Becoming a licensed behavior analyst in Hawaii takes four steps: earn a master’s degree or higher, complete 1,500 to 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, pass the BCBA certification exam, and apply for a state license through Hawaii’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. The full process typically takes three to five years depending on your program and fieldwork pace.
Hawaii was one of the earlier states to formalize ABA licensure. The state enacted HRS Chapter 465D in 2015 and put licensing requirements into effect by 2016, which means behavior analysts in Hawaii have been working within a clear regulatory framework for nearly a decade. If you’re considering this career path in Hawaii, you’re entering a field with real structure, growing demand, and insurance-backed employment.
Here’s what the path to licensure looks like, step by step.
Step 1. Earn Your Graduate Degree
To sit for the BCBA exam, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requires a master’s degree or higher and completion of specific graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis.
The most straightforward way to meet these educational requirements is to earn a degree from a program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) or verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). These programs are designed to align directly with BACB coursework requirements.
You can also satisfy the educational requirement by earning a master’s or doctoral degree in behavior analysis or a related field — such as education or psychology — and completing at least 315 hours of graduate coursework across these areas:
- BACB Ethics Code and Professionalism: 45 hours
- Philosophical Underpinnings and Concepts/Principles: 90 hours
- Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation; Experimental Design: 45 hours
- Behavior Assessment: 45 hours
- Behavior-Change Procedures and Selecting Interventions: 60 hours
- Personnel Supervision and Management: 60 hours
It’s worth noting that the ABAI ended its Verified Course Sequence (VCS) system on December 31, 2025. As of 2026, if the ABAI or APBA does not accredit your program, you’ll need to submit a Non-Verified Course Content Attestation to the BACB showing that your coursework meets the required standards. Ask your program director about this process before enrolling.
Prerequisites to Enroll in an ABA Master’s Program
Most ABA master’s programs expect an undergraduate degree in a behavioral science field. Psychology, education, special education, sociology, and social work are all common backgrounds. Programs may also require specific prerequisite courses such as general psychology, research methodology, developmental psychology, or an introductory ABA course.
What You’ll Study in a Master’s Program
Once admitted, you’ll cover topics including ethical and legal issues in ABA, behavior change methodologies, single-subject research designs, behavioral assessments, and the theoretical foundations of applied behavior analysis. The strongest programs include a thesis component and supervised fieldwork integrated into the curriculum. If you’d like to compare program options, our guide to online ABA master’s programs is a good place to start.
Step 2. Complete Supervised Experience
Before you can sit for the BCBA exam, you must complete a supervised fieldwork period. The BACB defines two pathways:
- Supervised Independent Fieldwork: 2,000 total hours, supervised at 5% of the time by a qualified BCBA, licensed psychologist, certified in behavioral and cognitive psychology, or an ABAI-verified instructor.
- Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: 1,500 total hours, supervised at 10% of the time by the same qualified supervisors. This pathway is more intensive but requires less total time — a good option if your practicum setting can support that level of oversight.
Most students complete fieldwork while enrolled in or immediately following their graduate program. In Hawaii, fieldwork opportunities exist in ABA clinics, schools, and in-home therapy settings, primarily concentrated in the Honolulu metro area, with some providers on Maui and Kauai.
Step 3. Pass the BCBA® Certification Exam
After completing your education and fieldwork, you can apply online to take the BCBA exam through the BACB. Once the BACB approves your application, they’ll notify Pearson VUE — the testing partner — that you’re eligible to sit.
You’ll need to register with Pearson VUE, choose an exam date, and select a testing location. Hawaii has three testing centers: Kahului, Honolulu, and Lihue.
The BCBA exam includes 175 scored questions across nine content domains:
- Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations: 5%
- Concepts and Principles: 14%
- Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation: 12%
- Experimental Design: 7%
- Ethical and Professional Issues: 13%
- Behavior Assessment: 13%
- Behavior-Change Procedures: 14%
- Selecting and Implementing Interventions: 11%
- Personnel Supervision and Management: 11%
Step 4. Apply for Licensure with Hawaii’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Once you’ve passed the BCBA exam and earned your certification, you’re ready to apply for a state behavior analyst license through Hawaii’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division (PVL). You can submit a paper application or use the online application portal, and you’ll include proof of your BCBA certification with it. You can find and print your certification record through the BACB’s Find a Certificate search.
Paper applications are mailed to:
Behavior Analyst Program
DCCA-PVL Licensing Branch
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
License Renewal
Your Hawaii behavior analyst license expires on December 31st of odd-numbered years. The Licensing Division will send a renewal notice about two months before that date. To maintain your license, you must also keep your BCBA certification current.
BCBA certification renews every two years and requires at least 32 continuing education hours, including at least four hours of ethics content. Approved continuing education can include university coursework, approved provider training, scholarly activities, or retaking the certification exam.
Licensure by Endorsement
If you hold a current, unencumbered behavior analyst license in another state, you may be eligible to apply for licensure in Hawaii by endorsement, provided your original state’s licensing requirements were equivalent to Hawaii’s. Contact the PVL directly to confirm eligibility before applying.
Stay Current on Legislative Updates
It’s worth periodically checking the PVL’s behavior analyst program page for any regulatory changes. Hawaii’s licensing framework has evolved since 2015, and requirements can be updated.
Under a July 2016 revision to HRS 465D, all direct support workers are required to hold the BACB’s Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) designation. This applies to paraprofessionals working in both the Department of Education and Personal Habilitation Workers with the Hawaii State Department of Health.
ABA Providers in Hawaii
Hawaii’s ABA market is smaller than that of mainland states by volume, but it’s active and growing. Most providers are concentrated in the Honolulu metro area, with a smaller presence on Maui and Kauai. Organizations providing ABA services in Hawaii include school-based programs, in-home therapy providers, and specialty autism clinics.
