How to Become a BCBA in Georgia

Georgia became the 41st state to require insurance coverage for autism treatments when Ava’s Law took effect. A career as a BCBA in Georgia offers a field with increasing opportunities that positively affect many lives.

BCBAs in Georgia can earn between $52,000 and $83,000 annually, based on their education level, experience, and location. ABA therapists in Georgia earn approximately $43,000 to $45,000 per year. Metropolitan areas like Atlanta and Savannah typically offer higher salaries. Columbus State University now makes certification more available through Georgia’s first fully online ABAI-verified course sequence.

This guide provides a complete step-by-step breakdown for aspiring behavior analysts. You’ll find detailed information about Georgia’s BCBA licensure requirements, education options, and ABA therapy career paths. Your trip toward becoming a certified behavior analyst in the Peach State starts here!

Education Requirements for Georgia BCBAs

Getting your Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification in Georgia takes careful planning and commitment. You’ll need specific academic credentials, coursework, and supervised experience. These are vital steps in your path to professional certification.

A graduate-level degree is your first step toward BCBA certification in Georgia. You’ll need a master’s degree or higher in behavior analysis, psychology, education, or a related field from an accredited institution. This background will help you understand and apply complex behavioral principles.

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) has set specific coursework requirements beyond your graduate degree. You can meet these requirements in three ways:

1. Complete a master’s or doctoral program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) or the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA).
2. Get your master’s degree or higher and complete an ABAI-Verified Course Sequence (VCS). The ABAI will end its VCS system on December 31, 2025. From 2026, you’ll need to get verification directly from your university.
3. Get your master’s degree or higher and complete at least 315 hours of graduate coursework in behavior analysis. This covers six key areas:
   • Ethics and professionalism (45 hours)
   • Philosophical underpinnings and core concepts (90 hours)
   • Measurement and experimental design (45 hours)
   • Behavior assessment (45 hours)
   • Behavior-change procedures and interventions (60 hours)
   • Personnel supervision and management (60 hours)

Several Georgia universities have programs that meet these requirements. Columbus State University has Georgia’s first fully online ABAI-verified course sequence. Students can complete 30 credit hours online. Georgia State University offers a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis with fall semester admission. The University of Georgia’s master’s program in applied behavior analysis needs a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA.

Georgia Southern University’s M.S. in Psychology with a Behavior Analysis concentration is another option. The program needs a 3.0 GPA and relevant undergraduate coursework. GRE scores are now optional for Fall 2024 admission.

Supervised fieldwork plays a key role in your education. You’ll need at least 1,500 hours of supervised experience in behavior analysis under a qualified BCBA. This hands-on experience turns classroom learning into ground application and prepares you for independent practice.

Good grades matter throughout your studies. The BACB asks for a grade of “C” or better in coursework. Some programs like PCOM’s Applied Behavior Analysis program set higher standards. They want students to get a “B” or better in graded courses.

The BCBA certification exam by the BACB comes after you complete your education and supervised experience. This exam tests your knowledge of behavior analysis principles and applications. It’s your final step before certification.

You can become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) if full BCBA certification isn’t your goal. This role needs a bachelor’s degree and specific coursework. You’ll work under a licensed behavior analyst in Georgia. Many use this as a stepping stone to full BCBA certification later.

The path to becoming a BCBA in Georgia is challenging. All the same, this thorough preparation will give you the knowledge and skills to help people with behavioral challenges across the state.

Getting Your Licensure and Credentials

The next big step after finishing your education is to become a BCBA in Georgia. You’ll need to get both national certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and state licensure from Georgia’s regulatory authorities.

The BACB certification follows a clear path with specific requirements. Your first task is to complete supervised fieldwork—hands-on experience that’s vital to your training. The BACB gives you two options:

• Supervised Independent Fieldwork: You need 2,000 hours with supervision at 5% of your total hours
• Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: You need 1,500 hours with supervision at 10% of your total hours

You must complete your fieldwork within 5 consecutive years. Each supervisory period lasts one month, and you should log between 20 and 150 hours. This experience helps you build skills in restricted activities (direct client work) and unrestricted activities (program development, assessment, and analysis).

