How much supervision does a BCaBA need each month?

Under the BACB's BCaBA Handbook, at least 5 percent of monthly service hours during the first 1,000 hours of post-certification practice, with no less than one hour every two weeks, then at least 2 percent. State rules can require more, so check each state where you practice.

Can a psychologist supervise a BCaBA?

Until December 31, 2026, the BACB accepts a psychologist certified by ABPP in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in ABA. Some states also allow psychologists: Illinois accepts a licensed clinical psychologist, and Washington accepts a licensed psychologist with an active Washington credential.

Does my supervisor need a license in my state?

Often, yes. Washington requires the LABA's clinical supervisor to hold a Washington license, and Louisiana requires a Louisiana LBA. The BACB warns that remote supervision may require the supervisor to be licensed where the supervisee provides services.

What happens if my supervisor quits?

The BACB treats a BCaBA without a supervisor on record as inactive, so you may not practice until a new one is listed. Louisiana requires both parties to notify the board within 10 calendar days when the supervision relationship ends.

Supervision Rules for Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts

An assistant behavior analyst never practices alone. The BACB says BCaBAs "may not provide behavior-analytic services without the supervision of a BCBA" (BCaBA Handbook, updated June 2026), and many states that license assistants write their own supervision rules on top. Texas, by contrast, simply requires compliance with the certifying entity's supervision rules at all times, according to TDLR. When the two disagree, you meet the stricter one. When a supervisor leaves, the assistant can be out of compliance overnight.

What does the BACB require?

The BCaBA Handbook sets the floor that applies in every state:

Amount. During the first 1,000 hours of post-certification practice, supervision must be at least 5 percent of behavior-analytic service hours each month, with no less than one hour every two weeks. After that, at least 2 percent each month.
Frequency. The BCaBA and supervisor meet at least once in every month the BCaBA provides services.
Observation. At least one supervisor observes the BCaBA with a client in the natural environment once per quarter, and each supervisor does so if there are several. Video counts, but monitoring with no real-time interaction or feedback may not count as supervision.
Coverage. There must be a supervisor for every client. The handbook gives the example that having a supervisor for three clients and none for a fourth is not permitted.
No supervisor, no practice. A BCaBA without a qualified supervisor on record "will be considered inactive and may not practice or use their BCaBA certification," including supervising RBTs.
Who qualifies. A BCBA or, until December 31, 2026, a psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis.

Supervisors also keep documentation for seven years and complete an eight-hour supervision training before supervising.

Which states add their own supervision rules?

Washington

A licensed assistant behavior analyst works under a licensed behavior analyst, or someone otherwise qualified under RCW 18.380.030(1), for each client (WAC 246-805-240). The clinical supervisor must hold an active Washington license in good standing. The two sign a written agreement before the LABA does any behavior analytic task, covering duties, how caseload is reported, and the type and frequency of supervision. Supervision includes at least one face-to-face contact per month, which may be by videoconference, and a quarterly observation of at least one treatment session. The supervisor reviews the LABA's progress at least every six months. The LABA must also give each client a written disclosure of the supervisor's name and contact information and review it at least once a year (WAC 246-805-250). The Department of Health's FAQ says a licensed psychologist with an active Washington credential may also supervise an LABA.

Louisiana

Louisiana's rules, Chapter 5, are the most detailed we have read. A full-time SCABA (30 or more hours a week) meets face to face with the supervising LBA at least once every four weeks for at least an hour, and the LBA provides at least one hour of face-to-face direct supervision per month for each SCABA. Video is allowed in place of being physically present. The LBA may not supervise more than 10 full-time-equivalent SCABAs at once without prior board approval, and must conduct at least one on-site observation per client per month. Camera surveillance with only text or email feedback is allowed as extra supervision but does not count toward the minimum. Both parties notify the board within 10 calendar days when the relationship ends.

Nevada

Nevada's statute says a licensed assistant behavior analyst may not practice or supervise except under a licensed behavior analyst, or a licensed psychologist who holds BCBA certification and has met the BACB's supervisor requirements (NRS 641D.610). Nevada's regulations adopt the BACB's supervision standards by reference, and supervisors must keep documentation for at least seven years and produce it on request (NAC 641D.090 and 641D.300). Applicants for a Nevada assistant license must show who will supervise them before the license issues (NAC 641D.100(2)).

Illinois

The Illinois Behavior Analyst Licensing Act allows supervision by a licensed behavior analyst or a licensed clinical psychologist (225 ILCS 6/20(a-5)). Note the difference from the BACB: a clinical psychologist who is not a BCBA satisfies Illinois, but may not satisfy the BACB after the ABPP exception ends on December 31, 2026. Your arrangement has to work for both.

Georgia

Georgia's board, on its page archived in April 2026, quoted O.C.G.A. § 43-7A-5 requiring assistants to "have ongoing supervision by a licensed behavior analyst in a manner consistent with the certifying entity's requirements," and told assistants not to apply until their supervisor held a Georgia license.

Virginia

Virginia's statute makes supervision a licensing criterion: an applicant must document that their work is supervised by a licensed behavior analyst under the board's procedures (Va. Code § 54.1-2957.16(C)(4)).

Where do supervision arrangements break down?

The supervisor is licensed in the wrong state. The BACB says remote supervision "may require that the supervisor be licensed in the state where the trainee or supervisee is providing services" (December 2025 Newsletter). A BCBA in Texas supervising a BCaBA in Washington needs to check Washington's rule that the clinical supervisor hold a Washington license.
The supervisor leaves and nobody tells the board. Louisiana gives 10 calendar days. The BACB treats a BCaBA without a supervisor on record as inactive.
A psychologist supervisor after 2026. Illinois and Washington accept certain psychologists; the BACB's ABPP exception ends December 31, 2026.
Video-only oversight. Louisiana and the BACB both say passive camera monitoring does not count toward the minimum.
One supervisor, several states. A single supervision contract can satisfy the BACB while missing a state's written-agreement or client-disclosure rule.

Can we prepare the supervision paperwork?

Our Assistant Behavior Analyst License service ($399 per state) includes mapping the state's supervision requirements to your actual arrangement and preparing the supervision forms each board asks for, alongside the application package. If the supervising BCBA needs a license in the same state, we prepare that file too (License by Endorsement is $599 per state). You and your supervisor review, sign and submit everything yourselves; we organize and track. See which states license assistants and the state license index to start.