Becoming a licensed behavior analyst in Mississippi takes four steps: earn a qualifying master’s degree, complete 1,500–2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, pass the BCBA® exam and Mississippi’s oral jurisprudence exam, then apply for licensure with the Mississippi Autism Board. The whole process typically takes two to four years depending on your degree program.
Mississippi has one of the more distinctive licensing structures in the country. Instead of a general behavioral health board, the state routes all behavior analyst licensing through the Mississippi Autism Board — a body created specifically by the state legislature in 2015. That board has recognized the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) BCBA® credential as the standard for state licensure, which means your path to practicing in Mississippi runs directly through BACB certification. BCBA® certification is required to apply for a Mississippi state license, but it does not replace the state license. Both are required to practice.
That same 2015 legislation made Mississippi the 40th state to require insurance coverage for autism treatment, opening up a significant and stable job market for qualified BCBAs across the state.
Here’s how to get licensed, step by step.
Step 1. Earn at Least a Master’s Degree in a Behavior Analysis Field
The Mississippi Autism Board requires at least a master’s degree from a graduate program approved by the BACB. There are three pathways that meet this requirement.
Pathway 1: Accredited Master’s Degree
The most direct route is a master’s degree accredited by the Association for Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) or accredited/recognized by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Programs on this track cover the core content you’ll need: behavioral assessments, behavior change methodologies, applied and theoretical behavior analysis, ethical and legal issues, and single-subject research design.
Any APBA- or ABAI-accredited program meets the educational requirements outright. No additional coursework verification is needed.
Pathway 2: Coursework + Related Master’s Degree
You can also qualify through a master’s degree in behavior analysis or a closely related field like education or psychology, paired with the following graduate-level coursework hours:
- BACB Ethics Code and Code-Enforcement System; Professionalism: 45 hours
- Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts and Principles: 90 hours
- Measurement, Data Display and Interpretation; Experimental Design: 45 hours
- Behavior Assessment: 45 hours
- Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions: 60 hours
- Personnel Supervision and Management: 60 hours
You’ll verify this coursework one of two ways: through a Course-by-Course Review completed by your department chair, dean, or BCBA-certified coordinator, or through an ABAI-Verified Course Sequence (VCS).
Important Update for 2026 and Beyond
ABAI ended the VCS system on December 31, 2025. If you’re starting a program in 2026 or later, you can no longer rely on the ABAI’s VCS directory to verify your coursework. Verification now goes through your university directly. Confirm with your program coordinator how they’re handling this transition before you enroll.
Pathway 3: Doctoral Degree
If you have a doctoral degree in behavior analysis or an approved related field, you can also qualify for the BACB’s BCBA-D (doctoral-level) certification, which the Mississippi Autism Board recognizes.
Education Requirements for Assistants and Technicians
Assistant behavior analysts (BCaBA®): The Mississippi Autism Board recognizes bachelor’s degrees from programs that include an ABAI Verified Course Sequence. You’ll also need graduate-level coursework covering principles and concepts of behavior analysis, ethical and professional conduct, research methods, and applied behavior analysis.
Behavior technicians (RBT®): You’ll need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. That’s also the minimum education requirement for the BACB’s Registered Behavior Technician certification exam.
Graduate study prerequisites: Some ABA master’s programs require an undergraduate background in behavior science. Most will accept a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, education, special education, or social work. Common prerequisite courses include research methodology, general psychology, conditioning and learning, developmental psychology, and applied behavior analysis.
Step 2. Complete a Period of Supervised Practice
Before you can sit for the BCBA® exam, you need between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. The exact number depends on how much supervision you receive during that time. You can start accumulating these hours as soon as you begin your graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis, and most ABAI- and APBA-accredited programs include a practicum where you’ll start accruing them automatically.
Qualifying supervised practice must follow BACB guidelines, which include:
- Development of performance expectations with your supervisor
- Behavioral skills training, observation, and performance feedback
- Modeling of ethical, professional, and technical behavior
- Guidance on case decision-making and problem-solving
- Review of written materials (reports, behavior programs, data sheets)
- Evaluation of behavioral service delivery outcomes
- Up to half of the supervision can take place in small groups
- All supervised experience must be documented in writing under a formal contract
A few of the ABA providers throughout Mississippi, where you can earn fieldwork hours, include:
- Colorful Minds, Gulfport
- Spectrum Behavioral Services, Flowood
- Blue Sky Behavior Therapy, Ridgeland
- Center for Behavior Analytic Services, Tupelo
- Autism Center of North Mississippi, Oxford
- ExoCare: Center for Autism, Southaven
- Evolve Autism Services, Gulfport
Supervision Requirements for BCaBAs
The supervised experience standards for assistant behavior analysts are the same as those for BCBAs.
