Licensing Resources
ABAI Licensing Committee
This committee serves as a resource on licensure of behavior analysts by state agencies. Topics on which the committee may provide assistance include developing and/or reviewing legislation, lobbying strategies and tactics, developing alliances with other groups, developing and/or reviewing regulations to implement licensure, legislative monitoring, maintenance and defense of licensure, and addressing sunset review of licensure statutes and agencies.
Committee members have a wealth of real-world experience dealing with issues in addressing behavior analyst credentialing, especially licensure, in multiple states and nations. Their experiences include drafting legislation; working with legislators, agencies, and advocacy groups regarding credentialing and licensure; testifying in legislative hearings; developing regulations for implementing licensure; and serving on boards overseeing behavior analyst licensure.
Assistance from the Licensing Committee is provided without charge to chapters; contact the chair, Dr. Gordon Bourland, at gbourland2@sbcglobal.net. The Licensing Committee operates under the Affiliated Chapters Board.
Licensing Committee Resources
The Licensing Committee compiles information related to credentialing of behavior analysts, primarily licensure, for the benefit of ABAI affiliated chapters. Some items are prepared by the committee, and others are collected from various sources. Suggestions of other resources to be added here are welcome.
State Behavior Analyst Licensure Statutes and Regulations
NOTE: Opinions expressed in the articles listed below are not necessarily those of the Licensing Committee or of ABAI.
Joseph Cautilli and Halina Dziewolska, "Editorial on Behavior Analytic Licensure: General Historical Issues of Why People Oppose Licensing and the Common Replies"
Michael F. Dorsey, Gordon Bourland, Grant Gautreaux, and John W. Scibak, "Licensed Behavior Analyst"
Michael F. Dorsey, Michael Weinberg, Thomas Zane, and Megan M. Guidi, "The Case for Licensure of Applied Behavior Analysts"
Neil Deochand and R. Wayne Fuqua, "BACB Certification Trends: State of the States (1999 to 2014)"
Brighid H. Fronapfel, Erick M. Dubuque, Kerri Milyko, Christine M. Fuller, and Gina Green, "Some Actions for Behavior Analyst Licensing Bodies to Consider in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic"
John M. Guercio and William J. Murray, "Licensure for Behavior Analysts: The Path to Responsible and Cooperative Action"
Gina Green and James M. Johnston, "Licensing Behavior Analysts: Risks and Alternatives"
Gina Green and James M. Johnston, "A Primer on Professional Credentialing: Introduction to Invited Commentaries on Licensing Behavior Analysts"
Derrick L. Hassert, Amanda N. Kelly, Joshua K. Pritchard, and Joseph D. Cautilli, "The Licensing of Behavior Analysts: Protecting the Profession and the Public"
James M. Johnston, James E. Carr, and Fae H. Mellichamp, "A History of the Professional Credentialing of Applied Behavior Analysts"
Mark A. Mattaini, "Editorial: Licensing Behavior Analysts"
J. Moore and G. L. Shook, "Certification, Accreditation, and Quality Control in Behavior Analysis"
ABAI Licensing Committee 2022 Presentation
Bobby Newman, Chanie Rubin, Aliza Yadlovker, and Aline Kovacs, "Riddle Me This: When is Your Medically Necessary Behavior Goal NOT Your Behavior Goal (Negotiating Insurance Company Requirements for Creating Treatment Plans)"
Gordon Bourland and Noor Syed, “Who Is Certifying Whom?”
John W. Scibak, “Opposition to Licensure of Behavior Analysts: Who Objects and Why?”
Sherry L. Serdikoff, John M. Guercio, and Gordon Bourland, “What Is a Profession and Is Behavior Analysis One?”
ABAI Licensing Committee 2021 Presentation
Gordon Bourland and John Scibak, "Licensure Laws and Regulations Are In Place: Now We Can Relax, Right?"
John Guercio, "We Have a Behavior Analyst Licensure Law—Can’t We Relax Now?"
John Scibak, "How To Be an Effective Advocate"
Grant Gautreaux, "Watching the Sunset!"
Riddle Me This: When is Your Medically Necessary Behavior Goal NOT Your Behavior Goal (Negotiating Insurance Company Requirements for Creating Treatment Plans)