What does an aba therapist do?

An ABA therapist is responsible for administering treatment plans to patients with behavioral disabilities and intellectual disorders, supporting them through systematic processes, and recording their developmental progress throughout therapy sessions. ABA therapists develop engaging activities for the children, observing their personal and social behaviors, and adjust approach as needed. They also coordinate with other behavior therapists and other medical health professionals for refined strategies that adhere to the child's progress. An ABA therapist must have excellent communication and organizational skills to assist patients with different behavioral problems and attend to their needs efficiently.
Aba therapist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real aba therapist resumes:
- Demonstrate working knowledge of community mental health services identify in the Medicaid guidelines and attain contractual outcomes within designate time frames.
- Interact closely with the on-site speech-language pathologist and occupational therapist to implement patients' therapy programs.
- Provide specialized ABA therapy for children with autism including developing behavior plans and teaching in a natural environment.
- Obtain RBT credentials and maintain supervision hours.
- Travele to different families houses and occasionally help with kids eating habits.
- Maintain accurate data and graphing on designate programs.
- Teach kids learning techniques daily cognitively and effective communication.
- Implement individualize educational and behavioral programming design and supervise by BCBA.
- Maintain data book documentation including collection and graphing of program/behavior base data.
- Collect and analyze pertinent data for BCBA while encouraging social behaviors using positive reinforcement and behavior management techniques.
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals to provide outpatient services to those seeking rehabilitation in an ambulatory care center.
- Implement behavior intervention plans and promote language skills through natural environment training.
Aba therapist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of ABA Therapists are proficient in Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, and BCBA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Organizational skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of ABA Therapists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Autism, 19%
Provided instructions using principles of applied behavior analysis to preschool children with autism.
- Applied Behavior Analysis, 13%
Utilized teaching methods including applied behavior analysis, picture exchange communication and sensory diets as well as scientifically proven data methods.
- BCBA, 10%
Collected and analyze pertinent data for BCBA while encouraging social behaviors using positive reinforcement and behavior management techniques.
- Behavior Analysis, 9%
Provided direct 1:1 behavior analysis therapy by implementing all skill acquisition programs, maintenance programs and behavior protocols.
- CPR, 6%
Certified in First Aid and CPR for infant, child and adult.
- Developmental Disabilities, 5%
Provide home based applied behavioral analysis programming and training for children with Autism and other physical, speech and developmental disabilities.
Common skills that an aba therapist uses to do their job include "autism," "applied behavior analysis," and "bcba." You can find details on the most important aba therapist responsibilities below.
Listening skills. One of the key soft skills for an aba therapist to have is listening skills. You can see how this relates to what aba therapists do because "marriage and family therapists need to give their full attention to their clients to understand their problems, values, and goals." Additionally, an aba therapist resume shows how aba therapists use listening skills: "communicated child development to iep team members. "
Organizational skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling aba therapist duties is organizational skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "marriage and family therapists in private practice must keep track of payments and work with insurance companies." According to an aba therapist resume, here's how aba therapists can utilize organizational skills in their job responsibilities: "utilized organizational skills to monitor and adapt, as necessary, the daily activities of the child with autism. "
Speaking skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of aba therapists is speaking skills. This skill is critical to many everyday aba therapist duties, as "marriage and family therapists need to be able to communicate with clients effectively." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "implemented individualized programs that addressed: behaviors, academics, cognitive, language, self-help, socialization, play, etc. "
Compassion. For certain aba therapist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "compassion." The day-to-day duties of an aba therapist rely on this skill, as "marriage and family therapists often work with people who are dealing with stressful and difficult situations, so they must be compassionate and empathize with their clients." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what aba therapists do: "provide psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults in a compassionate environment. "
Interpersonal skills. Another crucial skill for an aba therapist to carry out their responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." A big part of what aba therapists relies on this skill, since "marriage and family therapists work with different types of people." How this skill relates to aba therapist duties can be seen in an example from an aba therapist resume snippet: "ensured a safe, inclusive and productive environment for residents and staff by implementing conflict resolutions and interpersonal communication skills. "
