Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Delaware means earning a master’s degree, completing 1,500–2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, and passing the BCBA® exam. Delaware doesn’t require state licensure — the BCBA® credential is the recognized standard. Counselors in this field earn a median salary of $49,680 in Delaware as of May 2024.
Delaware is one of a small number of states that don’t require applied behavior analysts to hold a state license. What it does require — at least for anyone who wants to provide ABA services covered by insurance — is national BCBA® certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). That credential has become the de facto standard in the state, and it’s the path we’ll walk you through here.
The good news: Delaware has made real investments in autism services and ABA access over the past decade. Demand for qualified professionals is growing, and the state’s insurance mandate (Senate Bill 22) means there’s a steady pipeline of funded positions for credentialed behavior analysts.
How to Become an Applied Behavior Analyst in Delaware
As of 2025, Delaware is one of a small number of states that do not license applied behavior analysts at the state level. You can check how Delaware’s approach compares to other states in our state-by-state guide to ABA licensing.
Even without a state license requirement, Delaware’s insurance laws effectively make the BCBA® credential the only path for anyone who wants to provide ABA services covered by insurance. That means if you want to build a real career here — with a full caseload and proper reimbursement — you’ll need to go through the BACB’s certification process. Here’s how it works.
Step 1: Earn a Graduate Degree
You’ll need at least a master’s degree to qualify for the BCBA® exam. There are two ways to meet the education requirement.
Option 1: Earn a master’s degree from an ABAI-accredited or APBA-accredited behavior analysis program. These programs are specifically designed to meet BACB coursework standards and streamline the verification process.
Option 2: Earn a master’s degree or higher in behavior analysis, psychology, education, or a related field and complete 315 hours of BACB-approved graduate coursework covering these areas:
- BACB Ethics Code and Professionalism: 45 hours
- Philosophical Underpinnings and Core Concepts: 90 hours
- Measurement, Data Display, and Experimental Design: 45 hours
- Behavior Assessment: 45 hours
- Behavior-Change Procedures and Intervention Selection: 60 hours
- Personnel Supervision and Management: 60 hours
If you go the coursework route, you’ll verify completion either through a Verified Course Sequence (VCS) or a course-by-course review completed by your program director or a BCBA-certified supervisor. One important note: the VCS system ended on December 31, 2025. If you’re starting a program now, make sure your university can provide verification that meets the updated BACB coursework standards.
Both campus-based and online programs are widely available. Online programs have become especially popular because they let you complete the academic coursework remotely while fulfilling practicum hours at facilities right here in Delaware.
Step 2: Complete Supervised Experience
After starting your qualifying graduate coursework, you can begin accumulating supervised fieldwork hours. You’ll need between 1,500 and 2,000 hours, depending on the level of supervision you receive:
- Supervised Independent Fieldwork: 2,000 hours, with supervision at least 5% of the time from a qualified BCBA®, licensed psychologist, or ABAI-verified instructor
- Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: 1,500 hours, with supervision at least 10% of the time from the same qualified individuals
Most ABAI-accredited and APBA-accredited programs include a practicum component where you can satisfy most or all of your fieldwork hours alongside your coursework, which compresses the overall timeline significantly.
Step 3: Pass the BCBA® Exam
Once you’ve completed your fieldwork hours, you’ll apply to the BACB for authorization to sit for the BCBA® exam. Pearson VUE administers the exam. Delaware candidates can test at Pearson VUE centers in-state or at nearby regional locations.
For full step-by-step guidance on the credentialing process, see our BCBA® certification guide.
Note: Lesser credentials are available for those who don’t need to practice independently. The BCaBA® (Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst) requires a bachelor’s degree, and the RBT® (Registered Behavior Technician) requires only a high school diploma. Both work under BCBA® supervision.
Delaware’s ABA Licensing and Insurance Framework
Delaware’s approach to ABA regulation is more shaped by insurance law than by licensure. Senate Bill 22, passed in 2012, set clear standards for who qualifies as an autism service provider eligible for insurance reimbursement. The two categories are state-licensed professionals (physicians, psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and others) and nationally certified applied behavior analysts — that is, BCBA®s, BCaBA®s, and RBT®s working under their supervision.
Under SB 22, state-regulated health plans in Delaware must cover diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder for residents aged 21 and younger. Covered services include applied behavior analysis, behavioral health treatment, pharmacy care, psychiatric and psychological care, and therapeutic care. ABA is subject to a $36,000 annual maximum benefit but has no visit limits.
The law also prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to children with autism based solely on an ASD diagnosis, even for treatment that’s considered habilitative rather than restorative.
