How to Become a Behavior Analyst?

For the growth of the world, we need individuals who work not only for their satisfaction but to make the world a better place to live in. These professionals are known by the name of Behavior Analysts. Behavior Analyst is a person who devotes their time to helping individuals overcome debilitating physical and social disabilities. They learn about various principles and theories by observing people’s behavior, which they use in real-life settings to treat people with social and behavioral ailments that inhibit their daily functioning. If you aspire to help the people around you and wish to become a behavior analyst but are unaware of the steps involved, this blog is the right place for you. Let us explore the entire journey of becoming a behavior!

Who is a Behavior Analyst?

Behavior analysis is an evidence-driven therapy which works towards instilling proper social and behavioural habits in patients. Behavioral analysts work in a wide variety of settings, from workplaces to schools and in familial situations. The behavioral patterns, interests and environmental upbringing of the patients are studied, and then reinforcements are used to treat them to make their behavior more suited to society. Becoming a Behavior Analyst is an assiduous task, involving stimulating situations and a long process of education involving various diploma courses which would certify you as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst(BCBA). Let us explore the steps and degrees to be earned to become a coveted Behavior Analyst.

How to Become a Behavior Analyst in India & Abroad?

To help you ease the process of becoming a behavior analyst. We have broken the process into steps. Here are the steps to become a behavior analyst in India and abroad.

Step 1: Earn Bachelor and Master’s Degree

To become a Behavior Analyst, graduating with a degree in health science can make you more adept at becoming a professional in this field. Graduating with a degree in applied behavioral analysis, psychology, or education enables prospective students to get acquainted with certain aspects of the field, making the transition to behavioral analysis smooth. It expedites the learning process at a later stage and helps prepare the students for the concerns they are likely to face while taking a diploma course in behavioral analysis. A master’s degree is also an important part of becoming a certified Behaviour Analyst, as many licensing exams take it into account. 

Step 2: Get a Professional Diploma/ Certificate Course in Behavioral Analysis

After completing one’s graduation or passing school, one can apply for a diploma degree in behavioral analysis. Various universities of the world offer a diploma in behavioral analysis, which is a short-term course which certifies the individual’s ability to work as a behavioral analyst. A major certificate program that can be undertaken to become a professional Behavior Analyst is the BCBA. BCBA certification is a globally accepted certificate that allows one to work as a behavioral analyst in any part of the world. The certification assesses the person’s ability to work as a behavioural analyst by evaluating their independent field work, or degrees they have earned or a dissertation related to the course they submit. Undertaking the BCBA examination and passing it successfully makes a person a certified behavioral analyst with the necessary preconditions. 

Step 3:  Behavior Analyst License Verification

To become a certified Behavior Analyst, alongside a degree, getting a license is imperative too. These are issued only when the individual has the necessary degree, enough fieldwork and has devoted enough time to prove their calibre in the field. Not all areas necessitate a license to allow a person to work as a behavioral analyst, but getting a license makes it easier to function in most parts of the world without any restrictions.

Step 4: Ready to Start Your Internship 

After getting the necessary degrees, it is always beneficial to work as an intern with a big firm to understand the nuances of the industry. It provides the much-needed practical exposure and gives an individual the chance to hone their skills in a realistic setting. Working as an intern also gives Behavior Analysts experience, which they can use when working as an independent analyst or for a senior position in a corporation.

Before going to the next step of becoming a Behavior Analyst,
have a look at the list of popular Healthcare Management courses!

Step 5: Time to Start Your Dream Job

Getting a full-time job is the final step to be taken towards becoming a professional. Congratulations! You are now a licensed behavioral analyst. There is an array of career paths to choose from. Professionals can work in education, health care, social service, with mental health institutions, large conglomerates or as an independent behavioral analyst. It has a broad scope and thereby provides numerous opportunities.

Job Description

Students are looking for unique courses to pursue, and a behaviour analyst is among those courses. Are you wondering what you will do once you become a certified professional? Here is the job description you should know:

• Conducting the assessment while interacting with clients initially
• The analyst will have to visit institutions, parents, teachers, and friends to gain better insight into the client’s issues
• Conducting personal and group sessions to analyse the pattern of client behavior
• Devising the treatment plan and, if required, consulting other professional doctors from other fields

Also Read: Must Read Motivational Books for Students

Skills Required to Become a Successful Behavior Analyst

Here are the main skills required to become a successful behaviour analyst: 

• Analyst thinking
• Strong communication skills 
• Patience and empathy
• Observation and data collection skills 
• Problem-solving abilities
• Detailed oriented

Behavior Analyst Courses & Programs

Wondering what the different courses are available for behavior analyst? We have curated a list of top courses and colleges you can pursue this course:

Courses	University	Location
Master of Education in Foundations in Behavior Analysis	University of Cincinnati	USA
Online Master’s in Psychology with a Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis	Purdue University Global	Indiana
Master of Arts in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis)	Arizona State University	Arizona
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Online Program	University of Washington	Washington
Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis	Simmon University	Massachusetts
Master of Applied Behavior Analysis	University of Dayton	USA
Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis	Pepperdine University	California

Also Read: Organizational Behavior Theories

Behavior Analyst Salary in India and Abroad

Behavior analyst salary is decent and has a bright scope in future as well. There are plenty of job opportunities in India as well as abroad. The average salary in India ranges between ₹244168 to ₹644168. The pay of behavior analysts is comparatively better abroad. Here is the pay experience level for behavioral analysts from Payscale:

Average salary of a Behavior Analyst 

Here is an average overview of the salary range in different countries:

Countries	Average Starting Salary
United States	USD 55,000- USD 70,000
Canada	CAD 55,000- CAD 70,000
Australia	AUD 65,000- AUD 85,000
United Kingdom	GBP 25,000- GBP 35,000
United Arab Emirates	AED 120,000- AED 180,000
India	INR 350,000- INR 500,000

Career Growth as a Behavior Analyst

Becoming a behavior analyst is not just about getting a job; it’s a career with strong long-term growth and various open opportunities for specialisation and acceptance to make a real impact. Here is a detailed look at the career growth of behavior analyst:

Entry Level Roles	Mid-Level Role	Senior and Specialised Roles
ABA Therapist	Board Certified Behavior Analyst	Clinical Supervisor
Behavior Technician	Case Manager	Program Director
Junior Behaviour Analyst	Behavior Consultant	School Behavior Specialists
Clinical Assistant	Lead ABA Therapist	Bhaviora Health Consultant

Also Read: How to Become a Clinical Research Associate

Behavior Analyst Certification Board

To become a certified behavioral analyst, every candidate has to register with BCAB. Before registering, candidates must check the eligibility requirements. The minimum requirements are that students should have a master’s degree with at least 225 hours of coursework. To become a certified behavior analyst, every individual has to clear the exam. Check out all the details on BACB

Behavior Analyst vs Psychologist

It is easy to get confused between behavior analysts and psychologists. Both have similar fields, but the job descriptions are completely different. Some schools have psychologists who help students with academic problems and career counselling as well. Psychologists encourage students towards better academic results, whereas behavior analysts are focused in-depth and cover many other key areas as well. To know more, check out our blog on Psychologists.

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