Usually, people associate applied behavior analysis with treating conditions like Kernicterus, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, etc. However, the modern behavior analyst finds its scope in multiple industries such as health and fitness education, animal behavior training, business management, and child care.
In education, for example, a behavior analyst helps teachers working with special children. They can help them prepare the curriculum, support students, and also manage the classroom. The guidance by a professional brings about academic success. Likewise, in business management, behavior analysts can work in the human resource department. They can help the organization hunt talented individuals with personalities that align with their needs and culture.
As the field of applied behavior analysis expands, its influence on other areas of life also increases. Graduate students have many more career options to choose from. Here are a few.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) provide services and create multiple programs for children, adults, and adolescents who live with autism, developmental or intellectual disabilities, or medical disorders. They analyze an individual’s behavior and work to improve their actions and reactions. The primary goal is to improve wellness, social functioning, independence, and health. BCBAs may find their scope in hospitals, group homes, schools, or assisted living facilities.
BCBAs are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and then go for a Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis. Moreover, to get the board certificate,they must have enough supervised clinical experience and pass the certification exam. All this can be very overwhelming unless you decide to play smart. After your bachelor’s, you may enroll in a masters in applied behavior analysis online and simultaneously start supervised practice. It will be easier for you to prepare for the certification exam and complete the required practice hours. The salary of a BCBA in the US may range from $72,000to $89,000, depending on the experience.
ABA Training Coordinator
An ABA training coordinator works with medical caregivers, administrators, teachers, and parents to implement all their behavioral strategies. They ensure that quality care is administered continuously to the individual and that they are satisfied with the outcome. An ABA training coordinator helps the individual emotionally and makes sure they stay consistent with the therapy. They talk to people on the ASD spectrum and listen to any reservations they have. Moreover, they also motivate them to carry on therapy, especially patients suffering from chronic ailments such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, etc. The average salary for an ABA training coordinator is $72,000.
FBI Profilers.
The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) consists of agents experienced inanalyzing psychological behavior and tracking white-collar criminals and serial killers. These behavioral analystscoordinate with forensic psychologists, academic experts, and psychiatrists to connect the dots between different pieces of evidence and crimes. They work not only on national but also on international crimes. BAU agents also work with local law enforcement personnel, communicate with them their findings,and assist them in solving complicated, mysterious cases. Behavior analysts working with LEAs are expected to be very attentive to fine details. Given the nature of the job and the high-risk factor associated with it, BAU agents can earn up to a whopping $400,000 per year.
Psychological Assistant
One of the fundamental roles of a behavioral analyst is that of a psychological assistant. It is the most demanding professional skill required in any related job to ABA. According to a report, a behavioral analyst must have a sound knowledge of psychology to apply for any job. So, the position of psychological assistant helps the behavioral analyst gain professional competency and experience. A Master’s in Behavior Analysis cannot practice as a certified psychologist himself, but they can assist licensed psychologists in multiple behavioral pieces of research, clinical tasks, and counseling.
By practicing under licensed psychologists, you can get different psychology certificates from the American Board of Professional Psychology. These certificates are the best way to showcase professional competence and integrity. Psychological assistantshave a yearly remuneration of$58,000 to $81,000.
Community Worker
Clinical behavior analysts (CBAs) coordinate with community and social workers to provide high-level services to improve community health. CBAs have a sound understanding of behavioral science and psychological background. This knowledge and expertise help in providing cognitive-behavioral focused social interventions and management. These services are of the utmost importance when social workers deal with individualson the ASD spectrum. Clinical Behavioral Analysts get to earn from $42,000 to$95,000 in the US. While social work careers may not be as financially rewarding as other ABA careers, they offer a higher degree of personal satisfaction.
Business/Human Resource Management
In the context of business management and human resources, a behavior analyst’s expertise can become a lot more valuable for an organization than what one would typically imagine. For example, untrained personnel can never identify the non-verbal and verbal cues that determine the best fit for a job. So, here’s where behavior analysts step in. They help develop a much more refined screening process for talent acquisition in a business.
Moreover, behavior analystsare also involved in Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) used in various business settings. OBM is a system of processes and tools that collectively aim to solve organizational efficiency, including low employee performanceand motivation. OBM is the science of analysis of workplace behaviors. It is linked closely to developing leaders and achieving numerous organizational goals.In business and human resource management, ABA graduates can pursue their careers as Management Consultants, HR Specialists, and Talent Recruiters.
With a powerful insight into the influence of the environment on employee behavior, applied behavior analysts can lead to the organization’s success to a whole new level of success. A behavior analyst’s salary in the corporate sector depends on the role and type of organization. Nonetheless, the remuneration is almost always market competitive.
Conclusion
The world is now more aware of differently-abled individuals and how behavior can impact performance. Therefore, the scope of ABAbroader than before. However, to be a competent behavioral analyst and create your worth with professional expertise, you need to have a Master’s in Applied Behavior Analysis. It is always an excellent idea to plan your career path. Think about what you want to be, where you see yourself in the future. And more importantly, how you want to make the world a better place. Your vision limits your career options. Broaden it.
