Becoming a licensed behavior analyst in Montana requires earning a master’s degree, completing the 1,500 to 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork required for BCBA certification through the BACB, passing the BCBA exam, and then applying for state licensure through the Montana Board of Psychologists. The whole process typically takes three to five years from start to finish.
Montana made a significant move for the ABA profession in 2017 when the state legislature passed Senate Bill 193, formally creating state licensure and regulation for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts under the Montana Board of Psychologists. That law changed things for practitioners here. It created a real professional standard, opened doors for insurance reimbursement, and signaled that Montana was taking ABA seriously as a career path.
If you’re considering this route, you’re looking at a field with genuine demand, a state that has committed to expanding ABA services, and a licensing process that largely relies on BACB certification requirements. Here’s what the path looks like from start to finish, including what you can expect to earn.
Licensing Requirements Overview
Montana requires that behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts earn national certification through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) before applying for state licensure. The Montana Board of Psychologists handles the state licensing process.
To qualify, you’ll need one of these BACB designations:
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for behavior analysts
- Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) for assistant behavior analysts
The steps below walk through the BCBA path specifically. The BCaBA path follows a similar structure but with different degree and supervised hours requirements.
Step 1: Earn Your Graduate Degree
The BCBA certification requires a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis or a related field like education or psychology, as long as you meet the BACB’s coursework requirements.
The most direct route is to complete a master’s degree in an ABAI- or APBA-accredited program. These programs are designed around BACB certification requirements, so the coursework and practicum components align with what you’ll need.
If you complete a degree in a related field, you’ll need to satisfy the BACB’s graduate-level coursework requirements separately. Here’s the breakdown:
- 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
One important update for 2026: the ABAI Verified Course Sequence (VCS) system was sunset on December 31, 2025. Starting in January 2026, the BACB’s Pathway 2 process requires direct attestation of coursework by university faculty rather than verification through an ABAI-approved sequence. In practice, that means your department chair, dean, or a BCBA-certified VCS Coordinator reviews your coursework course-by-course, completes a Non-Verified Course Content Attestation, and submits it directly to the BACB. You can browse graduate programs through the ABAI program directory to find options that fit your needs.
Step 2: Complete Supervised Fieldwork
Once you’re enrolled in graduate-level coursework in behavior analysis, you can start accruing supervised fieldwork hours. The BACB requires between 1,500 and 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork for BCBA certification, and the total depends on the level of supervision you receive.
If you choose an ABAI- or APBA-accredited program, you’ll likely complete most of your required hours through the embedded practicum. Your program director is usually your best resource for identifying an approved supervisor and a field site.
Some ABA providers in Montana where you may complete your supervised fieldwork include:
- Exceptional Family Connections, Bozeman
- Full Circle Autism and Developmental Services, Missoula
- Pediatric Therapy Clinic, Inc., Billings
- Special Learning 1-ON-1 LLC, Bozeman
- STEP, Inc., Billings
- Child Development Center, Missoula
Step 3: Pass the BCBA Exam
After you’ve met both the educational and experience requirements, you’ll apply to the BACB. Once the BACB approves your application, you’ll receive instructions for registering for the BCBA exam through Pearson VUE.
Testing centers may be available in Montana cities such as Helena, Bozeman, Billings, Butte, and Missoula (availability varies by Pearson VUE scheduling). Check the Pearson VUE website directly for current testing locations and open appointments.
For a complete look at the credentialing process, see our step-by-step guide to BCBA certification.
Step 4: Apply for Montana State Licensure
With your BCBA credential in hand, you’re ready to apply for state licensure through the Montana Board of Psychologists. The Board oversees licensure for both behavior analysts (BCBA) and assistant behavior analysts (BCaBA) in the state.
You can find current application requirements and forms on the Montana Board of Psychologists website. Requirements can change, so it’s worth checking directly with the Board to confirm you have everything before you submit.
Behavior Analyst Salary in Montana
Salary is one of the first questions people ask when they’re considering this path, and it’s a fair one. Here’s what the most current data shows.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the median annual salary for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in Montana was $58,660. The top 10 percent of earners in Montana brought in $80,870 or more annually.
Nationally, the median for this BLS category was $59,190, with top earners reaching $98,210 or more. It’s worth noting that ABA and BCBA professionals frequently earn on the higher end of this range, since the BLS groups these roles within a broader counselor category. You can compare ABA salaries across the country to see how Montana stacks up against other states.
Nationally, the field is projected to grow 17% through 2034, with an average of 48,300 new positions opening each year. Experience, setting, and employer type all factor into what you’ll actually take home. BCBAs working in school districts, medical settings, and private practice tend to see different salary profiles, and rural placements in Montana may come with added incentives given the workforce shortage in those areas.
