Toward the certification of behavior therapists?

Sadowsky (1973) wrote a position paper. It asked: should we start a brand-new board to certify behavior therapists?

The author said no. Instead, work inside the licensing boards that already exist. Add clear skill tests there.

The paper found that a new certificate would split the field. It could make turf wars and extra costs.

Staying inside current boards keeps things simple. It also lets behavior analysts shape rules that already matter.

Lerman (2023) picks up the same thread 50 years later. That paper says the field now needs an ethical line on shock, not a new license. Both agree: use the power you have, don’t build a new tower.

Kelly et al. (2025) also echo the 1973 view. They remind us to honor the 1988 client-rights list. The message is steady: fix practice from inside, not from a new badge.

Stalford et al. (2024) stretch the debate across the ocean. In the UK and Ireland, autism services still lack shared standards. They argue for behavior-analytic grounding inside current PBS jobs—exactly the 1973 playbook in a new place.

You don’t need to wait for a new board to raise quality. Ask your state licensing group to add ABA task lists to their exams. Push for clear skill checks—like accurate measurement or parent training—inside the rules that already control who can practice. That move keeps the field united and keeps you in the room where rules are written.