How to Become a Behavior Analyst in 5 Easy Steps

If you are exploring careers in psychology, education, or the behavioral sciences, the options can feel overwhelming. Understanding board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) certification steps is essential to navigate this career path effectively. Ultimately, you know you want to work with people and have a career that makes a difference.

A strong option is to become a board certified behavior analyst. In this role, you will use data to understand why behaviors happen and design strategies that help people build skills and independence. The demand is especially strong in school systems and among individuals with autism, where consistent, evidence-based support can change daily life.

Wondering how to get an ABA certification? In the sections ahead, we explore how with the right degree, training, and certification, you can move from interest to impact.

ABA Degree Overview

What Is a Behavior Analyst?

A behavior analyst is a professional who studies behavior not as a random action, but as a form of information. They consider each choice and reaction as a clue to understanding why behaviors occur and to design corresponding strategies.

Their work often centers on supporting individuals with developmental, behavioral, or learning differences (especially those with autism), but the scope is much broader. You will find analysts in schools, clinics, hospitals, and community programs—wherever data-based insight and human connection can improve quality of life.

What makes the role distinct is its balance. On one side is science:

• Conducting assessments to identify patterns
• Developing and implementing treatment plans with measurable outcomes

On the other side is compassion:

• Collaborating with educators, families, and healthcare professionals for consistent care
• Advocating for ethical, socially valid practices that respect the client’s dignity and cultural context

If you have wondered what you can do with a behavioral science degree, becoming an ABA professional is one of the most direct and rewarding options. It combines psychology, education, and clinical science into a career that creates tangible, positive change.

Why Become an Applied Behavior Analyst?

When choosing a career, applied behavior analysis may stand out because it offers a rare blend of benefits: the chance to work directly with people, to see progress unfold before you, and to support that work with decades of research.

The demand is also undeniable. As classrooms grow more diverse, school districts across the country are expanding behavioral support services, and the need for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) has increased by over 131 times since 2010.¹

For students considering their next step, this means entering a profession that offers ample room for growth.

• Some behavior analysts focus on direct client work.
• Others move into supervision, training, or program design.
• With experience, many may step into leadership roles that affect how schools, clinics, or community agencies approach behavioral health.

To succeed as an applied behavior analyst, you will likely need:

• Empathy and patience: Progress is steady rather than sudden, and behavior analysts need the ability to encourage small steps forward.
• Analytical and problem-solving mindset: Each behavior is a puzzle, and analysts must track data, spot patterns, and design strategies that work.
• Collaboration and adaptability: Working across schools, clinics, and homes requires flexibility and strong teamwork.
• Strong sense of ethics and client advocacy: Above all, professionals in the field are guided by the principles of professional competence, integrity, treating others with compassion, dignity, and respect, and beneficence.²

If you are comparing occupational therapy vs applied behavior analysis, know that while both fields focus on improving quality of life, ABA emphasizes understanding and modifying behavior through data and analysis, whereas occupational therapy focuses more on physical, sensory, and motor skill development. Both fields can complement each other in educational or therapeutic settings.

5 Steps to Becoming a Certified Behavior Analyst

If you have a curiosity about behavior and a desire to help people, consider taking the following steps to become an certified behavior analyst:

Step 1: Earn a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree

Typically, students begin with an undergraduate degree in:

• Psychology
• Education
• Social work
• Child development
• Allied health
• Another related field

Many successful behavior analysts transition directly from undergrad into graduate programs. Because behavior analysis is interdisciplinary, students with diverse bachelor’s backgrounds often bring complementary strengths (empathy, pedagogical insight, clinical foundations) that enrich their future practice.³

Step 2: Enroll in a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis Program

At Alliant, the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis is built specifically for aspiring behavior analysts.

• You will study a modern curriculum layered with ethics, trauma-informed practice, and socially valid interventions.
• Courses emphasize school-system readiness, so you graduate able to step into the very settings where need is growing.
• You will engage in hands-on training from the outset, applying evidence-based methods under the guidance of faculty who stay current in the field.

Step 3: Gain Supervised Experience

Theory is necessary, but practice is just as essential. According to the 2027 BCBA® requirements from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB):

• For Supervised Fieldwork, 2,000 total hours are required.
• For Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, the required hours are 1,500.⁴

Step 4: Pass the Board Certification Exam

Becoming a BCBA is a critical milestone. Your success here depends heavily on preparation, mentorship, and the alignment of coursework with certification requirements: elements built into our program at Alliant.

Step 5: Begin Your Career as a Certified Behavior Analyst

Once certified, you can step into impactful roles in settings such as:

• Schools: You may support autistic students, conduct functional assessments, and design behavior plans that integrate with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Clinics and autism centers: You may deliver structured therapy across age ranges.
• Healthcare and rehabilitation: Here, you can get opportunities to integrate behavioral strategies into medical or recovery plans.
• Private practice: You can consult or design programs tailored to clients or entire organizations.

Build the Future of Behavior Analysis With Alliant

Successful behavior analysts balance both head and heart.

• The head brings structure: data collection, analysis, and evidence-based strategies.
• The heart ensures that every plan is rooted in empathy and dignity.

Applied behavior analysis is one of the few fields that requires this dual lens, and it is what makes the work both intellectually rigorous and profoundly human.

At Alliant International University, our Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis develops both sides of that skill set.

• You will study a curriculum informed by ethics, trauma-aware practice, and community needs.
• Faculty mentorship will guide you in the science of behavior and the responsibility of using it well

Explore the MS in Applied Behavior Analysis at Alliant today and take the next step toward becoming a BCBA and advancing your career in the behavioral sciences.

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Sources:

1. BCBA. "US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010–2024." Behavior Analyst Certification Board. March 17, 2025.
   https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/us_employmentdemand_ba/. Accessed October 7, 2025.
2. Zahava Friedman, Daphna El Roy, Emily Kerwin, Gina Tirri, and Angela Broff. “Improved Soft-Skill competencies of ABA professionals following training and coaching: A Feasibility study.” Behavior and Social Issues. January 3, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-024-00156-7. Accessed October 7, 2025.
3. Diana E. Parry-Cruwys, Jacquelyn M. MacDonald, Jessica D. Slaton, Allen Karsina, and Cormac MacManus. “Strategies for Incorporating Compassionate Care in a Behavior Analysis Graduate Program.” Behavior Analysis in Practice. April 10, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00934-0. Accessed October 7, 2025.
4. BCBA. "2027 BCBA Requirements". Behavior Analyst Certification Board. April 04, 2025. https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2027-BCBA-Requirements_…. Accessed October 7, 2025.