ABA Therapist Certification Journey in Maryland

ABA Therapist Certification in Maryland

So, you’re thinking about becoming an ABA therapist in Maryland? Well, buckle up because there are a few hoops to jump through. But don’t worry, we’ve got the lowdown on what you need to do to get certified and licensed.

Licensing Requirements

First things first, to work as an ABA therapist in Maryland, you need to get certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and licensed by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Here’s the scoop:

• Education: You gotta have a master’s degree or higher in behavior analysis, psychology, or something similar. 
• Clinical Experience: You need to clock in a bunch of hours working under a certified behavior analyst. It’s like an internship, but with more paperwork. 
• Examination: You gotta pass the BACB certification exam. It’s like the final boss in a video game, but with more questions.

Since January 2015, if you’re doing behavior analysis in Maryland, you need that license. For the nitty-gritty details, check out our page on ABA therapist requirements in Maryland.

Certification Process

Getting certified as an ABA therapist in Maryland is a bit of a process. Here’s how it goes down:

1. Complete Required Education and Experience: Get your degree and finish your supervised fieldwork. 
2. Apply for BACB Certification: Send in your application to the BACB with proof of your education and experience. 
3. Pass the BACB Exam: Nail that exam to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). 
4. Apply for Maryland Licensure: Apply to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists with your BACB certification and other paperwork. 
5. Maintain Certification and Licensure: Keep up with continuing education (CE) and renew your license when needed.

ABA therapists also need to keep up with continuing education to keep their license. If you don’t finish your CE hours by the time your license expires, you’re out of luck, and working with an expired license is a no-go.

By getting a handle on the licensing requirements and certification process, future ABA therapists in Maryland can tackle their path with confidence and a clear head.

Continuing Education for ABA Therapists

Keeping up with the latest in ABA therapy is like keeping your phone updated—it’s essential for staying sharp and certified. This section spills the beans on what Maryland ABA therapists need to know about continuing education units (CEUs) and where to find approved programs.

CEU Requirements

In Maryland, ABA therapists have to follow the rules set by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. These rules make sure therapists are on top of their game and know their stuff.

The Board says ABA therapists need to rack up a certain number of CEUs within a set time. These CEUs come in two flavors: Category A and Category B.

Approved Programs

The Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists has a checklist for approving sponsors and programs for Category A CEUs. They look at how relevant the topic is, what you’ll learn, the content and teaching style, and who’s running the show.

Some organizations get a free pass as sponsors for Category A programs, like:

• American Counseling Association 
• Accredited colleges and universities

The Board might also give a thumbs-up to activities for Category A CEUs, such as:

• Attending organized programs 
• Creating and presenting programs 
• Writing, editing, or reviewing publications

For Category B CEUs, the Board might approve activities like:

• Joining informal courses 
• In-house talks 
• Case conferences 
• Peer supervision groups

These activities should be all about training, teaching, or personal learning. Programs that don’t fit Category A might still squeeze into Category B if they hit the Board’s targets.

Continuing education is the secret sauce for ABA therapists to keep their certification and deliver top-notch care to folks with autism and similar conditions. By staying in the loop with the latest in the field, ABA therapists can keep making a difference in the lives they touch. For more on ABA therapy in Maryland, swing by our article on ABA therapy in Maryland.

ABA Therapist Statistics in Maryland

If you’re thinking about jumping into the world of ABA therapy in Maryland, it’s good to know what’s happening with jobs and demand. Let’s break down the numbers and trends.

Employment Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says jobs for healthcare folks, including ABA therapists, are set to grow by 7% from 2019 to 2029. Maryland’s got more gigs in this area than most other places. This boom is thanks to more people realizing how ABA therapy helps those with autism and other developmental challenges.

Demand for ABA Therapy

The CDC says 1 in 54 kids in the U.S. has autism, which means more folks need ABA therapy in Maryland and beyond. With autism on the rise, there’s a big need for skilled ABA therapists to step up.

