When you think of going to college, it\u2019s likely the bachelor\u2019s degree, sometimes called a four-year degree, that you envision. Bachelor\u2019s degrees are the minimum formal education requirement for many careers, and a step toward a master\u2019s degree or doctoral degree for even more highly educated roles. A bachelor\u2019s degree in behavior analysis can qualify you for board certification as an assistant behavior analyst, although it doesn\u2019t authorize you to be an independent practitioner in this field. You can also leverage your undergraduate degree in behavior analysis to work in other fields, including business, education, social services and even law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Within the field of behavior analysis, a bachelor\u2019s degree fulfills the degree requirements needed to become a Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst<\/a> (BCaBA). If you\u2019re wondering why a four-year degree still only puts you on the level of an assistant practitioner role, it\u2019s because the field of behavior analysis is so complex that a graduate education is needed to practice independently as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).<\/p>\n Assistant behavior analysts work under the supervision of BCBAs, but the work they do incorporates many of the same tasks and responsibilities as BCBAs. They conduct behavioral assessments through questionnaires, interviews and other formats and craft individualized behavior interventions plans \u2013 but they do so under the oversight of a BCBA. Although they can\u2019t be in clinical practice independently, BCaBAs can supervise lower-level personnel, including the behavior technicians that provide direct one-on-one service to clients.<\/p>\n Aside from the graduate degree, many of the requirements to work as a BCaBA are similar to those of a BCBA, including coursework in designated content areas, experience and an exam. BCBAs need more coursework hours and more experience, and their exam is longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you choose to use your bachelor\u2019s degree to work in the field of behavior analysis, you have plenty of options to consider. Behavior analysis professionals<\/a> work with many different client populations, in diverse specializations and employment settings. While the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) is best-known for its evidenced-based interventions for children with autism, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board<\/a> recognizes 12 different subspecialties and areas of practice.<\/p>\n BCBAs and BCaBAs can work with elderly patients in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, provide services in early intervention for kids as young as two diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disorders and help individuals of all ages reduce unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. In the role of BCaBA, you may work in a school, hospital, agency or any number of other possible environments.<\/p>\n PayScale<\/a> reported an average salary of $43,364 for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts. Although that wage is more than the $38,640 figure that the Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/a> (BLS) reported for all occupations in the United States, it\u2019s somewhat low for a job that requires a bachelor\u2019s degree. The BLS<\/a> reported that that median income for American workers with a bachelor\u2019s degree is $1,173 per week, or $60,996 in a year.<\/p>\n Although opportunities in <\/strong>behavior analysis<\/strong><\/a> have grown a great deal in recent years, assistant behavior analysts aren\u2019t seeing quite as much growth as BCBAs. In the same timeframe that jobs for BCaBAs grew by 76 percent, BCBA job postings rose 116 percent.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you find the science of how environmental variables affect behavior fascinating and yet aren\u2019t interested in working in research or clinical practice, there are plenty of other career paths in which a background in behavior analysis<\/a> is beneficial. Some college graduates put their behavior analysis background to work in the field of business, in roles like human resources specialist or market research analyst. Either path involves assessing and seeking to change the behavior of someone \u2013 whether that means motivating company employees or figuring out how to appeal to the right potential buyers.<\/p>\n RELATED: Top 10 Highest Paying Social Science Jobs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In the field of education, school counselors can utilize some of the same intervention concepts and strategies they learned in ABA as they work to help students with learning disorders improve their academic performance. If you would prefer to work in the classroom, you might find that your knowledge translates well into the skills needed to work as a special education teacher.<\/p>\n Other jobs for behavioral analysis students include FBI profiler and social worker. Careers outside of behavior analysis won\u2019t expressly look for candidates with this background, but understanding why people act in certain ways and how to alter behavior is valuable in many fields. <\/strong><\/p>\n Additional Resources <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n How Advanced Does My Degree in Behavior Analysis Need to Be to Get a Good Job?<\/a><\/p>\n How Do You Become a Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst?<\/a><\/p>\nLife in the Field of Behavior Analysis<\/h2>\n
Beyond Behavior Analysis Career Functions<\/h2>\n