How to Become a BCBA in Wisconsin: Certification Guide

BCBA master’s programs in Wisconsin can lead to an average salary of $107,381 per year as of April 2025. Experienced BCBAs in the state earn well over $140,000 annually.

The numbers look promising with strong job growth projections. Madison’s BCBA positions will likely increase by approximately 15% over the next decade. The mental health counseling field, which has Behavior Analysts, will grow by 18% between 2022 and 2032. This growth rate surpasses psychologists’ overall growth rate of 6% by a lot.

This page will guide you through BCBA master’s programs, certification requirements, and licensure in Wisconsin. You’ll find both traditional and online BCBA master’s programs that fit your schedule. We’ve also included detailed information about salaries, career prospects, and steps to become a certified professional in this rewarding field. This guide works great whether you’re starting fresh or advancing your career.

Education Requirements for Wisconsin BCBAs

Your path to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Wisconsin starts with the right education. You need a graduate degree from an accredited university in behavior analysis, education, or psychology. This education forms the life-blood of your BCBA career.

Wisconsin uses the national certification standards from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). You’ll need three key things to become a BCBA in Wisconsin: a qualifying graduate degree, supervised practical experience, and a passing score on the BCBA examination.

Look for a graduate program verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) or accredited by the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA). The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Graduate Certificate program. ABAI has verified it as a Verified Course Sequence (VCS), which will give a solid foundation for BCBA certification.

The program offers eight required courses in a cohort model. It focuses on cultural humility and social justice in service delivery. Students can get the certificate on its own or combine it smoothly with a broader graduate degree.

The BCBA certification curriculum needs these graduate-level courses:

• BACB Ethics Code and Professionalism: 45 hours
• Philosophical Underpinnings and Behavior Analysis Concepts: 90 hours
• Measurement, Data Display, Interpretation, and Experimental Design: 45 hours
• Behavior Assessment: 45 hours
• Behavior-Change Procedures and Intervention Implementation: 60 hours
• Personnel Supervision and Management: 60 hours

The University of Wisconsin–Whitewater offers a 21-credit online Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. This program works great if you have finished undergraduate studies, especially in education-related fields.

Some universities offer full master’s programs in Applied Behavior Analysis if you want more than a certificate. To name just one example, National University asks for 45 quarter units of graduate work in their Master’s program in ABA. The University of Dayton runs a 33-credit online Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis program. This program helps people who want to work with individuals affected by autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, or other behavioral health challenges.

Your coursework alone won’t make you a certified behavior analyst. After finishing your academic requirements, you must complete supervised fieldwork hours and pass the BCBA examination. The fieldwork needs a minimum of 1,500 hours of supervised experience in behavior analysis with a qualified BCBA.

Many behavior analyst master’s programs accept students with a bachelor’s degree in any major. Some programs need an undergraduate background in education, counseling, psychology, special education, or social work. You might need undergraduate courses in research methods, general psychology, applied behavior analysis, conditioning and learning, or developmental psychology.

The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services manages behavior analyst licenses in the state. Getting your BCBA credential through the BACB comes first. This national certification leads to state licensure.

A significant update comes in January 2026. ABAI will stop using the VCS system. BCBA certification candidates must prove their qualifications through a course-by-course review with the BACB. Keep detailed records of your coursework for future verification.

Your education will help you become skilled at behavioral assessment, intervention techniques, and ethical guidelines. These skills are vital for working with individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, and various behavioral challenges. These detailed programs prepare you to conduct behavioral assessments, design intervention strategies, and create behavior change programs after graduation.

Getting Your Licensure and Credentials

Getting your behavior analyst license in Wisconsin starts after you finish your graduate coursework. You need proper certification and state licensure to practice. National and state regulatory bodies have set specific requirements you must follow.

The first step is to get your BCBA certification before you can apply for Wisconsin state licensure. The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) will give you this certification once you meet all educational and supervised experience requirements.

