The career path of a behavior analyst in Maine comes with both professional and financial benefits. The BCBA exam is a key milestone with a pass rate of about 70%. Candidates need to complete at least 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork to build their practical experience. Maine proves to be an excellent choice for behavior analysts, especially when you have the state’s expanded autism insurance reform law that covers both diagnosis and treatment services.

Let’s walk through the complete process to become a licensed behavior analyst in Maine. We’ll cover everything you need to know for 2025 and beyond – from education requirements to getting your license, understanding salary potential and exploring career opportunities.

Education Requirements for Maine BCBAs

Getting your behavior analyst license in Maine starts with meeting specific education requirements. Maine follows the standards set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). These standards are the foundations of behavior analyst licensure laws in the United States.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential in Maine requires specific educational qualifications. The Association for Maine Behavior Analysis (AMeBA) manages this certification process in the state.

Master’s Degree Requirement

Your journey begins with a master’s degree or higher in behavior analysis, psychology, or a related field from an accredited institution. This graduate-level education will give you essential knowledge to understand and apply behavior analysis principles.

Required Coursework

A master’s degree alone isn’t enough. You’ll need to complete specific behavior-analytic courses that include:

A minimum of 270 hours of graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis
Verified Course Sequence (VCS) – usually seven courses adding up to 21 credit hours
Courses that cover ethics, assessment, intervention strategies, and other core competencies

The Verified Course Sequence plays a crucial role. It makes sure all BCBA certified therapists have the same basic knowledge and skills. The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verifies these courses to meet the requirements for the BCBA examination.

University Programs in Maine

Maine has several schools that offer programs for future behavior analysts:

The University of Southern Maine (USM) has a master’s program and a post-master’s Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. Their program has a 5th Edition ABAI Verified Course Sequence with over 315 hours of behavior-analytic coursework. Students learn everything in the BACB Fifth Edition Task List and BACB Sixth Edition Test Content Outline.

USM’s Certificate program consists of eight courses (24 graduate credits). Students can choose between fully online classes with live Zoom meetings or a mix of online and on-campus learning. Both options let students work directly with faculty and join real-time learning activities.

Supervised Experience Requirements

Practical experience through supervised fieldwork comes next. Maine lets you choose between two options:

1,500 hours of independent fieldwork
1,000 practicum hours plus 750 intensive practicum hours

A qualified BCBA will guide you through this hands-on training. Students often need to arrange their supervised fieldwork on their own, either during or after their coursework.

Examination Requirement

The BCBA examination comes after you finish your education and supervised fieldwork. This test checks how well you know and can use behavior analysis principles.

USM faculty help students prepare for this exam, but the BACB handles the actual testing process.

Career Preparation

Your education will teach you to:

Do behavioral assessments
Create, use, and review interventions
Fix behaviors that get in the way of success
Train, consult, and supervise others in behavior analysis

These skills prepare you to work as a licensed behavior analyst in schools and behavioral health facilities.

This educational path leads to licensure and a meaningful career where you help people develop new skills and improve their lives. The requirements are challenging but will give you the knowledge and experience to be an effective licensed behavior analyst in Maine.

Getting Your Licensure and Credentials

The path to becoming a licensed behavior analyst in Maine starts after completing your education. Your next significant step involves getting proper certification and licensure. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) has specific requirements you need to follow carefully.

Your graduate degree and coursework completion opens the door to supervised fieldwork. The BACB gives you two options:

Supervised Fieldwork: Requires 2,000 total hours
Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: Requires 1,500 total hours

You’ll need a supervisor who is an active BCBA with at least one year of certification and meets ongoing supervision education requirements. Supervisors certified for less than a year must get monthly consultation from a qualified consulting supervisor.

You have five consecutive years to complete your fieldwork hours. During this time, you can take breaks or switch settings and supervisors as needed. Your supervised experience should include both restricted and unrestricted activities:

Restricted activities: Direct therapeutic and instructional procedures with clients
Unrestricted activities: Tasks that illustrate a behavior analyst’s work who develops programs for others to implement

The next step is passing the BCBA examination based on the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th edition) that took effect in January 2025. Maine offers this exam at Pearson VUE testing centers in Bangor and Westbrook.

