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What is Behavior Analysis Professional Practice?

Get a Master's in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice

The Behavior Analysis Professional Practice Graduate Certificate

The Behavior Analysis Professional Practice M.A.

Behavior analysis is a scientific approach to the study of behavior, with a focus on functional relations between behavior and environmental events.

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) applies basic behavior analytic principles to solve problems of social significance while systematically evaluating these applications. A BCBA® (Board Certified Behavior Analyst®) or other ABA practitioner can help individuals build functional skills, remove behavioral impediments to learning and effectively function in daily life.

The master's in behavior analysis professional practice provides the background and knowledge needed for BCBA certification and a role as an ABA professional—and can lead to a rewarding career, enhancing quality of life through applied behavior analysis.

The Behavior Analysis Professional Practice, M.A. online degree program meets Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) 2027 degree and coursework requirements for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) credential.

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2027
BCBA Certification Requirements
Meets BACB Degree & Behavior Analytic Coursework Requirements for BCBA Certification Pathway 2
100% Online
Master's in ABA
Earn Your Behavior Analysis Degree At
One of the Best Schools for ABA
77%
BCBA Exam Pass Rate
Florida Tech ABA Online Program 2022
vs. 55% average across all universities

Why Choose Florida Tech for Behavior Analysis?

Florida Tech is well-known as one of the best schools for behavior analysis. In the Behavior Analysis Professional Practice M.A. degree program, you'll enjoy the convenience and flexibility of earning your ABA degree online while working with experts to build a solid foundation in ABA principles and practice. You'll be well-prepared for the BCBA exam, and fully equipped for a rewarding ABA career.

Developed by experienced behavior analysts, educators and instructional designers, the M.A. Behavior Analysis Professional Practice degree program is designed in alignment with behavior analytic principles to set you up for success. The course sequence is carefully structured for consistency, and information learned in earlier courses serves as a foundation for advanced courses.

With years of experience in ABA online education, we know how to keep it engaging, from video lectures featuring behavior analysis experts to online meetings with experienced BCBAs. Your course will also include written course materials and study aids, and additional reading from textbooks and journals is carefully curated with your learning in mind.

As an ABA Online student, you’ll enjoy engaging course content designed for optimal learning online.

You'll watch your unit videos (about 5–6 hours per week) and complete the majority of other course components at your convenience within each week.

Most courses include a scheduled biweekly online meeting. This meeting will be with your instructor and a small group of other students, and you’ll choose your meeting time from available options when you register. Meetings are offered on different days and at a range of times to help you create a schedule that works for you.

Courses are structured with busy professionals in mind. Our learning management systems let you access course videos on a computer or mobile device, facilitating student interaction and education on-the-go. Dedicated student service and technical support teams are available via phone and email throughout the week for your needs. 

Students look forward to their biweekly online meetings with their instructor and a small group of fellow students. These meetings are a great opportunity to review recent course material, ask questions, get to know your instructor and other students and learn from each other.

Instructors are Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA or BCBA-D®) who are fluent with the course material and passionate about behavior analysis and teaching. In addition to the biweekly meeting, your instructor will be your first point of contact in each course and available via email.

You may also decide to engage with our active online community. Connect with peers and instructors through discussion boards and social media for a truly supportive student experience.

Up-to-date with the latest knowledge and standards in the field, the behavior analysis professional practice M.A. meets the BACB’s 2027 Coursework Requirements at the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) level. Applicants must meet additional BACB requirements to be eligible to take the BCBA certification exam.

Year after year, our students are more likely to pass the BCBA exam on the first try than students from most other programs.

For example, in 2022, 77% of our ABA Online students taking the BCBA exam for the first time passed. That’s well above average--the overall exam pass rate across all universities was just 55%.

Check out our pass rates.

The 33-credit M.A. in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice program is designed to be completed in six semesters.

We offer three semesters each year:

  • Spring (January)
  • Summer (May)
  • Fall (August)

You can start in any semester and complete the program, start-to-finish, in just two years.

For those who already have a master's degree or who have a bachelor's and wish to pursue certification at the assistant level, our 100% online ABA Certificates are designed to fulfill behavior analytic coursework requirements toward certification with the BACB.

Online Certificate | Behavior Analyst Level
Appropriate for those with a master’s degree or higher who intend to pursue BCBA certification.

Online Certificate | Assistant Behavior Analyst Level
Appropriate for those with a bachelor's degree who intend to pursue BCaBA® certification.

*Note: If you complete requirements and apply to the BACB by December 31, 2026, you may qualify under the 2022 (Fifth Edition) Certification Requirements. After this date, you'll need to meet the 2027 Certification Requirements. BACB requirements also include stipulations for degree and field work.

