The three credentialing bodies, the three public registries, and the one question to ask before anyone works with your child: can I look you up in the registry myself?
If someone tells you they're "certified" in ABA, you can check it yourself in under five minutes, free, in a public registry. The rest of this page explains what you're looking at.
Certification is issued by a private credentialing body after the person meets that body's education, experience and exam requirements. A license is issued by a state government and is what legally permits practice in that state.
The BACB's licensure page says that the applied behavior analysis profession has rapidly become regulated, and it maintains a table of the states that require licensure, the year each law was enacted and the licensing board. Many states require licensure - check the BACB's table for the current list before you assume either way.
In a state that licenses behavior analysts, a practitioner generally needs the state license in addition to certification, unless they fall in a class the state exempts. Ask which applies.
A BCBA designs and oversees the program. A BCaBA works under a BCBA. An RBT delivers the program directly and, per the BACB, must practice under ongoing supervision.
A course completion certificate from a training company isn't a credential. Only the three bodies above issue the credentials named on this page.
Registries are the source of truth. If a name or number doesn't appear, ask the provider for the certificate number and check again, then ask the body directly. Do not rely on a printed certificate or a title on a business card.
How do I check whether my child's ABA therapist is certified?
Ask for their full name, credentialing body and certificate number, then look them up in that body's public registry: the BACB Certificant Registry (updated daily), the QABA registry, or the IBAO Directory of Certifications. Status and expiration are shown.
What is the difference between a BCBA and an RBT?
Both are BACB credentials. A BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who designs and oversees the program. An RBT is a Registered Behavior Technician who delivers the program directly and, per the BACB, practices under ongoing supervision.
Is being certified the same as being licensed?
No. Certification comes from a private credentialing body (BACB, QABA or IBAO). A license comes from a state. The BACB keeps a table of the states that license behavior analysts; in those states a practitioner generally needs the license too, unless exempt.
What are QBA and IBA credentials?
QBA is the Qualified Behavior Analyst credential issued by the QABA Credentialing Board; IBA is the International Behavior Analyst credential issued by the International Behavior Analysis Organization. Each body has its own public registry where you can verify a name.
Is a training certificate the same as a credential?
No. A certificate of completion from a course or training company shows attendance or completion. A credential is issued by a credentialing body after its own requirements are met and can be verified in that body's registry.
Facts on this page were checked against the primary sources named above on September 2, 2026. Regulations and board rules change. If the source and this page ever disagree, the source wins - and tell us, so we fix the page.
General educational information - not legal, medical or clinical advice, and not a substitute for reading the regulation or the board's own pages. Special Learning is an education company, not a law firm and not a credentialing body.
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AI Disclosure: This content was designed with AI assistance and reviewed by Special Learning for accuracy. It is intended for general educational information only and does not constitute clinical advice or a substitute for assessment and treatment by a licensed BCBA or qualified professional. Consult a licensed provider for guidance specific to your child's needs.