Most ABA professionals aren’t ready to open their own practice right after certification, and that’s okay. The smartest path is to spend several years working under experienced BCBAs first, building clinical skills, learning the business side, and finding mentors who help you avoid costly mistakes before you go out on your own.
Autonomy. Freedom. Setting your own hours and fees. Office space above that swanky coffee shop and down the street from the gym.
Who wouldn’t want to open their own practice right from the start?
If you’re a new therapist ready to hang your freshly minted credentials, or even a few years in and itching to be your own boss, a quick Google search offers no shortage of Internet candy promising assistance for a smooth transition into private practice.
But is that really the best step for you or those you hope to help?
Dr. Michael Dorsey, Co-Founder and Director of the Institute for Behavioral Studies at Endicott College, doesn’t think so.
“One of the biggest challenges that I see new people face is the temptation to walk out of a master’s program, sit for the exam, become licensed, and then want to open up their private practice. I counsel them against that from Day 1,” he says.
How to Stack the Odds in Your Favor for the Best Chance at Success
Many small businesses struggle in their first few years, and failure rates vary by industry. Some healthcare practices may benefit from consistent demand for services, though running a private practice still carries significant financial risk.
“You can walk out and get referrals Day 1,” says Dr. Dorsey, “but the risk of doing that is just huge. There are so many things you need to know that we don’t train you in….We don’t train you in human resources, we don’t train you in liability insurance. How do you sign a lease for an office? What’s a triple net lease? How do you balance your books and pay sales tax or income tax on people? What’s FICA? We don’t teach you that kind of stuff.”
– Dr. Michael F. Dorsey, LABA, BCBA-D
Going into private practice demands a certain amount of business know-how and an entrepreneurial spirit. From billing to marketing to scheduling, you’ll spend a fair amount of time handling business functions completely unrelated to the ABA assessment and therapy you’ve been trained in.
With ongoing changes in healthcare laws and the insurance system, even long-time private practitioners can feel overwhelmed by the business side of things, and many have moved toward group therapy practices as a result.
Your First Years in Practice Are About Learning the Ropes… A Mentor Can Help
But even if you succeed on the business end, are you truly a successful therapist? Are you offering your clients the best care they need to work through challenges ranging from autism to addiction to traumatic brain injury?
Think about this: If you needed surgery to remove a brain tumor, who would you prefer to do the surgery: the doctor fresh out of school working alone in a private practice, or the one working under a seasoned surgeon giving input along the way?
Working closely with more experienced ABA therapists and consulting with them frequently will build your confidence and empower you to provide clients with the best possible care. It accelerates your professional development by letting you draw on others’ experience, put it to work, and see the results firsthand.
“When you get your license, you are still a beginner therapist and will be relatively inexperienced for at least 10 years,” writes Dr. Andrew Klafter, a private psychiatric practitioner in Cincinnati, Ohio. “The most important way to improve your skills as a therapist is to present your work to a more experienced and more knowledgeable therapist on at least a weekly basis.”
Some will argue that a degree and BCBA certification are adequate preparation for providing professional ABA services and do require post-graduate mentorship. Dr. Dorsey disagrees.
“Yes, you’ve got all of the courses, yes you’ve got 1,500 hours of experience, but you’re not ready to go out all by yourself. Go work under somebody who is a mentor, figure out what the world is all about before you take off on your own.”
– Dr. Michael F. Dorsey, LABA, BCBA-D
Note: the Behavior Analyst Certification Board has since updated the BCBA-supervised fieldwork requirements, which typically total around 2,000 hours, depending on the certification pathway. Dr. Dorsey’s core advice about gaining experience before going solo remains as relevant as ever.
He explains that if you join a group practice, you’ll probably start out providing direct service while gaining input from experienced colleagues on behavioral plans. Eventually, you’ll be asked to supervise a few technicians and paraprofessionals, oversee assessments, modify teaching plans, and write behavioral work plans.
“Then promotions start happening….You get promoted to a management role,e and you’re running a program with 15 to 20 BCBAs working under you. So over time it works its way up, and you end up wishing you had an MBA.”
Through this experience, you build a strong foundation for your future private practice. Once that foundation is solid, you can focus on learning the ins and outs of the business side while ensuring nothing gets in the way of providing clients with the best service.
Finding Experienced ABAs that You Believe In… and that Believe in You
Dr. Dorsey encourages newly certified BCBAs to take full advantage of the camaraderie and support available through the best practitioners in the ABA professional community.
“The way to go figure that stuff out is to go find somebody who is running a highly ethical successful organization, and apply for a job and be honest with them…say, ‘Look, I’d like to come, I want to learn from you, but I want you to know my hope going into this is five years from now I’d like to open up my own program.'”
Some practices even have formal mentorship programs you can join. Pierre Louis, BCBA with Brett DiNovi & Associates, explains that their company pairs new hires with an experienced BCBA or clinical coordinator whom they meet with weekly. These young practitioners learn the nuts and bolts of the program, gaining skills in billing, treatment plan templates, and time management.
Even if there isn’t a formal mentorship program available, actively seek out guidance from experienced practitioners within the group or institution you join, and make it clear right from the initial interview that this is what you want.
Not every practice has a heart for mentorship, Dr. Dorsey admits. When you share your long-term goals for becoming a private practitioner, some practices will suggest you search elsewhere.
But it’s worth continuing the search, he emphasizes. “Others will say, ‘I understand that, that’s where I was when I was you. Come on, come to work for us, we’ll help you get started.'”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I work before opening my own ABA practice?
Most experts, including Dr. Dorsey, recommend working under experienced BCBAs for at least five years before going solo. This gives you time to build genuine clinical competence, navigate real-world caseload challenges, and develop the business literacy you won’t get from a graduate program.
What business skills do I need to run an ABA practice?
Beyond your clinical training, you’ll need a working knowledge of billing and insurance reimbursement, HR and staff management, lease agreements, tax obligations, liability insurance, and marketing. Many BCBAs find it helpful to take continuing education courses in practice management or partner with a healthcare business consultant when they’re ready to launch.
How do I find a mentor in the ABA field?
Start by being upfront in your job search. Dr. Dorsey recommends applying to practices you admire and telling them directly that mentorship is important to you. Professional organizations like ABAI and regional ABA networking groups are also good places to connect with experienced practitioners who are open to mentoring.
Do I need a business license to open an ABA practice?
In many states, you’ll need professional licensure as a behavior analyst along with a registered business entity such as an LLC or corporation. Requirements vary by state, so check your state-by-state ABA licensing requirements and consult a healthcare attorney early in the planning process.
What’s the difference between a solo ABA practice and a group practice?
A solo practice means you’re the only clinician, handling all client care, billing, and administration yourself. A group practice involves multiple BCBAs, technicians, and support staffwithin a single business structure. Most professionals start in group settings, both to build clinical skills and to learn how the business side works before taking on those responsibilities alone. If you’re still working toward certification, our guide on how to become a BCBA walks through the full path.
Key Takeaways
- Most new BCBAs aren’t ready to go solo right away, either clinically or operationally, and that’s completely normal.
- Graduate programs don’t teach the business side: HR, insurance billing, lease agreements, tax obligations, and liability coverage are all things you’ll need to learn on the job.
- Working in a group practice first builds the clinical foundation and business exposure you need to run your own eventually.
- Mentorship accelerates professional development. Seek out practices that pair new hires with experienced BCBAs and be transparent about your long-term goals from the start.
- When you find the right mentor and organization, the path to private practice becomes much clearer and less risky.
Ready to build the foundation for a successful ABA career? Explore programs that prepare you for everything from clinical practice to practice leadership.
