Do you take pleasure in making a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you want a career that is financially stable and rewarding? Do you want a skillset that will be of long-term value? If you answer yes to these questions, consider a career in early intervention ABA therapy as a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). It may be the best professional decision of your life. ABA Therapy is arguably one of the most satisfying career choices you can make in terms of job security, earning potential and job satisfaction.
Let’s Talk About Job Security
Your job is safe. Today’s marketplace is full of change and disruption. Innovations like self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, and humanoid robots are reinventing the future and placing many jobs in jeopardy. Not ABA therapy. The requirements for this profession make it truly one-of-a-kind; professional training, situational interpretations, human interaction, emotional nuances, and on-the-spot behavior management. As an ABA provider, we know great ABA professionals are unique individuals with a skill set that can’t be duplicated or replaced.
You are in demand. There has been a consistent and significant increase in the number of preschool children diagnosed with autism, and they need help coping with life and getting ready for school. As a result, ABA therapy treatment to help these “kiddos” has expanded rapidly, but the number of professionals required has lagged. As a result, BCBAs can count on a positive job market well into the future. Want to switch ABA therapy employers? … no problem. Want to move to another state? … no problem finding a solid job opportunity.
Let’s Talk About Your Financial Return on Investment as a BCBA
The success of any financial investment is dependent on the financial returns it creates. When you think of your education as a financial investment, you want the promise of well-paying job opportunities at graduation and for years to come. You want career and earnings stability to create a bright future so you can enjoy life. A career as a BCBA in ABA therapy offers that.
To earn your BCBA certification, you’ll need to earn an undergraduate degree and then a master’s degree in ABA, Education, or Psychology. In addition to that, you will need to accumulate 1,500-2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork in an ABA center and pass the BCBA certification exam.
Earning your bachelor’s and master’s degree at a state institution can be very costly. According to Education Data Initiative, the average cost of an undergraduate degree through a state institution is $108,584 including room and board. Add a master’s degree in education, and Erudera says the average cost will be another $55,200. That is a total average cost of $163,784.
Lower Your Cost of Education: If you would like to pursue a BCBA career, we recommend you consider a lower-cost ABA Provider Assistance Program. This more cost-effective and popular alternative allows you to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree while being paid as an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician). The best ABA therapy providers offer tuition discounts of up to 20% at well-respected universities like Purdue, The Chicago School, and Capella University. These programs also provide the opportunity to earn your required supervised ABA fieldwork hours while you pursue your BCBA.
Secure a High Starting Salary: BCBAs are in high demand, and as a result you can expect to earn an excellent salary. According to Indeed and Zip recruiter data, the average entry-level BCBA salary in Tennessee is $70,000 per year. That salary will only grow over time as you gain experience. More experienced BCBAs have the opportunity to earn over $100,000 when assuming a leadership role.
Let’s Talk About Making a Positive Difference in People’s Lives
Spend some time in one of our Nashville ABA centers and you can see the significant challenges our preschool children and their parents face every day. Helping them cope and improve their quality of life is a huge motivator for our professionals and they will testify to the progress we make every day and the joy it brings to all. It is extremely gratifying.
As a BCBA, you will have the opportunity to help a young child during the most formative years of their life. Your actions will make a huge difference to how their lives, and their family’s lives, turn out. Will they be successful in school? Will their families be invited to birthday parties? Can they take a family vacation? These are real questions our families face. With ABA therapy, we can bring clarity and comfort to these unknowns.
Understanding the Window of Opportunity – Why Early Intervention?
ABA therapy during the formative years of a child’s life (18 months to four years) can significantly impact a child’s development and future outcomes. EI therapy focuses on a specific development period where the brain’s neuroplasticity is at its peak to create significant improvements in social interaction, communication, cognitive and behavioral skills, and daily living activities.
Early intervention ABA therapy is most often a better alternative to preschool for children on the autism spectrum to prepare for the elementary school transition traditionally occurring at age 6. Our play-based, child-led approach aims to teach from a place of joy. Professionals at Wellspring Learning Centers work on skills and goals that are appropriate for the child’s age, skillset, and culture. Results show that the 18 months to 4 years age range is the best time to make meaningful and lasting improvement. Our BCBAs work closely with parents to ensure our goals are relevant and effective at addressing the barriers faced in the home and the coming challenges inherent in “graduation” to school.
The Guiding Principles of ABA
If you are considering a career as a BCBA, you would be wise to understand the underlying principles of ABA. Evidence-based methods like reinforcement, extinction, prompting, shaping, chaining, and generalization guide how a BCBA works with the child and their team to teach skills and reduce challenging behaviors. These research-backed methods help form the child’s growth and independence through real life situations in the center and extending to the home.
ABA at Wellspring Learning Centers
At Wellspring Learning Centers, we work hard to “Take ABA Therapy to The Next Level” and a big part of that is working to support and salute all ABA professionals. If you are considering a career as a BCBA, we invite you to contact us to learn more. If you are interested in joining our Nashville team as an RBT or a BCBA, we would love to talk to you about employment opportunities as we are always growing and hiring. You’ll be part of a group that is treated with respect, enjoys their job, and has fun making a real difference in children’s lives.