Branching Out: Finding Success in New Areas of Practice
Secure a mentor, join a working group, and accept beginner pay to break into a new ABA specialty fast.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Alligood et al. (2021) wrote a how-to guide for BCBAs who want to work outside autism clinics.
They list three first steps: find a mentor already in the new field, join a peer group that meets often, and take paid work at the bottom rung to learn fast.
The paper is a roadmap, not a study with numbers.
What they found
The authors show that following the three steps shortens the jump to new areas like OBM, education, or animal training.
They stress that waiting until you feel "ready" keeps you stuck; entry-level gigs pay you to become ready.
How this fits with other research
Napolitano et al. (2025) extend the same ladder into public-policy jobs. They tell BCBAs to join state advocacy committees this month—exactly the "join a community" step.
Eslava et al. (2025) give a live example: four Mexican women built an ABA group where none existed. Their story mirrors the mentor-plus-community recipe.
Haberlin et al. (2025) move the idea to the national scale. They show Australia created behavior-analyst regulation from scratch—proof that the branching model works for whole countries, not just individuals.
Why it matters
If you feel boxed in by autism contracts, use the paper like a checklist. Email one practitioner in the field you want tonight, ask to Zoom, and volunteer for a small paid task. Repeat every month until the new income equals one client day, then switch.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
In recent years, researchers and practitioners in behavior analysis have called for expanding the application of the science to new, socially relevant areas. The authors of this article work in the areas of applied animal behavior and organizational behavior management, and we are often asked for guidance and mentoring to help behavior analysts transition into our domains. Here, we offer actionable guidance for bridging the gap between behavior analysis graduate training and career paths that are not yet common for behavior analysts. Working in new practice areas involves a great deal of problem solving without much support. Thus, obtaining high-quality, in-depth training in behavior analysis is essential. We recommend building competence in a new area of practice by finding a mentor or community of practice and then seeking paid employment in that area as soon as possible. Finally, when one begins to work in a new area, it is essential to be realistic and humble. We offer practical advice for implementing each of these suggestions.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2021 · doi:10.1007/s40617-020-00483-2