concentrated versus regular supervision. The concentrated option requires that ten percent of your hours per month be spent in supervision, with at least six supervisor contacts. That compares to five percent of your hours being supervised and four contacts in the regular supervision path.
Passing the National Behavior Analyst Exam
Regardless of which path to licensure you are following, you will have to take and pass a comprehensive test on applied behavior analysis. The legal requirement is a test is based on the exam offered by the BACB, so for all practical purposes that means the BCBA® or BCaBA® examination.
Each of those tests runs to four hours and requires that you complete 175 multiple-choice questions covering nine content areas. These are largely rooted in the BCBA/BCaBA coursework requirements and your experiential training, so you should be well-prepared to pass with flying colors by the time you get this far.
The BCBA® exam is administered by Pearson VUE and offered in exam centers around the nation. Burlington is the only available location in Vermont. However, you’re free to take the test in locations in neighboring states like New Hampshire, New York, or Massachusetts if it’s more convenient.
To take the test, you must first register online with the BACB. You will have to provide the necessary paperwork to verify that you have completed the educational and experience requirements for the BCBA® before you will be allowed to sit the exam.
Applying for Licensure with the OPR
Vermont has an online application process which you can find at the Vermont Secretary of State’s website here.
You will have to pay a $115, non-refundable application fee at time of filing.
The process will be a short one if you have already earned your BCBA®; you will only need to provide verification of that certification (via the BACB) as well as your personal contact and other pertinent information.
If you are not a BCBA® holder, you will have to supply your official transcripts from your master’s or doctoral program along with the application. You will also need to have documentation from your supervisor that you have completed the required 1,500 hours of supervised experience or practicum in applied behavior analysis. Finally, you will have to provide proof that you have passed the applied behavior analysis examination.
If you are currently licensed in another state, and that license is in good standing, you may apply for licensure based on endorsement as well—but you will still need a BCBA® or BCaBA® certification as well, so this doesn’t change much in the process.
However, if you have held that license elsewhere for more than three years, you can be eligible for fast-track endorsement. This skips the BCBA® credential check, and comes with provisional licensing for up to 90 days while OPR awaits verification of your license.
License Renewal for Behavior Analysts in Vermont
The license term for AABAs and ABAs in Vermont is for two years. The renewal date for both professions comes on July 31st of every even numbered year. The fee for renewal is $275 and can be done online.
Oddly, Vermont has only a single CE mandate for ABA licensees, and only because they fall into a larger category of mental health professionals: you must complete one or more credits on systematic oppression and anti-oppressive practice. There are also rules for how CE can be delivered, but there is no oversight system to account for CE for ABAs at the moment.
There are no continuing education requirements for license renewals, but of course you’ll need to keep BACB happy with 32 hours (20 for the BCaBA®) every two years to hold your professional certification. You can become a member of the Vermont Association for Behavior Analysis, the state to receive updates on these and other relevant issues. With changes on the way at the federal level for DEI-related education, it’s unclear if the state will maintain even the token requirement currently on the books… VtABA will stay on top of any shift in the rules and keep you informed.