APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
§ 5240.81. Staff qualifications for ABA services.
(a) An administrative director of an IBHS agency that provides ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Have a bachelor’s degree in ABA, psychology, social work, counseling, education, public administration, business administration or related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
(2) The qualifications for a clinical director in subsection (b).
(b) A clinical director of an IBHS agency that provides ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a physician practicing psychiatry, psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, certified registered nurse practitioner with a mental health certification, clinical social worker, social worker, behavior specialist or other professional with a scope of practice that includes overseeing the provision of ABA services and have one of the following:
(i) A certification as a BCBA or other graduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.
(ii) A graduate degree or graduate certificate in ABA from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services and a minimum of 1 year of full-time experience in providing ABA services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
(2) As of October 19, 2019, be a licensed psychologist in this Commonwealth and have a minimum of 3 years of full-time experience in providing clinical oversight of an ABA program and a minimum of 40 hours of training related to ABA approved by the Department or provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
(c) By July 1, 2022, a clinical director of an IBHS agency that provides ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a physician practicing psychiatry, psychologist, certified registered nurse practitioner, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, behavior specialist, social worker or other professional with a scope of practice that includes overseeing the provision of ABA services and have a certification as a BCBA or other graduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute and a minimum of 2 years of experience in providing ABA services.
(2) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist and have a minimum of 5 years of full-time experience providing clinical oversight of an ABA program and a minimum of 40 hours of training related to ABA approved by the Department or provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
(3) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist and have a graduate degree or graduate certificate in ABA from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or have an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
(d) Individuals who provide ABA services through behavior analytic services shall be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, social worker, behavior specialist, certified registered nurse practitioner or a professional with a scope of practice that includes overseeing the provision of ABA services and have a certification as a BCBA or other graduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.
(e) Individuals who provide ABA services through behavior consultation—ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker, social worker, behavior specialist, certified registered nurse practitioner or a professional with a scope of practice that includes overseeing the provision of ABA services and have one of the following:
(i) A certification as a BCaBA or other undergraduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.
(ii) A minimum of 1 year of full-time experience providing ABA services and a minimum of 12 credits in ABA from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the equivalent from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
(iii) A minimum of 1 year of full-time experience providing ABA services under the supervision of a professional with a certification as a BCBA or other graduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute and a minimum of 40 hours of training related to ABA approved by the Department or provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
(2) Be licensed in this Commonwealth as a psychologist and have a minimum of 1 year of full-time experience providing ABA services and a minimum of 40 hours of training related to ABA approved by the Department or provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
(f) Individuals who provide ABA services through assistant behavior consultation—ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Have the qualifications for licensure as a behavior specialist under 49 Pa. Code § 18.524 (relating to criteria for licensure as behavior specialist) except the experience required under section 18.524(c).
(2) Have a certification as a BCaBA or other undergraduate-level certification in behavior analysis that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or an equivalent degree from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
(3) Have a minimum of 6 months of experience in providing ABA services and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or related field and a minimum of 12 credits in ABA from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or the equivalent from a foreign college or university that has been evaluated by the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. or the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. The Department will accept a general equivalency report from the listed evaluator agencies to verify a foreign degree or its equivalency.
(g) By July 1, 2020, individuals who provide ABA services through BHT-ABA services shall meet one of the following:
(1) Have a certification as a BCaBA.
(2) Have a certification as an RBT.
(3) Have a certification as a BCAT.
(4) Have a behavior analysis certification from an organization that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies or the American National Standards Institute.
(5) Have a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma and have completed a 40-hour training covering the RBT Task List as evidenced by a certification that includes the name of the responsible trainer, who is certified as a BCBA or BCaBA.
(6) Have a minimum of 2 years of experience in providing ABA services and a minimum of 40 hours of training related to ABA approved by the Department or provided by a continuing education provider approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 1155.31 (relating to general payment policy); 55 Pa. Code § 1155.33 (relating to payment conditions for ABA services); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.82 (relating to supervision of staff who provide ABA services); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.86 (relating to individual treatment plan); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.91 (relating to staff requirements and qualifications for group services); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.93 (relating to training requirements for staff who provide group services); 55 Pa. Code § 5240.97 (relating to group services provision); and 55 Pa. Code § 5240.98 (relating to requirements for group services in school settings).
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