ABA Providers in Montana
Montana’s ABA provider network has grown substantially over the past decade, driven in large part by expanded Medicaid access and private insurance mandates. Here are some of the organizations doing significant work across the state.
Ascent Behavioral Analysis: Helena
Ascent Behavioral Analysis provides ABA services to children with ASD and other developmental disabilities. Their programs are individually designed around each child’s strengths and skill deficits, covering academic skills, daily living skills, social skills, developmental skills, and communication. Interventionists work with children in two-to-five-hour sessions, and the organization also provides support and training for parents and families.
Pediatric Therapy Clinic: Billings and Bozeman
Pediatric Therapy Clinic operates an expanded clinic in Billings with satellite locations in Bozeman and Butte. It’s one of the first clinics in Montana to offer ABA therapy. Their services include clinic-based, home-based, and school-based ABA, delivered by a team of BCBAs and BCaBAs. They also offer speech, occupational, and physical therapy.
Big Sky Therapeutic Services: Great Falls
Big Sky Therapeutic Services provides individualized and intensive ABA and behavioral health services in home, school, and community settings throughout northcentral Montana. They regularly coordinate with other agencies to offer comprehensive care, and their team brings more than 70 years of combined experience to the work.
Montana’s Insurance and Medicaid Coverage for ABA
Montana has both private insurance mandates and Medicaid coverage in place for ABA therapy, which directly shapes the job market for behavior analysts in the state.
On the insurance side, Brandon’s Bill (Senate Bill 234) requires insurance companies to cover evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies. Coverage is capped at $50,000 annually for children eight years old and younger, and $20,000 annually for children between the ages of nine and eighteen.
Montana’s Medicaid program has also expanded significantly. The state first introduced Medicaid coverage for children with autism in 2009, but it was initially limited to just 55 children statewide. In 2015, the Legislature authorized services for all eligible children, a major shift that broadened access and created more positions for ABA providers across the state.
Montana Autism Education Project
For school-based practitioners and families in rural areas, the Montana Autism Education Project (MAEP) is worth knowing about. MAEP is part of the OPI Special Education Professional Development Unit and offers free autism training programs and consultations with public schools throughout Montana, including rural schools and schools on Indian reservations.
MAEP serves any student with a current IEP and provides video training, on-site assistance, and peer-to-peer collaboration for school staff. If you’re working in a school setting in Montana, MAEP is a meaningful resource for both professional development and student support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials do I need to practice as a behavior analyst in Montana?
Montana requires that you hold national certification from the BACB, either as a BCBA (for behavior analysts) or a BCaBA (for assistant behavior analysts), before you can apply for state licensure through the Montana Board of Psychologists.
How long does it take to become a BCBA in Montana?
It typically takes three to five years. That includes completing a master’s degree (usually two to three years), accruing the supervised fieldwork hours required by the BACB (which can overlap with your degree), and passing the BCBA exam before applying for state licensure.
Is the BCBA exam offered in Montana?
Testing centers may be available in Montana cities, including Helena, Bozeman, Billings, Butte, and Missoula, though availability varies by Pearson VUE scheduling. Check the Pearson VUE website directly for current testing locations and open appointments.
Does Montana require insurance companies to cover ABA therapy?
Yes. Brandon’s Bill requires insurers to cover evidence-based, medically necessary autism therapies up to $50,000 annually for children under eight and up to $20,000 annually for children ages nine through eighteen.
What’s the job outlook for behavior analysts in Montana?
Montana’s ABA workforce has expanded in recent years alongside broader Medicaid access and private insurance mandates. Rural areas of the state, in particular, have significant unmet need, which translates to real opportunity for new practitioners willing to work in those communities.
Key Takeaways
- Montana has licensed behavior analysts since 2017 under Senate Bill 193, with the Montana Board of Psychologists overseeing state licensure.
- Becoming a BCBA requires a master’s degree, completion of the supervised fieldwork hours required by the BACB, passing the BCBA exam, and submission of a state licensure application.
- The ABAI Verified Course Sequence (VCS) system was sunset December 31, 2025. Starting in January 2026, the BACB’s Pathway 2 process requires direct attestation of coursework by university faculty through a course-by-course review submitted to the BACB.
- BCBA exam testing may be available at Pearson VUE sites in Helena, Bozeman, Billings, Butte, and Missoula — verify current availability before scheduling.
- According to May 2024 BLS data, the median salary in Montana for this counselor category was $58,660, with top earners reaching $80,870 or more. BCBA professionals typically earn above the broader category median.
- Montana’s private insurance mandate and expanded Medicaid program have meaningfully grown the state’s ABA job market over the past decade.
Ready to take the next step? Explore ABA graduate programs that can prepare you for BCBA certification in Montana.
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.