The Maine Board of Behavior Analyst Licensure requires you to get a license before practicing. You’ll need to:

Submit proof of your BCBA certification from the BACB
Complete a background check
Provide documentation of your supervised experience

Maine makes it easier for professionals licensed in other states through licensure by endorsement. You’ll need to verify your current license and prove supervised experience. A jurisprudence exam might be required to show you understand Maine’s specific regulations.

Your BCBA certification maintenance requires you to:

Get 32 continuing education units (CEUs) every 2 years
Complete 4 CEUs in ethics
Include 4 CEUs in supervision (if supervising others)
Follow the BACB’s ethics and self-reporting requirements
Submit a recertification application every two years before your due date

The BACB allows certificants to hold only one certification at a time. Getting a higher-level certification means your lower-level one will expire after 180 days.

BCBAs with doctoral training in behavior analysis can receive the Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) designation. This designation doesn’t grant additional privileges beyond BCBA certification. BCBA-Ds work in the same capacity as BCBAs and must meet all BCBA maintenance requirements.

The journey to becoming a licensed behavior analyst in Maine demands meeting these rigorous standards. This process ensures practitioners have the knowledge and skills to provide quality behavior-analytic services. Your license will qualify you to work independently, supervise BCaBAs and RBTs, and implement behavior-analytic practices in different settings throughout Maine.

Salaries for BCBAs in Maine

Money plays a big role in choosing a career as a licensed behavior analyst in Maine. The latest salary data shows what you can earn and what affects your pay in this expanding field.

The average annual salary for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in Maine reaches $86,243 as of August 2025. This comes to $1,658 per week or $7,186 monthly. Indeed’s data from 80 job postings over 36 months shows a slightly lower average of $78,385 yearly.

Salary Ranges and Percentiles

BCBAs in Maine can earn varying amounts. ZipRecruiter shows salaries from $45,989 to $144,262. Most BCBAs earn between $71,600 and $87,600 each year, falling between the 25th and 75th percentiles.

BCBAs with ten years of experience can earn much more. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from 2021 shows experienced BCBAs in Maine earned up to $72,240 yearly. Top earners in the 90th percentile reached these impressive numbers:

Lewiston-Auburn area: $116,270
Portland-South Portland area: $105,690
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area: $101,340

New BCBAs start with lower salaries. First-time analysts in Southwest Maine’s nonmetropolitan area begin at $48,770, while those in Portland-South Portland start at $63,160.

Regional Variations

Your location in Maine can affect your earning potential. Cities tend to pay more than rural areas. Here are the highest-paying cities for BCBAs in Maine:

Auburn: $95,945 yearly ($46.13 hourly)
Lewiston: $94,862 yearly ($45.61 hourly)
Biddeford: $93,266 yearly ($44.84 hourly)
Portland: $91,134 yearly ($43.81 hourly)

Factors Affecting Compensation

Your salary as a licensed behavior analyst in Maine depends on several factors:

Experience: Your professional experience leads to better pay. Some regions show a $30,000 yearly difference between new and experienced positions.

Specialization: Extra training can boost your earnings. Certified Analytics Professionals earn 39% more than the average BCBA.

Work Setting: Different employers offer various pay scales. BCBA Consultants can earn more, with average salaries reaching $149,035.

Certification Level: Extra certifications beyond the basics can increase your earning potential.

Maine ranks 50th nationwide for BCBA salaries. The good news is you can advance through skill development, location changes, and experience.

Other sources show different averages. SupportiveCareABA reports $65,036 and AutismCOE suggests $79,288, showing how salary data can vary.

Maine offers good pay for licensed behavior analysts. Your earnings can grow if you get advanced certifications, build experience, or work in cities. The future looks bright with plenty of room to grow in your career.

