State Law Exams and Requirements for Behavior Analysts

The BACB exam is the knowledge test almost every state relies on. On top of it, some states want proof that you know their law, and others require specific training that has nothing to do with behavior analysis content but is still a condition of licensure or renewal. These requirements are easy to miss because they are not on the BACB's radar.

Which states give a jurisprudence exam?

Nevada

Each applicant for a behavior analyst or assistant license must pass an exam on "the laws and regulations governing the practice of applied behavior analysis in this State" (NAC 641D.120). The Nevada ABA Board describes it as 40 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes, taken online through a link emailed to the candidate, covering federal and state laws, ethical principles and codes of professional conduct relevant to Nevada practice. You must hold current BCBA or BCaBA certification to sit for it. The board's fee page lists $150. Before retaking more than twice, you must ask the board in writing and submit a study plan. Notes and recordings are prohibited.

Louisiana

Applicants for both the LBA and the SCABA must pass the Louisiana jurisprudence exam on the state's laws and rules (board rules 302 and 303; R.S. 37:3706 and 3707 as enacted). The fee rule lists $75 for the exam (rule 305).

Ohio

To get a certificate, an applicant must "demonstrate an understanding of the law regarding behavioral health practice" (Ohio Rev. Code 4783.04(A)(3)). The statute does not say how; check the State Board of Psychology's current application instructions for the format.

Which states say there is no state exam?

Texas does, in so many words: "There is no Texas exam to get a license." TDLR accepts verification of current BACB or QABA certification as proof of passing the certifying entity's exam. Washington's Department of Health says the LBA requires the BCBA exam, and that there is no exam requirement for the LABA or CBT. Silence is not proof, though, so check each state you add.

What state-specific training is required?

• Texas: an HHSC-approved human trafficking prevention training course for every renewal (TDLR; House Bill 2059 of the 86th Legislature, which the at-a-glance sheet describes as a one-hour course).
• New York: coursework or training in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment, for both licensure pathways (Education Law § 6507(3)(a)). Under Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024, mandated reporters must complete the updated curriculum, which adds identifying abuse of children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, by November 17, 2026. People who took the training between November 1, 2022 and August 31, 2025 can complete a short addendum through most approved providers.
• Washington: two hours of health equity CE every four years for LBAs and LABAs (WAC 246-805-401 and 402). The Department of Health also says health care professionals other than physicians who offer telemedicine must complete telemedicine training.
• Nevada: at least two hours of suicide prevention and awareness before each renewal (NAC 641D.160), and six hours on cultural competency and diversity, equity and inclusion for behavior analysts (NRS 641D.360).

Do other state rules apply even without an exam?

Yes. Several states write their ethics standard into law. Virginia requires documentation that you practice in accordance with the BACB ethics code (Va. Code § 54.1-2957.16). Louisiana has its own ethical standards chapter (board rules, Chapter 10). The BACB's brief says 20 of the 40 licensing states directly reference the BACB's ethics requirements. Washington requires LABAs and CBTs to give clients written supervisor disclosures (WAC 246-805-250 and 340). These are the kinds of details a jurisprudence exam tests, and the kinds a supervisor new to a state misses.

How should you prepare for a state law exam?

1. Read the actual statute and rules, not a summary. Nevada's exam covers its law and regulations; Louisiana's covers its laws and rules.
2. Focus on what differs from the BACB: supervision ratios and documentation, reporting deadlines, renewal cycles, exemptions, unlicensed practice penalties.
3. Note the logistics: Nevada's exam is online, timed, and limits retakes without board approval.
4. Schedule required training early. Approved providers and certificates take time.

Our sister site has a useful comparison of how psychology boards run their exams: state jurisprudence exams for psychologists.

What does our state-law support include?

Our Jurisprudence and State Law Requirement Support is $249 per state. We give you a study outline built from the state's statute and rules, explain the exam logistics, and track any state-specific training to completion. You take the exam and the training yourself; we do not take exams, provide CE, or answer exam questions for anyone. Combine it with a license application, or see each state's requirements on the state license index, including Nevada and Louisiana.