Supervision Requirements for RBTs
By definition, you’ll always work under the supervision of a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst. You must also complete 40 hours of training covering the RBT® Task List before you’re eligible for the RBT® exam. You’re responsible for finding a BACB-approved training provider with BCBA® or BCaBA® certification.
Step 3. Pass the BCBA® Exam and the Mississippi Autism Board’s Jurisprudence Exam
Once you’ve satisfied the education and experience requirements, you can apply with the BACB to take the BCBA® examination. After your application is approved, the BACB will direct you to register through Pearson VUE, which runs testing centers at the following Mississippi locations:
- Jackson
- Starkville
- Tupelo
Study guides and BCBA® prep courses are available through several BACB-approved providers. Reviewing these resources before you sit for the exam — especially for ethics and behavior-change procedures, which together account for more than a quarter of the exam — is worth the time.
BCBA® exam content: The exam is a multiple-choice, computer-based test with 175 graded questions covering these areas:
- 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%
Mississippi Autism Board Oral Jurisprudence Exam: This is Mississippi’s unique addition to the licensing process. The exam is oral, not written, and it tests your knowledge of the state laws governing behavior analysis practice — specifically Title 1, Part 17 of the Mississippi State Code. Once you’ve submitted your full application along with the application fee, criminal background check processing fee, and fingerprint card, the Mississippi Autism Board will contact you to schedule it. Preparation materials and scheduling information are available through the Mississippi Autism Board’s website.
Exam Requirements for BCaBAs
The BCaBA® exam application process mirrors the BCBA® process. You’re eligible to apply once you’ve completed the BACB’s education and supervised experience requirements.
Exam Requirements for RBTs
You’ll need to pass two assessments: the RBT® Competency Assessment and the RBT® exam.
Step 4. Apply for Licensure with the Mississippi Autism Board
Once you’ve earned your BCBA® credential, you can apply for licensure with the Mississippi Autism Board by paper or online. Your application includes a waiver allowing the board to obtain your BCBA® exam results directly from the BACB. You’ll also need your graduate program to send official transcripts to:
Mississippi Autism Board
PO Box 20
Jackson, MS 39205
Reciprocity and Temporary Licensure
Licensure by reciprocity: If you hold an active behavior analyst license from another state whose requirements were at least as rigorous as Mississippi’s, you may be eligible to transfer your license. Contact the Mississippi Autism Board directly to confirm eligibility before applying.
Temporary licensure: If you’ve met all requirements except your exams, you can apply for a temporary license. To qualify, you must have already taken the BCBA® exam and be waiting for your score, and be registered to take the next oral jurisprudence exam. The temporary license is valid for six months. During that time, you must work under a licensed behavior analyst and complete your remaining testing requirements.
Continuing education and renewal: Your Mississippi behavior analyst license expires every three years. Renewal requires 12 continuing education hours per year, with at least one hour covering ethics or legal content. No more than 50% of those hours can come from online or home study courses. All education must be approved by the BACB or the Mississippi Autism Board.
Your BCBA® certification also requires renewal every two years through the BACB, which means at least 32 hours of approved continuing education, including at least four ethics hours. BACB-approved CE hours count toward both your certification renewal and your state license renewal.
Licensure Requirements for Assistant Behavior Analysts
The BCaBA® license application uses the same form as the BCBA® license. You’ll need to provide ongoing proof of supervision by a licensed behavior analyst throughout your career. Reciprocity and temporary licensure options follow the same structure as for BCBAs, with one difference: temporary licensure for BCaBAs requires you to have already taken the BCaBA® exam and be waiting for your score. License renewal requires 12 CE hours per year for your state license and 20 CE hours every three years for your BCaBA® certification through the BACB.