Careers in Maine

Maine’s job market offers plenty of opportunities to licensed behavior analysts. The state’s growing acceptance of applied behavior analysis has created a steady need for qualified professionals.

Many employers are looking to hire Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). Maine School Solutions runs three day treatment programs. The Maine Department of Education licenses these as special purpose private schools. These facilities help students with behavioral, social, and emotional needs through personalized therapeutic support and educational services. Heartleaf ABA has centers in Augusta and Bangor that provide early intervention autism therapy.

Licensed behavior analysts in Maine can work in these settings:

Educational institutions – Schools like Lewiston Public Schools, RSU 40/MSAD 40 School District, and Woodfords Family Services keep posting BCBA positions
Healthcare facilities – MaineHealth needs behavior analysts who specialize in autism and developmental disorders
Private practices – Organizations like Discovery ABA and Applied ABC give competitive pay
Community-based services – Agencies like Clarvida support behavior management at homes, schools, and communities

Each setting has different responsibilities. BCBAs conduct functional behavior assessments and develop intervention plans. They train staff and support clients directly. To name just one example, see Pineview Learning Center in Monmouth. Their BCBAs create data-based intervention plans and teach school staff evidence-based strategies. They also work together with families.

LinkedIn shows many BCBA openings throughout Maine. Jobs are available in Union, Biddeford, Augusta, Waterville, Lewiston, Portland, and Bangor. Amergis Healthcare Staffing wants to hire a district-wide School BCBA. The role comes with a competitive salary package, health benefits, and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Maine’s career outlook for licensed behavior analysts looks bright. Job openings will increase by a lot. Cities like Portland and Augusta have more job openings. These locations are perfect for new professionals. The job market can be competitive, especially in urban areas with more schools and healthcare facilities.

Maine’s insurance reimbursement policies help create job stability. State law requires many health insurance plans to pay for applied behavior analysis by BCBAs. Each child with autism can receive up to $36,000 per year. This law will give continued work to qualified professionals.

Employers offer great benefits beyond the base salary. Heartleaf ABA’s package includes health, dental, and vision insurance. They also provide optional life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, lots of PTO, continuing education, and relocation help when applicable. Maine School Solutions gives a complete benefits package with health insurance and a 4% matching retirement plan.

People can advance from Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) or assistant behavior analysts. Maine’s career pathway lets professionals move up with more education and experience. BCBAs nationwide will see a 131% increase from 2023 to 2024. Licensed behavior analysts in Maine can expect their opportunities to keep growing.

Next Steps

A career as a licensed behavior analyst in Maine offers room to grow and competitive pay. This piece outlines the detailed steps you just need to enter this field. You’ll start by earning a master’s degree in behavior analysis or a related discipline. The 270 hours of coursework through a Verified Course Sequence builds your theoretical foundation.

Getting practical experience comes through 1,500 hours of independent fieldwork or other practicum options. These are a great way to get hands-on experience you’ll just need for success. Once you pass the BCBA examination, you can apply for state licensure through the Maine Board of Behavior Analyst Licensure.

The path takes dedication, but the financial rewards make this trip worth it. Average salaries exceeding $86,000 annually and top performers earning upwards of $140,000 – this is a big deal as it means that your investment in education and certification pays off well. Your earning potential varies by location in Maine. Urban centers like Auburn, Lewiston, and Portland offer the highest pay.

The benefits go beyond money. You’ll find opportunities in educational institutions, healthcare facilities, private practices, and community services of all sizes. Maine’s insurance reform laws that mandate coverage for behavior analysis services boost job security and create steady demand for qualified professionals.

Note that your growth doesn’t stop with original certification. Continuing education keeps you current with new practices. Advancement opportunities let you specialize and boost your earning potential over time.

Building a meaningful career as a behavior analyst in Maine lets you help others develop essential skills and improve their quality of life. The path takes commitment, but the mix of personal satisfaction and professional growth makes this career perfect, especially when you have passion for making a difference through evidence-based behavioral interventions.

How to Become a Licensed Behavior Analyst in Maine