| If there is one vocation in which there are more | | | | industries. Many large firms employ ABA Therapists as |
| opportunities than there are qualified personnel, that | | | | a means to teach stress management skills and for |
| career is the ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) | | | | in-house individual therapy for top executives. Most |
| therapist. Among the reasons for such broad | | | | major law enforcement departments offer jobs for |
| opportunities for ABA Therapists is that there are so | | | | ABA Therapists. Veteran's Administration hospitals and |
| many different areas in which ABA therapy is applied. | | | | clinics often have openings for psychology and |
| Another consideration is the current economy around | | | | therapy careers. Jobs are available in virtually all major |
| the globe. Many people having financial difficulties tend | | | | cities for social workers. Most psychiatrist and |
| to suffer bouts of depression, episodes of anger or | | | | psychologist practices will have one or more ABA |
| rage, alcoholism and drug abuse, and other | | | | Therapists in their ranks. Hospitals and smaller clinics, |
| psychological conditions that they might not have been | | | | and even many urgent care facilities will employ ABA |
| prone to under better economic conditions. In addition, | | | | Therapists. Schools too need ABA therapists to join |
| diagnoses of children with various forms of autism are | | | | their special needs staffs. Bottom line is if there are |
| on the rise. A study by the Center for Disease Control | | | | people involved, there is potentially a need for ABA |
| (CDC) shows that an average of 1 in 110, or nearly 1%, | | | | Therapists. |
| of children has some form of autism. All of these | | | | What do ABA Therapist jobs pay? |
| people, and more, can benefit from the services of | | | | According to glassdoor.com, a website that allows |
| ABA therapists but there just don't seem to be | | | | users to anonymously post their own salaries, the rate |
| enough in the field. | | | | of pay in mental health therapy careers ranges from |
| What is ABA Therapy? | | | | $28,000 to $48,000 annually. These jobs are from |
| ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy is the | | | | small mental health clinics to large corporations. lists the |
| process of helping someone to understand and | | | | average national salary for a mental health social |
| ultimately control their behavior through psychological | | | | worker at $44,810, and the salary of a director at a |
| and therapeutic analysis, treatment and education. A | | | | mental health agency ranging from $44,908 up to |
| patient can be anybody in need of help with social or | | | | $80,417 per year. ABA Therapists in private practice |
| developmental skills such as autistic adults and children | | | | can essentially determine their own rate of pay but will |
| or those suffering from post traumatic stress, people | | | | have to be competitive to stay in business, and can |
| with various forms of behavioral issues like anger | | | | expect to earn around $56,000 according to the |
| management problems or oppositional defiant | | | | national average posted at |
| disorders, or those in need of social services like | | | | Who are the best candidates for ABA Therapist |
| addiction counseling. | | | | careers? |
| What kind of education is required of ABA | | | | When employers are searching for ABA Therapists to |
| Therapists? | | | | fill their job openings they are looking for more than the |
| ABA Therapists are not doctors, in the M.D. sense, but | | | | candidates' degrees and certifications. People seeking |
| some employers require a doctorate degree in order | | | | careers in ABA Therapy need to be compassionate |
| to be considered for any therapist careers. Not all | | | | and empathetic. They should be well versed in the arts |
| employers have such stringent requirements however. | | | | of discretion, problem solving, and time management. |
| A Bachelor's in Psychology, Social Services or Early | | | | They should have an optimistic disposition on life and |
| Childhood Education is a good foundation, and often all | | | | have the ability to encourage the same mindset to |
| that is required to land jobs in the field. Many | | | | others. Proper and complete records of each and |
| companies and private practices want to see a | | | | every session and communication with and about |
| Master's in Psychology, which is a requirement for one | | | | each patient must be kept, so good organization skills |
| to be a Certified Behavior Analyst, though someone | | | | are a must. Dedication to not only the job and the |
| with an undergraduate degree can become certified | | | | clients, but also to ongoing training and education, is |
| as an Assistant Behavior Analyst. This certification is | | | | essential. |
| beneficial for someone looking for jobs in the field of | | | | Opportunities for careers in the field of ABA Therapy |
| ABA Therapy while working toward their Master's and | | | | are endless for the right prospects. Regardless of the |
| they can always be promoted later once they have | | | | setting, be it a billion dollar corporation, a low income |
| the higher credential. | | | | clinic, or a hospital serving an entire community there |
| What types of careers are available for ABA | | | | are people in need of the help only ABA Therapists |
| Therapists? | | | | can provide, and jobs are available. |
| Careers in ABA Therapy span a large number of | | | | |