The three companies that hire the most aba therapists are:
- Comprehensive Behavior Supports60 aba therapists jobs
- Key Autism Services46 aba therapists jobs
- Pediatric Partners, now a member of the Sevita family35 aba therapists jobs
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Aba therapist vs. Mental health associate
As a mental health associate, you will assist the medical team members in diagnosing and treating individuals with mental, developmental, and behavioral conditions. You may be tasked to facilitate individual and group therapy sessions, help patients with their day-to-day activities such as self-care and hygiene, and assist in administering medications prescribed by physicians. Other duties include planning and leading program activities, attending treatment rounds, and assisting with the physical care of patients. The qualifications and skills required for this role include a bachelor's degree in social science or psychology, previous work experience, and certification on basic life support.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, aba therapist responsibilities require skills like "bcba," "behavior analysis," "developmental disabilities," and "aba therapy." Meanwhile a typical mental health associate has skills in areas such as "customer service," "vital signs," "safety checks," and "crisis intervention." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Mental health associates tend to make the most money working in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,746. In contrast, aba therapists make the biggest average salary, $38,174, in the education industry.mental health associates tend to reach similar levels of education than aba therapists. In fact, mental health associates are 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Aba therapist vs. Youth advocate
Youth advocates are individuals who responsible for maintaining the human rights of youth while assisting them in developing their skills in all areas of life, such as education, health, employment, and relationships. These advocates are required to discuss youth development and involvement with various leaders in the community. They must provide crisis interventions by performing one-on-one and group meetings with young adults. Youth advocates must also work with mental health professionals within the community so that they can guide teenagers with drug or alcohol problems and mental health issues.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, aba therapist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "autism," "applied behavior analysis," "bcba," and "behavior analysis." Meanwhile, a youth advocate has duties that require skills in areas such as "mental health," "foster care," "community resources," and "youth development." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, youth advocates earn a lower salary than aba therapists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, youth advocates earn the most pay in the automotive industry with an average salary of $31,171. Whereas aba therapists have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $38,174.youth advocates earn similar levels of education than aba therapists in general. They're 3.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Aba therapist vs. Intensive in-home counselor
An Intensive In-Home Counselor conducts individual counseling sessions for parents and deals with delicate issues like sexual addiction. They also prepare progress reports for clients.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an aba therapist is likely to be skilled in "autism," "applied behavior analysis," "bcba," and "behavior analysis," while a typical intensive in-home counselor is skilled in "family therapy," "mental health issues," "crisis intervention," and "intensive in-home."
Intensives in-home counselor make a very good living in the utilities industry with an average annual salary of $56,398. On the other hand, aba therapists are paid the highest salary in the education industry, with average annual pay of $38,174.When it comes to education, intensives in-home counselor tend to earn higher degree levels compared to aba therapists. In fact, they're 8.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.8% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Aba therapist vs. Residential counselor
A residential counselor is responsible for guiding and providing the residents with their basic needs and other resources to support them in their daily living. Residential counselors' duties include maintaining the safety of the community by enforcing safety guidelines and procedures for the residents' compliance, organizing productive and engaging community activities, updating the residents of any changes and policies in the community, and resolving conflicts by counseling and understanding each resident's differences. A residential counselor must have excellent communication and decision-making skills to ensure the development of residents in a living facility.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between aba therapists and residential counselors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an aba therapist might have more use for skills like "bcba," "behavior analysis," "aba therapy," and "rbt." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of residential counselors require skills like "direct care," "medication administration," "mental health," and "mental illness. "
The education industry tends to pay the highest salaries for residential counselors, with average annual pay of $35,120. Comparatively, the highest aba therapist annual salary comes from the education industry.In general, residential counselors hold lower degree levels compared to aba therapists. Residential counselors are 6.1% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of aba therapist
Updated January 8, 2025











