Abstract
The scope of applied behavior analysis has historically been defined by behavior analytic publications like Baer et al., Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91, (1968). However, starting in 2009, state legislators began creating licensure laws for behavior analysts that formalized the scope of practice for applied behavior analysis (ABA) within the applicable states. The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the degree scope of practice statements found in state licensure laws aligned with the individual components of Baer et al.’s seven dimensions of ABA and the APBA Model Act and (2) to evaluate the consistency of the scope of practice statements across states. Each licensed state law was identified, and the section that outlined the scope of practice was isolated and coded. The results of this study identified varying degrees of alignment with the individual components of Baer et al.’s seven dimensions and the APBA Model Act, as well as inconsistencies in the scope of practice among states with licensure for ABA. The component scores of each content area will be discussed, along with the implications for practice.
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Notes
All references to the term license used throughout this article refers specifically to professional license.
Some states do allow for interstate compacts at allow licensed professionals to practice in any state that joins the compact. This will be discussed below.
It should be noted that there is some overlap between the seven dimensions and APBA Model Act. Specifically, section one of the APBA model act seems to refer to the applied and effective dimensions, section two seems to refer to the behavioral and analytic dimensions, section three seems to refer to the conceptual systems and behavioral dimensions, and section four seems to refer to the conceptual systems dimension.
Approximations of this phrasing were common throughout all of the scope of practice statements reviewed in this study.
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Morris, C., Donovan, M.T. & Switzer, E.J. The Scope of Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis in State Licensure Laws. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00915-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00915-3