We Don’t Just Talk About Advancement — We Map It Out, Support It, and Make It Happen
Many of our Board Certified Behavior Analysts, senior BCBAs, and clinical directors started as entry-level Registered Behavior Technicians right here. We promote from within, provide tuition support for BCBA certification, and offer the mentorship and training to help you advance at every stage.
This isn’t a corporate ladder you have to figure out alone. It’s a defined pathway with clear milestones, financial support, and people invested in your success.
RBT → Senior RBT → BCBA → Senior BCBA → Clinical Director.
Timeline: Entry to leadership in 4-7 years (with BCBA certification) Support: 50% tuition coverage, mentorship, defined advancement criteria
Five levels. Clear requirements at each stage. Real support to get you there.
What you do: Implement individualized ABA therapy programs under BCBA supervision, working one-on-one with children to teach communication, social skills, and daily living skills through play-based activities.
$18-$24/hour (based on experience and location)
Typical timeline at this level: 1-3 years
What you do: Lead more complex therapy sessions, mentor new RBTs, take on challenging cases, contribute to treatment plan development with BCBA supervision.
$21-$27/hour
Typical timeline at this level: 1-2 years (while pursuing BCBA education)
What you do: Conduct comprehensive assessments, design individualized treatment plans, supervise RBT implementation, provide parent training, coordinate with schools and other providers, contribute to clinical quality initiatives.
Guaranteed BCBA position upon certification
What you’ll develop:
$70,000-$95,000 (based on experience and location)
Typical timeline at this level: 2-4 years before advancing to Senior BCBA
What you do: Oversee multiple treatment programs, mentor junior BCBAs, handle complex clinical cases, contribute to clinical protocol development, represent organization in community partnerships.
$90,000-$115,000
Typical timeline at this level: 2-4 years before advancing to Clinical Director
What you do: Oversee all clinical operations at assigned center, manage BCBA team, ensure quality across all programs, develop staff, partner with regional leadership on clinical initiatives, represent organization with school districts and community partners.
$110,000-$140,000+ (based on experience and location)
Career growth: Senior Clinical Director, Regional Clinical Director, VP of Clinical Services
Hospital-backed benefits you won’t find at independent ABA providers.
The Milestones program removes the biggest financial barrier to becoming a BCBA. We cover half your tuition costs for BCBA coursework at approved universities.
What this means:
We build work schedules that accommodate classes, fieldwork, and study time. Many of our RBTs complete their master’s programs while working 30-35 hours per week.
We understand:
Your education is part of your job development — we support it logistically, not just financially.
RBTs are paired with experienced BCBA mentors for weekly supervision, feedback, and career guidance.
BCBA candidates receive intensive supervision from senior BCBAs to complete supervised experience hours required for certification.
New BCBAs work closely with senior BCBAs for their first year, with regular consultation and case review.
Senior BCBAs aspiring to leadership receive mentorship from current Clinical Directors.
This isn’t passive mentorship. It’s structured, regular, and focused on your specific development goals.
Advancement isn’t just about time served. It’s about demonstrated skills, leadership, and clinical excellence.
Clear criteria at each level:
You know what’s expected. We’re transparent about advancement criteria so there’s no guessing.
Minimum 12 CEUs per year provided at no cost:
Professional development is part of your job — not something you squeeze in on weekends at your own expense.
From people who’ve walked this path at Children’s Specialized ABA.
Typically 2-4 years, depending on your educational timeline:
Our Milestones program supports you financially throughout this timeline.
No. While psychology, education, or related fields are common, the BACB accepts students from diverse undergraduate backgrounds. What matters is completing a BACB-approved master’s program.
We partner with universities that offer BCBA-track programs accessible to students from any undergraduate background.
Absolutely. Many of our clinical directors and senior clinical leaders joined as experienced BCBAs and advanced to leadership within 2-4 years.
If you’re looking for advancement opportunities beyond direct clinical work, we offer clear pathways to senior BCBA and leadership roles.
Collaborative. We’re not a “one person gets promoted per year” environment. If three BCBAs on your team are ready for senior BCBA roles, three people advance.
We grow leadership capacity as our organization grows. Advancement isn’t a zero-sum game.
That’s completely valid. Many of our most experienced BCBAs prefer direct clinical work over administrative leadership. We have senior BCBA roles that focus on clinical expertise, mentorship, and complex case consultation — not management.
Not everyone wants to be a Clinical Director. We create pathways for clinical experts too.
Whether you’re starting as an RBT or joining as an experienced BCBA — let’s talk about your career goals.