In 2016, Governor Jack Markell signed Senate Bill 93, which further expanded the state’s autism resources by establishing an Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and creating new service pathways for adults on the spectrum. That expansion has created more professional opportunities for behavior analysts working across the lifespan, not just with children.
Salary and Job Outlook for Behavior Analysts in Delaware
If you’re weighing whether the investment in a graduate degree and BCBA® certification makes financial sense, here’s what the data shows.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the BLS category most commonly used to approximate earnings for ABA professionals — substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors — shows a median annual salary of $49,680 in Delaware. Entry-level positions start around $38,960 (10th percentile), while experienced professionals reach $78,510 or more at the 90th percentile. Delaware’s mean wage for this field is $56,120.
The table below shows how Delaware compares to national figures for the same occupational category:
| Percentile | Delaware | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry-level) | $38,960 | $39,090 |
| 25th | $41,630 | $47,170 |
| Median (50th) | $49,680 | $59,190 |
| 75th | $65,270 | $76,230 |
| 90th (experienced) | $78,510 | $98,210 |
| Annual Mean | $56,120 | $65,100 |
It’s worth noting that BCBA®s and ABA professionals frequently earn above these BLS figures, since this broader category includes a range of counseling roles with varying compensation levels. For a broader view of ABA salary data by state, our salaries hub breaks down the numbers nationwide.
Delaware currently employs approximately 1,240 professionals in this field. Looking ahead, state projections show employment growing from 1,760 to 2,090 positions between 2022 and 2032 — an 18.8% increase, translating to roughly 190 average annual job openings. That’s a steady, meaningful pipeline for anyone entering the field now.
ABA Providers in Delaware
Some of the ABA organizations in Delaware where you may be able to complete your supervised fieldwork hours or build your career after credentialing include:
- Autism Delaware Clinical Services, Newark and Milton
- BrightBloom Centers, Wilmington
- CHIMES Delaware, Dover, Millsboro, and Newark
- Hybrid Learning Group, Newark
- Innovation Behavior Services, Dover
- Positive Reinforcement ABA Therapy, Inc., Hockessin
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Delaware require a state license for ABA providers?
No. As of 2025, Delaware is one of a small number of states without a state licensing requirement for applied behavior analysts. However, the state’s insurance laws effectively require BCBA® certification for anyone providing ABA services covered by insurance. Our state-by-state ABA licensing guide shows which states have implemented licensure and what those requirements look like.
How much do behavior analysts earn in Delaware?
The median annual salary in the BLS category most commonly used to approximate ABA earnings is $49,680 in Delaware as of May 2024, with a mean of $56,120. The top earners in the state reach $78,510 or more. BCBA®s often earn above these BLS figures, which reflect a broader range of counseling and behavioral health roles.
How long does it take to become a BCBA® in Delaware?
Most candidates take two to three years. A master’s degree typically takes 18 to 24 months, after which you’ll need to accumulate 1,500 to 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours. Many candidates complete fieldwork concurrently with their graduate program, which compresses the overall timeline.
Does insurance cover ABA therapy in Delaware?
Yes. Under Senate Bill 22 (2012), state-regulated health plans must cover ABA therapy for individuals with autism aged 21 and under, with an annual benefit of up to $ 36,000 and no visit limits. Note that self-funded employer plans operate under federal ERISA rules and may not be subject to this state mandate.
Can I complete an ABA master’s program online in Delaware?
Yes. Online programs are a popular choice and are held to the same BACB coursework standards as campus-based programs. You’d complete the academic portion online and fulfill your practicum requirements at a qualifying facility in Delaware.
Key Takeaways
- No state license required — Delaware doesn’t license behavior analysts at the state level, but the BCBA® credential is the recognized standard for practice, driven by the state’s insurance reimbursement laws.
- Three steps to BCBA® certification — a qualifying master’s degree, 1,500 to 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, and a passing score on the BACB exam.
- Median earnings of $49,680 — Delaware’s median for the relevant BLS category is $49,680, with a mean of $56,120. BCBA®s typically earn above these figures for broader categories.
- Strong job growth ahead — Delaware employment in this field is projected to grow 18.8% from 2022 to 2032, with roughly 190 annual openings.
- Online programs work here — ABA master’s programs fully compatible with Delaware’s market let candidates satisfy practicum requirements at local facilities.
Ready to find the right ABA program? Let’s help you narrow it down — explore programs that meet BACB coursework requirements and offer fieldwork placement support in Delaware.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Because the BLS does not report a specific “behavior analyst” category, ABA/BCBA salaries are typically estimated using related counseling and behavioral health classifications, and actual salaries for these professionals are frequently higher. ABA salaries can vary based on experience, location, and setting. Data accessed February 2026.