The BCBA certification exam needs 1,500-2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork in behavior analysis. Your required hours will depend on your supervision type:

• 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, or
• 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork (which counts at a 1.33x value)

Your supervised experience must follow these guidelines:

• Monthly hours should be between 20-130
• At least 60% of your hours should be unrestricted activities (developing BCBA competencies)
• Restricted activities (direct therapeutic procedures) can’t exceed 40%
• You need supervision each month you log hours
• Complete all fieldwork within five consecutive years

Unrestricted activities cover program development, data analysis, and report writing. Restricted activities focus on direct client interaction. Your supervisor should be a current BCBA without disciplinary sanctions who has completed an 8-hour supervision course.

The next step is passing the BCBA examination after completing your supervised fieldwork. This detailed test covers behaviorism foundations, measurement, data interpretation, ethical issues, assessment procedures, and behavior-change procedures.

Wisconsin state licensure through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) comes after getting your BCBA certification. The DSPS now requires all applications through their online LicensE system since May 2022. The application costs $59.00.

Your Wisconsin licensure application should have:

• Proof of BCBA certification (DSPS checks this with BACB)
• Convictions and pending charges form (if needed) – $8.00 fee
• Malpractice suits or claims form (if needed)
• Name verification documents (for different names across documents)
• Verification from other states (for existing licenses elsewhere)

Fee reduction forms (#3217) are available. Military members and their spouses can get license extensions if their license expires during active duty. They have 180 days after discharge to renew without penalties.

You’ll need to renew your Wisconsin behavior analyst license by December 15 of even-numbered years. Both your state license and BCBA certification need 32 hours of continuing education every two years. This should include at least 4 hours of ethics training.

Moving from another state? The process is simple. Wisconsin doesn’t require extra state exams or fees beyond BACB certification. Just show proof of your current BCBA certification in good standing to the DSPS.

Most people take 18 months to 3 years to complete everything – from finishing their master’s program to getting state licensure. Planning ahead will help you move smoothly from academic training to professional practice in Wisconsin.

Salaries for BCBAs in Wisconsin

BCBAs in Wisconsin receive competitive pay packages that match their specialized expertise and educational investment. A BCBA master’s program helps you land high-paying jobs across the state. Your salary will depend on where you work, your experience, and the type of workplace.

Wisconsin stands out as one of the highest-paying states for behavior analysts in the country. BCBAs in Wisconsin earn an average annual salary of $96,396, which comes to $8,033 monthly and $46.34 per hour. This is way above the national average of $75,784, making Wisconsin a great place for behavior analysis professionals.

Your experience level plays a vital role in how much you can earn. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that experienced BCBAs in Wisconsin can make up to $105,730 yearly. The salary range for BCBAs with ten years of experience varies quite a bit by city:

• Madison
  • Median: $95,200
  • 75th percentile: $101,930
  • 90th percentile: $113,630
• Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis
  • Median: $105,730
  • 75th percentile: $118,540
  • 90th percentile: $124,950

Starting salaries are pretty good too. New BCBAs in Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis can earn between $48,170 (10th percentile) and $59,560 (25th percentile). This shows why getting your BCBA certification through an accredited master’s program is worth it, whether you choose online or traditional learning.

Different sources report slightly different numbers. ZipRecruiter shows a lower average of $89,908 per year ($43.23 hourly). Indeed lists $80,423 based on 355 salaries over 36 months. Despite these differences, Wisconsin clearly pays behavior analysts better than most states.

Where you work in Wisconsin affects your pay. ZipRecruiter data reveals Wausau leads with $95,474 annually, while Kaukauna follows at $90,385 and Madison at $89,755. Other cities’ averages include:

• Sheboygan: $88,770
• Eau Claire: $88,234
• Fond du Lac: $87,789
• Milwaukee: $87,530

Indeed’s numbers tell a different story, with Milwaukee at the top paying $92,032, and Madison following at $86,708. These differences show why you should research jobs in your preferred location carefully.

BCBAs in Wisconsin can earn anywhere from $47,944 to $150,393 according to ZipRecruiter. Most salaries fall between $74,700 (25th percentile) and $91,300 (75th percentile). Top performers (90th percentile) make $133,739 yearly.