Research shows that getting ABA therapy early can really help with social skills, talking, and behavior for those with autism and other developmental issues. So, Maryland’s gonna need more certified ABA therapists soon.

Thinking about a career in ABA therapy? Knowing what you might earn is a good start. Visit our page on ABA therapist salary Maryland for the scoop.

With more folks needing ABA therapy, getting the right certification and keeping up with the latest news is key.

ABA Therapist Certification Options

In Maryland, folks looking to become certified ABA therapists have two main paths: Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA). Both certifications come from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and are necessary for practicing ABA therapy in the state.

BCBA Certification

The BCBA certification is for those who’ve completed graduate-level studies in behavior analysis. To snag this certification, candidates need to tick off a few boxes:

• Education: A master’s degree or higher from a BACB-approved behavior analysis program. 
• Coursework: Finish a BACB-verified course sequence. 
• Supervised Experience: Complete a set number of hours in supervised fieldwork. 
• Examination: Pass the BCBA exam, a hefty 150-question, multiple-choice test that checks your grasp of ABA principles.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) offers a Master of Arts degree in Human Services Psychology with a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis, including a BACB Verified Course Sequence to gear up students for the BCBA exam..

BCaBA Certification

The BCaBA certification is for those with an undergraduate education in behavior analysis. Here’s what you need for BCaBA certification:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school. 
• Coursework: Complete a BACB-verified course sequence. 
• Supervised Experience: Log a set number of hours in supervised fieldwork. 
• Examination: Pass the BCaBA exam, which tests your knowledge and application of ABA principles.

Both BCBA and BCaBA certifications offer the same practice privileges in Maryland.

If you’re thinking about diving into ABA therapy, getting a handle on the certification options and requirements is key. Whether you’re aiming for BCBA or BCaBA certification, meeting the educational and experiential prerequisites is crucial for success in the field.

Renewal and Reinstatement of ABA Therapist Licenses

Renewal Process

In Maryland, Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBAs) need to renew their certification every two years. To keep their license active, they must stay in good standing with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), hold onto their BCBA or BCBA-D certification, and pay a $301 renewal fee. Plus, they gotta clock in 40 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. If they miss out on these CE hours by the time their license expires, they’re out of luck—practicing with an expired license is a no-go. They need to finish up those CE hours before the board will give them the green light to renew.

Inactive Status

If Maryland licensees or certificate holders aren’t practicing at the moment, they can ask for “inactive status.” But during this time, they can’t work as an ABA therapist. To get back in the game, they need to show they’ve completed the required CE hours and pay the reactivation fees.

Contact Information for ABA Therapist Certification

License Issuer Contact

If you’re looking to become an ABA therapist in Maryland, your go-to source is the Maryland Department of Health – Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. They’re the folks who know all about licensing, certification, and can answer any questions you might have.

• Email: janice.isaac@maryland.gov 
• Phone: (410) 764-4740

Need more details on how to get certified? Check out the Maryland OneStop portal.

Additional Inquiries

Got more questions about ABA therapist certification, like continuing education or renewal? Here are some handy resources:

• Maryland Department of Health – Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists: This board is your guide for all things related to ABA therapist certification and licensing in Maryland. They offer info on continuing education, renewal, and reinstatement of licenses. Dive into their official website for more. 
• Continuing Education Programs: The Board gives the thumbs-up to various activities for CEUs, like informal courses, in-house colloquia, case conferences, and peer supervision groups. 
• BACB Exam Information: The BACB exam is a must for ABA therapy certification in Maryland. It’s a big test with 150 multiple-choice questions, available at test centers nationwide, including four spots in Maryland.

SOURCES:

https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/pages/contedrenewal.aspx

https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisedu.org/maryland/

https://onestop.md.gov/licenses/licensed-behavior-analyst-5d1540a654f24d03e9997e95

https://health.maryland.gov/bopc/pages/conteducationchapt5.aspx

https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/bacb.html