Registration Requirements for Behavior Technicians
As a behavior technician, you don’t submit an application yourself. Your supervising BCBA® or BCaBA® submits a behavior technician registration form to the Mississippi Autism Board on your behalf, confirming they’re taking responsibility for your supervision. To be listed, you need a qualified supervisor willing to register you and must have met the RBT® exam and training requirements. Your RBT® certification must be renewed annually through the BACB by passing the RBT® Competency Assessment and maintaining ongoing supervision.
ABA and BCBA Salary in Mississippi
According to May 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Mississippi — the BLS category that includes ABA and BCBA professionals — earn a median salary of $46,810 per year. The annual mean wage comes in at $54,120, with 2,220 professionals employed statewide. You can compare these figures against national trends on our ABA salaries page.
Here’s what the full salary range looks like in Mississippi:
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,590 |
| 25th percentile | $37,830 |
| Median (50th) | $46,810 |
| 75th percentile | $56,800 |
| 90th percentile | $78,480 |
| Annual mean | $54,120 |
Keep in mind that ABA and BCBA professionals often earn on the higher end of this BLS range — and in some cases above it — because of the specialized credential and high demand for board-certified practitioners.
Salary by metro area: In the Jackson, MS metro area, the median salary is $50,510, with top earners (90th percentile) reaching $72,500. The Gulfport-Biloxi area shows a wider spread, with a median of $39,990 and top earners reaching $105,530. Hattiesburg reports a median of $34,560.
Job outlook: Employment in this field in Mississippi is projected to grow 12.1% from 2022 to 2032, adding an estimated 270 net new positions over that decade. Separately, the state averages 220 job openings per year — a figure that includes both newly created positions and openings from turnover and retirements. That’s a consistent pipeline of opportunity for qualified candidates entering the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate state license to practice as a BCBA in Mississippi?
Yes. BCBA® certification from the BACB is required to apply, but it doesn’t replace the state license. You must also obtain a license from the Mississippi Autism Board. That process includes passing a separate oral jurisprudence exam on Mississippi’s behavior analysis laws.
How long does the licensing process take in Mississippi?
Most people complete the full process in two to four years. A master’s degree typically takes two years; fieldwork hours can be accrued concurrently with your degree, and the application and exam timeline after graduation usually adds a few additional months.
What is Mississippi’s oral jurisprudence exam?
It’s an oral exam unique to Mississippi that tests your knowledge of the state laws governing behavior analysis practice, specifically Title 1, Part 17 of the Mississippi State Code. The Mississippi Autism Board contacts you to schedule it after you submit your full licensure application. Preparation materials are available on the board’s website.
Can I work as an RBT while completing my master’s degree?
Yes. Working as a Registered Behavior Technician while you pursue your graduate degree is a common path. It lets you build field experience, earn income, and start developing practical skills you’ll draw on as a BCBA. You’ll need at least a high school diploma, 40 hours of training, and a qualified BCBA or BCaBA to supervise and register you.
Does Mississippi offer reciprocity for out-of-state licensed behavior analysts?
Yes. If you hold an active behavior analyst license from another state with requirements equal to or stricter than Mississippi’s, you may qualify for licensure by reciprocity. Contact the Mississippi Autism Board directly to confirm your eligibility before applying.
Key Takeaways
- Two credentials, not one. Mississippi licenses behavior analysts through the Mississippi Autism Board. BCBA® certification is required to apply for your state license, but the state license is a separate requirement — you need both to practice.
- Four steps to licensure. Master’s degree, supervised fieldwork (1,500–2,000 hours), BCBA® exam plus oral jurisprudence exam, then state licensure application.
- VCS is gone. The ABAI VCS system ended on December 31, 2025. New applicants must work through university-based course verification. Confirm how your program handles this before you enroll.
- Salary range. The median salary for this field in Mississippi is $46,810 (May 2024 BLS), with experienced professionals earning up to $78,480 or more. BCBA salaries often run higher than these BLS figures.
- Growing market. Mississippi’s insurance reform law guarantees coverage for ABA therapy, supporting a stable job market. Employment is projected to grow 12.1% through 2032, with 220 average annual openings.
Ready to find a program that meets Mississippi’s licensing requirements? Browse accredited ABA master’s programs and compare options that align with BACB coursework standards and fieldwork placement support.
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.