The case for licensure of applied behavior analysts.
State licensure gives BCBAs legal backing that certification alone cannot provide.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Tyrer et al. (2009) wrote a position paper. They asked states to license BCBAs, not just certify them.
The authors said certification alone does not protect families. A state license would add legal teeth.
What they found
The paper found no new data. Instead it argued licensure would stop untrained people from selling ABA.
Licensure would also let the state discipline bad actors and help insurance pay for real treatment.
How this fits with other research
Yingling et al. (2025) later showed the problem F et al. predicted: 24 % of U.S. counties have zero qualified ABA staff. Their survey data extends the 2009 call by mapping where consumers lack protection.
Guinness et al. (2022) gave lawmakers numbers to use. Their pass-rate study shows distance programs graduate more BCBAs but at lower rates. This evidence helps states set licensure rules that still allow fast training.
Sellers et al. (2025) traced how BACB ethics codes kept growing after 2009. Their historical review is the successor piece: once states started licensing, the ethics system had to expand to match.
Why it matters
If you work in a state that still lacks BCBA licensure, show this paper to your representative. Use the county-gap data from Yingling et al. to prove need. Push for a bill that adds state oversight while keeping flexible training paths shown by Guinness et al.
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Join Free →Print the F et al. paper and your state’s current license bill; highlight the consumer-protection section for your next meeting with stakeholders.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
The evolution of the field of applied behavior analysis to a practice-oriented profession has created the need to ensure that the consumers of these services are adequately protected. We review the limitations of the current board certification process and present a rationale for the establishment of licensing standards for applied behavior analysts on a state-by-state basis. Recommendations for securing the passage of a licensure bill also are discussed.
Behavior analysis in practice, 2009 · doi:10.1007/BF03391738