Hawaii’s autism insurance mandate (SB791) requires insurance policies issued or renewed in the state to cover ABA treatment and diagnosis for individuals under 14 years of age, with a current annual benefit cap of $25,000 for ABA services. That’s worth knowing if you’re working with older populations or planning a private practice — insurance reimbursement drops off significantly past the age threshold.
That said, this may change. HB 1670, introduced during the 2026 legislative session with 22 sponsors, would repeal both the under-14 age limit and the $25,000 cap effective January 1, 2027. As of early 2026, the bill is in committee. If it passes, Hawaii would move to age-unlimited, uncapped ABA coverage—a significant shift that would expand the pool of reimbursable clients for licensed BCBAs statewide. You can compare howaii’s insurance law with the states’ in our state-by-state guide to autism insurance laws.
Salary and Career Outlook in Hawaii
So what does an ABA career actually pay in Hawaii? The picture is interesting. Across the broader counselor category tracked by the BLS, Hawaii’s median salary sits at $54,390 as of May 2024 — just below the national median of $59,190 — but the mean wage is $75,610, reflecting strong earnings at the upper tiers of the field. It’s important to understand what these numbers represent: the BLS tracks this data under a broader occupational category that includes substance abuse counselors and mental health counselors, as well as behavior analysts. BCBAs and licensed behavior analysts typically earn on the higher end of this range and, in many cases, above it. For a broader look at ABA salaries across the country, see our full salary resource.
| Location | Employment | Median | Mean | 75th Percentile | 90th PercPercentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aii (statewide) | 1,580 | $54,390 | $75,610 | $76,220 | $158,310* |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1,080 | $50,090 | $75,410 | $76,220 | $158,310* |
| Hawaii/Kauai Nonmetro | 300 | $55,800 | $69,890 | $76,070 | $141,660 |
* Hawaii’s 90th percentile figure of $158,310 is the highest of any state in the BLS dataset for this occupational category. This reflects a small workforce sample and a wide earnings distribution rather than a typical BCBA salary. The gap between the 75th and 90th percentiles is unusually large, suggesting a concentration of senior practitioners, clinical supervisors, and private-practice providers at the top of the pay scale. The median and mean figures are more representative of what most counselors in this field earn in Hawaii.
Job Growth
Hawaii’s job outlook for behavior analysts is strong. According to the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations long-term occupational projections (SOC 21-1018, 2022–2032), the state is expected to add 470 positions in this field — a 32.8% growth rate. That translates to roughly 180 average annual job openings. The state employed approximately 1,440 counselors in this category at the start of the projection period and is expected to reach 1,900 by 2032.
The combination of Hawaii’s insurance mandate, a growing autism diagnosis rate, and a limited in-state training pipeline creates real hiring pressure in this market. If you’re already in Hawaii or planning to relocate, that’s a meaningful career context.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a BCBA in Hawaii?
Most people complete the full path — master’s degree, supervised fieldwork, BCBA exam, and state licensure — in three to five years. The timeline depends on your graduate program length (typically two years), how quickly you accumulate fieldwork hours, and your exam prep timeline.
Does Hawaii require a separate state license, or is BCBA certification enough?
Hawaii requires both. BCBA certification from the BACB is the national credential, and it’s a prerequisite for the state license. You must hold both to practice as a behavior analyst in Hawaii legally. Once you pass the BCBA exam, you can apply for your state license through the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.
What’s the difference between Supervised Independent Fieldwork and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork?
Both are approved BACB pathways with different tradeoffs. Supervised Independent Fieldwork requires 2,000 hours with 5% supervision. Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork requires 1,500 hours, but with 10% supervision throughout. Concentrated fieldwork is more intensive but gets you to the exam faster — a good choice if your practicum setting can support the higher supervision ratio.
Does Hawaii’s autism insurance mandate cover ABA treatment for adults?
Under current law, Hawaii’s SB791 mandate applies to individuals under 14 years of age, with an annual cap of $25,000 on ABA benefits. Coverage for older individuals varies by insurance plan. However, HB 1670 (introduced in the 2026 session) would repeal both the age limit and the benefit cap effective January 1, 2027, if passed. It’s worth monitoring this legislation if you’re planning to work with adult populations.
Can I transfer my behavior analyst license from another state to Hawaii?
Yes, through the licensure-by-endorsement pathway. If you hold a current and unencumbered behavior analyst license in another state, you can apply for a Hawaii license by endorsement, provided your original state’s requirements were equivalent to Hawaii’s. Contact the PVL directly to confirm your eligibility before applying.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaii has required licensure since 2016 — the state built its regulatory framework directly on the BACB Model Act, making BCBA certification the foundation for state licensure.
- The four-step path is clear: master’s degree, 1,500 to 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours, passing the BCBA exam, and applying through Hawaii’s PVL.
- VCS is gone as of 2026 — if your program isn’t ABAI- or APBA-accredited, you’ll submit a Non-Verified Course Content Attestation to the BACB instead.
- The job outlook is strong — Hawaii DLIR projects 32.8% growth through 2032 in this occupational category, with an average of roughly 180 annual openings.
- Insurance coverage is evolving — current law mandates ABA coverage for individuals under 14 with a $25,000 cap, but HB 1670 (2026) would repeal both limits starting January 1, 2027.
Ready to find programs that meet Hawaii’s licensing requirements? Compare accredited ABA master’s programs and get the information you need to take the next step.
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. Note: ABA/BCBA roles are included in this broader BLS category, and actual salaries for these professionals are frequently higher. ABA salaries can vary based on experience, location, and setting. Data accessed February 2026.