Your education directly impacts your earning potential. Online BCBA master’s graduates earn just as much as traditional program graduates if they meet certification requirements. The big jump in pay between entry-level and experienced professionals shows the value of growing your skills and advancing your career.

Wisconsin rewards behavior analysts well financially. Your compensation package reflects the specialized knowledge you get through BCBA master’s programs, whether online or in-person. The wide salary ranges show you have plenty of room to grow as you gain experience and build expertise in this field.

Careers in Wisconsin

The job market for Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Wisconsin is booming. Recent policies and initiatives have revolutionized the behavioral health landscape by making services more accessible to people with autism and developmental disabilities.

BCBA job postings in Wisconsin have seen remarkable growth. The numbers increased by an impressive 157% between 2023 and 2024. This growth shows how much qualified behavior analysts are needed in settings of all types. Wisconsin currently has more than 3,000 children enrolled in ABA treatment programs, which shows the high demand for skilled professionals.

The job market got even better after the Governor’s state budget for 2021-2023 included a 25% rate increase for behavioral treatment services. Many organizations used this extra funding to grow their operations and bring in more BCBAs across the state.

After finishing an online bcba master program or traditional bcba master’s program, you’ll find different career paths in Wisconsin:

• Clinical Practice: Many BCBAs start by providing direct services in center-based or in-home settings. Organizations like Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP), Mindcolor Autism, and Beyond ABA hire behavior analysts in cities including Madison, Milwaukee, and Kenosha.
• Clinical Leadership: Experience can lead to clinical director or program manager positions. Jobs for Assistant Clinical Directors and Clinical Supervisors often appear in cities like Milwaukee and Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
• Specialized Consultation: Some BCBAs work with specific populations or help school districts and other organizations.
• Academia and Research: The University of Wisconsin gives opportunities to teach or work on research projects.
• Private Practice: BCBAs with an entrepreneurial spirit can open their own clinics, thanks to Wisconsin’s supportive behavioral health services environment.

Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay serve as major employment hubs, but jobs exist throughout the state. Recent job listings show positions in places like Janesville, Oshkosh, La Crosse, and many suburban areas.

BCBAs typically work in educational settings, healthcare facilities, and private practices. Organizations focused on autism services and behavioral therapy are the main employers looking for qualified candidates.

Employers often offer attractive packages to bring in talent. Sign-on bonuses range from $1,000 to $5,000. Benefits packages usually include health insurance, retirement plans with matching contributions, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Getting internships at healthcare facilities, counseling offices, or schools can improve your chances after completing a bcba master’s program online or in-person. This hands-on experience helps you work effectively with different populations and tackle various behavioral challenges.

Wisconsin’s Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) handles professional licensure for behavior analysts. BCBAs must keep their certification current through continuing education and follow the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s ethical guidelines.

The future looks bright for BCBAs in Wisconsin as behavioral health awareness grows. This makes it a perfect time to start bcba master programs in the state.

Next Steps

A career as a BCBA in Wisconsin provides excellent opportunities for professional growth and financial stability. The impressive salary potential and projected job growth make this field attractive to people who want to make a difference in others’ lives. The steady increase in job postings across Wisconsin shows the growing need for qualified behavior analysts.

The path to BCBA certification takes dedication. You’ll need to complete an accredited master’s program, meet supervised fieldwork requirements, and pass the certification exam. The educational investment pays off well, as shown by competitive salaries in different parts of Wisconsin. Recent funding increases for behavioral treatment services have created better opportunities for professionals in this field.

BCBAs in Wisconsin can choose from many career paths beyond direct service. You can move into clinical leadership roles, focus on consultation services, work in academia, or start your own practice. Your career path stays flexible and adapts to your professional interests.

The state’s thorough licensure process maintains high practice standards, while regular continuing education keeps you up to date with best practices and new research. The certification process takes time and effort, but the professional recognition and career stability make it worth it.

Success as a BCBA comes from more than just education. You need practical experience with different populations and behavioral challenges. Wisconsin’s support for behavioral health services and increased awareness of behavioral health create an ideal setting for professional growth. The work to become a BCBA in Wisconsin is challenging, but the personal and professional rewards make it an excellent choice for people committed to improving lives through behavioral science.