States with the Highest Demand for BCBAs
- Ashleigh
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are in higher demand than ever before. With the rising prevalence of autism diagnoses and the expansion of insurance coverage for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, the need for clinicians is growing across the United States. But demand isn’t equal everywhere. Certain states stand out with particularly high needs.
Knowing where demand outpaces supply is valuable not only for aspiring and current behavior analysts seeking career opportunities but also for clinic owners looking to expand services. In this article, we’ll break down the states with the highest demand for BCBAs in 2025, explore where clinicians are most needed, and highlight what this means for the future of the ABA workforce.
Breaking Down the Demand for BCBAs
First, let’s take a look at the numbers. According to the US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts report, there were 103,150 US job openings in 2024 for BCBAs and BCBA-Ds. At the end of the same year, there were only 64,907 BCBA certificants in the states. These numbers tell a clear story: demand for BCBAs far outweighs supply.
Demand for BCBAs has risen every year since 2010. From 2023 to 2024, there was an incredible 58% increase in demand. While the number of certified professionals grows each year, the workforce isn’t growing nearly enough to keep pace with demand.
Rising Demand for BCaBAs
This US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts report also looked at demand for BCaBAs. Interestingly, we saw a significant spike in demand for BCaBAs in 2024, up 131%! There were 14,479 US job openings for BCaBAs. Unfortunately, there were only 4,100 BCaBA certificants in the states, resulting in a severe shortage of qualified assistant behavior analysts.
Demand for RBTs
The employment demand report does not share insights into RBT demand. However, we know a majority of BCBAs work with RBTs and non-certified behavior technicians. Therefore, it’s reasonable to deduce that as BCBA and BCaBA demand increases, so too does the demand for RBTs.
BCBA Demand by State
The following chart highlights the top 20 states with the highest demand for BCBAs and BCBA-Ds. For each state, we show not only the number of open positions in 2024 but also the total number of certified professionals.
Pay attention to the gaps between open jobs and the number of certificants. These differences highlight where demand significantly outpaces supply, revealing high-opportunity areas for job seekers, career movers, and ABA practice leaders looking to expand or recruit.
State | # of Open BCBA/BCBA-D Positions (2024) | # of BCBAs & BCBA-Ds (End of 2024) |
| 19,578 | 10,028 |
| 6,132 | 3,769 |
| 5,889 | 4,540 |
| 5,154 | 3,922 |
| 4,709 | 7,402 |
| 4,680 | 2,188 |
| 4,315 | 1,867 |
| 4,228 | 1,599 |
| 3,828 | 2,742 |
| 3,425 | 2,002 |
| 3,424 | 2,378 |
| 3,026 | 1,974 |
| 3,025 | 1,161 |
| 3,023 | 1,126 |
| 2,611 | 1,583 |
| 2,487 | 1,436 |
| 2,431 | 1,571 |
| 1,933 | 1,257 |
| 1,793 | 1,419 |
| 1,791 | 1,355 |
ABA Clinicians: By the Numbers
As of August 2025, there are 306,397 total US-based BACB certificants.
Looking at US clinicians only, there are currently:
69,444 BCBAs
2,871 BCBA-Ds
4,004 BCaBAs
230,078 RBTs
Take a look at the visual below to track the growth over the years.
If we include all other countries, the total number of ABA certificants rises to 317,807. International BCBAs make up only about 4% of total BCBAs, while international BCaBAs account for roughly 22%. This disparity is likely influenced by differences in insurance coverage and payor systems, which affect both the demand for and funding of ABA services. Additionally, in 2023, the BACB withdrew from most countries, scaling back its role as an international certifying body, which further impacts the global distribution of certificants.
States with the Largest Number of ABA Clinicians
As of August 2025, the following five states had the most BCBAs, BCaBAs, and RBTs.
Florida
BCBA: 7,707
BCBA-D: 288
BCaBA: 1,665
RBT: 51,993
TOTAL: 61,653 ABA clinicians
California
BCBA: 10,135
BCBA-D: 345
BCaBA: 198
RBT: 23,903
TOTAL 34,581 ABA clinicians
Texas
BCBA: 4,806
BCBA-D: 145
BCaBA: 192
RBT: 25,131
TOTAL: 30,274 ABA clinicians
Georgia
BCBA: 2,000
BCBA-D: 101
BCaBA: 92
RBT: 12,301
TOTAL: 14,494 ABA clinicians
Indiana
BCBA: 1,658
BCBA-D: 35
BCaBA: 101
RBT: 11,172
TOTAL: 12,966 ABA clinicians
You can explore the BACB’s region-specific data to see how other states and countries compare in terms of BCBA and BCaBA workforce distribution.
Making Sense of BCBA Workforce Data
The numbers we’ve highlighted are more than just statistics. They underscore opportunities and challenges for behavior analysts and ABA practice owners. Understanding the current demand for services and the ABA workforce distribution can help guide career decisions, staffing strategies, and business planning.
For Job Seekers:
Areas with larger gaps between open positions and available certificants may offer more job opportunities, the potential for negotiating higher salaries, and greater career advancement.
Identifying these high-demand areas can help you prioritize relocation or telehealth roles where your expertise could be needed.
Even within high-demand states, knowing which regions or cities have shortages can make your job search more targeted and strategic.
For Clinic Owners and ABA Practices:
Workforce data can inform recruitment strategies, helping clinics focus efforts on expanding care in underserved regions.
Understanding these trends allows owners to anticipate and address staffing shortages, plan training programs, and ensure that families have access to the care they need.
Future Trends in ABA Demand
Based on recent demand and certification numbers, the need for BCBAs is expected to remain on the rise. Demand has grown steadily over the past several years, and current trends suggest this upward trajectory will continue.
To help address the ongoing BCBA shortage, we encourage ABA practices to develop internal training programs that emphasize high-quality supervised BCBA fieldwork. In today’s competitive market, one of the most effective ways to secure qualified BCBAs is to grow them within your own organization through structured career development plans.
Take the Next Step in Your ABA Career
As demand continues to skyrocket, now is the perfect time to consider your next career move within ABA. Whether you’re looking to pursue RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA certification, seek career advancement opportunities, relocate, or join a growing ABA practice, the right opportunity is out there for you. Take a look at the following resources as you embark on your next ABA journey.
ABA Job Board: A career board exclusive to opportunities within the ABA field, featuring BCBA, BCaBA, RBT, and administrative roles.
RBT Training & Study Prep: Explore what it takes to get certified as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
How to Become a BCBA: Learn about each step to earning BCBA certification and how to get started.
Remote BCBA Supervisor Database: Find a remote supervisor for your BCBA fieldwork or mentorship.
Hiring ABA Clinicians? Get your open positions added to the ABA Job Board!
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