The next challenge is passing the BCBA examination. This complete 4-hour test has 185 multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge of behavior analysis principles and applications. Pearson VUE administers the exam at authorized testing sites and gives results right after you finish.

After getting BACB certification, you’ll need Georgia state licensure to practice legally. The state’s licensing process needs:

1. An application through the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board
2. Proof of good moral character
3. Professional activities that follow ethical standards
4. A fingerprint background check through Georgia Crime Information Center and FBI
5. Proof you passed the BACB examination
6. Verification of your master’s degree in applied behavior analysis coursework
7. Active BCBA certification status
8. A secure and verifiable document (driver’s license, passport)
9. An Affidavit of Citizenship

Assistant behavior analysts (BCaBAs) should wait until their supervisor gets their Georgia Behavior Analyst license before applying. The state requires BCaBAs to work under a licensed behavior analyst’s supervision, following BACB guidelines.

Georgia welcomes BCBAs from other states through licensure by reciprocity. This works when the original state has similar requirements and offers the same to Georgia-licensed professionals. You’ll need to show current licensure, certification, ethical compliance, and pass a background check.

The state also offers temporary licenses for certified behavior analysts from other states who briefly work with Georgia residents. These licenses last up to 30 days per calendar year.

The GOALS portal now handles all applications because paper forms are no longer accepted. You can find current licensure requirements and board meeting schedules on the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board’s website.

Getting your Georgia license puts you among behavior analysts who make a real difference across the state. Regular education and following ethical guidelines help you keep your credentials current and provide excellent behavior analytic services to Georgia residents.

Salaries for BCBAs in Georgia

Your career planning as a BCBA in Georgia depends on everything about the financial landscape. Setting realistic expectations for your professional experience starts with learning about potential earnings after completing your education and getting proper licensure.

BCBAs in Georgia earn an average annual salary of $75,214 as of August 2025. This breaks down to $36.16 per hour, $1,446 weekly, or $6,267 monthly. These numbers serve as a baseline, though actual earnings can vary by a lot based on several factors.

Your earning potential as a BCBA in Georgia depends heavily on your experience level. New professionals just need to know that entry-level positions pay between $65,000 and $75,000 annually. Your salary grows with experience:

• 1-3 years experience: $65,000-$75,000
• 3-5 years experience: $75,000-$85,000
• 5+ years experience: $85,000+

Your location in Georgia plays a big role in your salary. Rome leads the pack with an average salary of $89,116, while Sandy Springs follows at $88,434 and Hampton at $87,202. Here are other cities with competitive salaries:

Your workplace location can mean a difference of more than $4,000 in annual earnings.

ZipRecruiter shows Georgia’s salary ranges from $40,108 to $125,814. Most BCBAs earn between $62,500 (25th percentile) and $76,400 (75th percentile), while top performers (90th percentile) make around $111,880 annually.

Experienced professionals in major metro areas earn even more. The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area offers median salaries of $106,770, with the 75th percentile reaching $116,480 and top earners making $125,930.

Other Georgia regions show similar trends. Experienced BCBAs in Augusta-Richmond County earn median salaries of $101,340, with top performers reaching $116,710. Columbus professionals see median salaries of $92,550, with highest earners making up to $116,700.

Your earnings as a BCBA in Georgia depend on:

• Workplace setting (private practice usually pays more than schools)
• Specialization (expertise in areas like autism spectrum disorder)
• Years of professional experience
• Additional certifications and continuing education
• Regional cost of living and demand

Georgia’s BCBA salaries rank in the middle range nationally. Some surveys show Georgia’s averages below the national median at $53,007. Other reports indicate ranges between $65,000 and $95,000, showing how salary reporting can vary.