For students interested in pursuing a behavior analysis master's degree on campus, we offer several options:

Main Campus in Melbourne, FL

Orlando, FL (Baldwin Park)

Careers in Behavior Analysis

Certification is key to growth and security in ABA jobs, and the demand for well-trained board-certified behavior analysts is growing in early intervention school programs, day programs, residential settings, and home-based programs. 

Learn more about behavior analysis job market growth in the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's report, US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010-2023.

Behavior analysis careers encompass a wide range of options, such as:

  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
  • Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® (BCaBA®)
  • Special education teacher
  • Human resources professional
  • Children and family services
  • Clinical researcher
  • Behavior researcher
  • ABA training coordinator
  • Post-secondary education
  • Organizational behavior management
  • Clinical director/supervisor
  • Certified Autism Specialist (CAS)™
  • Therapist school interventionist
  • Life coach
  • Animal training and care
  • Owner/director of child care center
  • Health coach
  • Personal health and wellness trainer
  • Non-profit sector
  • Career financial behavior
  • Animal behaviorist
  • Zoo animal trainer

Looking ahead to your ABA career can be exciting! Keep in mind that certain roles may entail additional prerequisites.

You may need a license to practice as a behavior analyst, depending on your location. Florida Tech ABA programs are designed to meet BACB credential requirements, which many states require or accept toward licensure. However, some states may have additional or different requirements for an ABA license. Please see our ABA professional licensing disclosures for more information about behavior analysis licensing.

Florida Tech Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs, including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for behavior analysis careers.

Advanced Degree Options

Most of our alumni pursue the BCBA credential and a career in behavior analysis, and some continue their education with a Ph.D. in behavior analysis.

The doctoral program develops skilled researchers, instructors and practitioners, preparing them for academic and professional roles in research and practice.

Behavior Analysis, Ph.D.

Explore the Behavior Analysis Professional Practice, M.A., Curriculum

The Behavior Analysis Professional Practice, M.A., Curriculum

The Behavior Analysis Professional Practice M.A. Curriculum

The M.A. curriculum meets BACB degree and behavior analytic coursework requirements for BCBA Certification Pathway 2, and ensures you become proficient in behavior analysis.

The program is 33 credits total and can be completed in six semesters (typically two years).

Course content aligns with BACB Test Content Areas and electives focus on current topics in behavior analysis.

The structure of the program and the content of each course is specifically designed to prepare you for the BCBA exam, culminating in a final program examination that simulates the BCBA exam experience.

 

Check the catalog for a description of all courses.

Download the Behavior Analysis Professional Practice, M.A. Curriculum now!

Support for Student Success

Student attending online meeting

Our faculty and a team of expert behavior analysts, instructional designers and teachers work to create and evaluate course content and to support students every step of the way.

Courses are designed in alignment with behavior analytic principles and taken in sequence, each semester building on the last. You'll have a new unit each week with videos, reading and other learning activities.

Most courses include a biweekly online meeting with your instructor and a small group of other students to review the course content and answer any questions you may have.

Instructors are experienced BCBAs who are fluent in the course content and passionate about teaching behavior analysis. They serve as a first point of contact in the course beyond the synchronous meetings, as well.

Program Courses and Costs

The M.A. in Behavior Analysis Professional Practice includes courses exclusive to the master's degree, and also shares certain courses in common with our ABA graduate certificate programs. Courses that are shared in common with certificate programs are offered at a special, lower tuition rate, reducing your overall cost.

Tuition Rates

  • $510 per credit hour for certificate courses within the master's program
  • $970 per credit hour for master's courses exclusive to the master's program

Total Tuition: $22,350

The university's board of trustees has approved these tuition and fees for the academic year 2024–2025. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. Student Financial Services publishes complete tuition and fees information.

Learn more about Behavior Analysis Professional Practice at Florida Tech on the website.

How Do Behavior Analysis Practitioners Use ABA?

Behavior analysis is often recognized for its role in enhancing the quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but how do we use behavior analysis in other areas? In addition to ABA for autism, the field includes a wealth of other subspecialty areas that might be less familiar, such as:

  • ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
  • Mental health disorders 
  • Gerontology
  • Forensics
  • Behavioral gerontology
  • Behavioral pediatrics 
  • Health and fitness
  • Behavioral medicine 
  • Sports
  • Life coaching
  • Environment/sustainability
  • Parenting
  • Education/special education
  • Animal training
  • External/internal business consulting
  • Training/learning and development 
  • Instructional design
  • Continuous improvement 
  • Organizational development 
  • Human resources 
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