Louisiana Behavior Analyst Licensing

Louisiana regulates applied behavior analysis at three levels under the Behavior Analyst Practice Act, La. R.S. 37:3701 and following (Act 351 of 2013), and the rules of the Louisiana Behavior Analyst Board at La. Admin. Code title 46, part VIII:

• the licensed behavior analyst;
• the state-certified assistant behavior analyst; and
• the registered line technician.

Louisiana is one of the few states that credentials technicians, and the only one we know of where the supervising behavior analyst registers them. It also renews every credential annually.

What does a behavior analyst need?

R.S. 37:3706 says the board shall issue a license on satisfaction of eight criteria: a completed application, the fees, proof of good moral character, a satisfactory criminal background check, proof of passing "a nationally recognized examination administered by a nonprofit organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies" or an equivalent the board approves, proof of passing "the jurisprudence examination covering the laws and rules governing the practice of behavior analysis in Louisiana," proof of practicing under accepted standards including the BACB's ethics standards, and a master's degree from an accredited institution.

Rule VIII-302 turns that into the packet: a notarized application with the fee, official transcripts requested from your university, verification of the national exam, the Louisiana jurisprudence exam, a board-approved criminal background check, and proof of good moral character. Every application includes an attestation that the information is "true, correct and complete" (Rule VIII-301). An applicant denied on the information submitted may reapply after one year.

Two statutory points stand out. Louisiana's ABA standards are "separate and unique" from psychology's, and "there shall be no requirement for individuals practicing under this Chapter to be supervised by members of other professions" (R.S. 37:3706(B)-(C)).

What does the jurisprudence exam involve?

It is a board exam on Louisiana's behavior analysis laws and rules, required for both the license and the assistant certificate. The board's fee rule lists $75 for the jurisprudence examination. You take it yourself. Our Jurisprudence and State Law Requirement Support ($249 per state) organizes the study materials and scheduling; see state-law exams and requirements.

Which fees apply in Louisiana?

Rule VIII-305 lists:

• Application, licensed behavior analyst: $400.
• Application, state-certified assistant behavior analyst: $250.
• Registration, line technician: $50.
• Temporary licensure: $125.
• Annual renewal: $200 for a behavior analyst, $125 for an assistant, $50 for a line technician.
• Jurisprudence examination: $75. Criminal background check: $50. Late fee: $50. License verification: $15.

How do assistants and line technicians work in Louisiana?

A state-certified assistant needs a bachelor's degree, the national exam, the Louisiana jurisprudence exam, the background check, good moral character and "proof of supervision by a Louisiana licensed behavior analyst on the form required by the board." If there is more than one supervisor, each gets a form. When a supervision relationship ends, "both parties are responsible for notifying the board in writing, within 10 calendar days" (Rule VIII-303).

Line technicians are handled differently. Under R.S. 37:3708, a registered line technician must be at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, and "shall be registered by his supervising licensed behavior analyst with the board." Within 14 days of applying, the technician must initiate a criminal background report from the Louisiana State Police. The registration is "renewed annually by the supervising licensed behavior analyst." Rule VIII-304 makes registering every line technician "functioning under their authority and direction" the licensed behavior analyst's job, with both parties submitting the paperwork for each supervisory relationship and both notifying the board within 10 days when it ends.

For agencies, that means technician compliance in Louisiana is tied to individual BCBAs, not just the company. A supervisor change is a filing event. R.S. 37:3715 confirms that assistants and registered line technicians practice "under the extended authority and direction of a licensed behavior analyst" and may not call themselves behavior analysts. See do RBTs need a state license or registration?

How does annual renewal work?

Under Rule VIII-401, every license, certificate and line technician registration renews each year by July 1. The renewal window opens in May and closes June 30, and each renewal covers July 1 through June 30. Behavior analysts and assistants submit renewal forms, the fee and proof of CE; the supervising behavior analyst renews each line technician's registration. A license or certificate not renewed "shall expire and become null and void" (R.S. 37:3709).

CE is reported in two-year periods. For the period that began in July 2026, Rule VIII-803 requires licensed behavior analysts to report 32 credits of continuing professional development, 4 in ethics, and assistants 20, also 4 in ethics. BACB-approved provider events count, and graduate coursework that is entirely behavior analytic counts at 15 hours per semester credit. See CE requirements across states and keeping several renewals on one calendar.

Why does July 1, 2028 matter?

R.S. 37:3718 says, "The provisions of this Chapter shall terminate and have no effect on and after July 1, 2028." Act 353 of 2018 set that date. Unless the legislature extends the Act before then, the licensing chapter ends. We have not seen a reason to expect a lapse, but agencies building multi-year plans in Louisiana should watch the 2027 and 2028 sessions.

Who else is exempt?

R.S. 37:3715 does not restrict other Louisiana-licensed human service professionals within their scope and training, licensed psychologists and those acting under their direction (who may not call themselves behavior analysts), family members carrying out procedures under a licensee's direction, students and interns under a licensed behavior analyst, people pursuing supervised experiential training, teachers and researchers who provide no direct services, and those who work only with organizations or nonhumans.

How do we help in Louisiana?

We prepare, organize and track the notarized application, transcripts, exam verification, background check and jurisprudence exam scheduling, plus for agencies the supervision forms and line technician registrations each supervising BCBA must file. You and your supervisors review, sign and submit everything. The BACB has warned that letting another person or entity complete a licensure application on your behalf "may be a violation of state law."

The Full State License Application is $749, License by Endorsement is $599 per state, the Assistant Behavior Analyst License is $399, and Behavior Technician Registration is $149 per technician. Board fees are separate. See pricing and the Louisiana state page.