Certified Analytics Professionals in Georgia earn about 39% more than BCBAs, with salaries $29,362 higher on average.

These salary figures should help guide your career planning as you work toward your BCBA certification in Georgia. The financial future looks bright, especially as you build experience and position yourself in higher-paying regions and specializations across the state.

Careers in Georgia

The job market for Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Georgia is growing faster than ever, with a projected growth of 42% over the last several years. This growth shows how many qualified behavior analysts the state needs, creating plenty of opportunities for people completing their BCBA certification in Georgia.

Georgia offers many places where behavior analysts can work. ABA Centers of Georgia actively looks for BCBAs and offers great benefits like gas money, tuition payback, CEU support, and certification costs. Companies like Butterfly Effects let professionals grow through CE presentations from leaders in the field.

BCBAs in Georgia typically handle these responsibilities:

• Design and implement detailed behavioral assessment and treatment programs
• Conduct functional behavior assessments (FBAs)
• Supervise RBTs and BCBA candidates
• Coordinate case management activities
• Train parents and caregivers to run treatment programs
• Provide consulting services to schools and communities

Georgia BCBAs enjoy flexible work options, and many jobs offer remote or hybrid arrangements. To cite an instance, some employers advertise positions that let you work “up to 50% telehealth”, which appeals to professionals who want better work-life balance. Behavioral Health Field (BH Field) has remote positions across Georgia that pay between $80.00 and $90.00 per hour.

BCBAs work in many settings beyond regular clinics. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Marcus Autism Center hires BCBAs who focus on skill building and create treatments for behavior improvement and skill development. Schools throughout Georgia also need qualified behavior analysts to help students with behavioral challenges.

BCBAs in Georgia often pick specific areas to focus on. About 75% work with autism spectrum disorder patients. The other 25% choose different paths in education, mental health, and organizational behavior management.

People who haven’t gotten their certification yet can still start in the field. Butterfly Effects runs Student Analyst Programs for candidates who plan to take their BCBA exam within six months, helping them get fieldwork hours while earning money. Many organizations also help RBTs move up to become certified.

Experienced professionals can move into leadership roles. Clinical directors at autism centers can earn around $100,000 yearly, showing how much their expertise in running programs and leading teams matters.

Georgia’s laws support ABA services and make the career outlook even better. State insurance rules help more families get ABA therapy, which means more qualified providers are needed. These regulations and growing awareness about behavioral health show that BCBA careers in Georgia will keep growing strong.

Jobs are available all over the state, especially in big cities like Atlanta. Your Georgia BCBA licensure opens the door to a rewarding career where you help people develop important skills and live better lives.

Next Steps

A career as a BCBA in Georgia provides both professional growth and a chance to make a real difference. This piece outlines what you’ll need to become qualified, from education requirements to getting your license and finding job opportunities.

Your path starts with getting a master’s degree in behavior analysis or a related field. You’ll then complete the required coursework and supervised fieldwork hours. The final steps include passing the BCBA examination and getting your Georgia state license to practice as a behavior analyst in the Peach State.

Working as a Georgia BCBA comes with excellent financial benefits. Salaries typically range between $65,000 and $85,000 annually, and experienced professionals in Atlanta can earn over $100,000. Your location in Georgia plays a big role in your earnings, with Rome and Sandy Springs offering the best pay.

Job prospects look excellent across the state. A projected 42% growth rate shows plenty of opportunities in private clinics, healthcare facilities, and schools. Most positions come with great perks like flexible schedules, support for professional growth, and chances to advance.

BCBA certification lets you help people develop vital skills that improve their lives. Georgia’s support for ABA services through Ava’s Law has created great conditions for behavior analysts. Starting this career means joining a profession that offers both personal satisfaction and job security.

The requirements might seem tough, but helping people with behavioral challenges makes it worth the effort. Georgia welcomes dedicated behavior analysts who want to make a difference, whether they’re new to the field or advancing their careers.