In 2025, employers posted 132,307 positions requiring BCBA certification, yet only 83,586 board-certified behavior analysts held active credentials in the United States. That gap is why BCBA-in-training jobs have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the ABA job market. Employers cannot wait for candidates to finish certification; they are investing in trainees now, offering competitive pay, structured supervision, and clear pathways to full BCBA roles.

If you are accruing supervised fieldwork hours and wondering how to find the right position, this guide covers everything you need to know: what trainee roles look like, what they pay, where to find them, and how to evaluate whether a position sets you up for long-term success.

What Is a BCBA-in-Training?

A BCBA-in-training is someone who has completed (or is completing) BACB-approved master's coursework and is actively accruing supervised fieldwork hours before sitting for the BCBA exam. You may also see these roles listed as "behavior analyst trainee," "BCBA candidate," or "pre-BCBA."

The BACB offers two fieldwork pathways:

• ✓ Supervised Fieldwork: 2,000 total hours with at least 5% direct supervision
• ✓ Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: 1,500 total hours with at least 10% supervision and a minimum of 6 supervisory contacts per month

Regardless of the pathway, at least 60% of your hours must be unrestricted activities like conducting assessments, writing behavior intervention plans, and analyzing data. The remaining 40% can be restricted activities such as direct client implementation under supervision.

Most trainees work as RBTs, BCaBAs, or in designated trainee positions while accruing hours. The good news: the current BCBA shortage means employers are actively competing for people in your exact position.

Types of BCBA-in-Training Jobs

Not all trainee positions are created equal. The setting you choose affects your supervision quality, the diversity of your caseload, and your career trajectory after certification. Here are the most common options.

ABA Therapy Companies

The most common path. Large ABA providers like LEARN Behavioral and Action Behavior Centers run formal trainee programs with built-in supervision structures, defined hour-tracking systems, and often tuition reimbursement. The tradeoff: caseloads can be high, and supervision may come from BCBAs who are stretched across many trainees.

School Districts

School-based trainee positions offer predictable schedules (school hours, summers off) and exposure to collaborative IEP teams. Some districts have on-staff BCBAs who provide supervision; others partner with external supervisors. These positions are growing as more districts recognize the value of behavior analysis support.

Hospitals and Healthcare Systems

Hospital settings expose trainees to interdisciplinary teams including psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. You will see a wider range of diagnoses and behavioral presentations. These positions are competitive but offer excellent clinical foundations.

University Clinics

Academic settings integrate fieldwork with coursework, often providing structured research opportunities alongside clinical hours. The supervision tends to be high-quality, though the pace of hour accumulation may be slower.

Independent BCBA Practices

Smaller practices sometimes offer more personalized, one-on-one supervision. You may earn a lower salary, but the mentorship quality can be exceptional. Ask about the supervisor's caseload and how many trainees they oversee.

How Much Do BCBA-in-Training Jobs Pay?

According to ZipRecruiter data from December 2025, BCBA trainee salaries range from $74,000 at the 25th percentile to $132,500 at the 90th percentile, with an average of $89,075 per year. That works out to roughly $42.82 per hour.

For context, that is a significant step up from RBT salaries, which typically fall between $38,000 and $48,000 nationally. Even before you pass the BCBA exam, your advanced coursework and clinical responsibilities command higher pay.

Several factors influence where you land in that range:

• Geography: Trainee pay follows BCBA salary patterns by state. Positions in California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey tend to pay more; rural and southern states pay less.
• Setting: Hospital and corporate ABA companies generally pay more than school districts or university clinics.
• Benefits package: Many employers sweeten the deal with tuition reimbursement, supervision stipends, exam prep materials, or signing bonuses.

How to Find BCBA-in-Training Jobs

The BCBA workforce shortage means positions are abundant, but finding the right one requires looking in the right places.

Job Boards

Start with the major platforms. Search for "BCBA in training," "behavior analyst trainee," "BCBA fieldwork," or "pre-BCBA" on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn. Many postings that say "BCBA required" will also consider trainees close to certification; do not let the listing language discourage you from applying.

University Placement Offices

Most BACB-approved master's programs maintain relationships with fieldwork sites. Your program coordinator likely has a list of vetted employers who provide quality supervision. This is often the fastest path to a good trainee position.

Professional Associations

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) and your state's ABA association both maintain job boards. State association job postings tend to feature smaller, local practices that may not advertise on major platforms.

CertifyndABA

Create an anonymous profile on CertifyndABA highlighting your training status, coursework completion, and fieldwork progress. Employers actively seeking trainees can send you interview requests without seeing your personal information until you choose to connect.

Direct Outreach

With over 132,000 BCBA positions posted in 2025 and only about 83,000 certified BCBAs to fill them, many agencies are eager to hear from trainees. Identify ABA providers in your area and reach out directly, even if they are not advertising trainee openings. Many will create positions for strong candidates.

What to Look For in a Trainee Position

The position you choose during your training shapes your clinical skills, your professional network, and your first years as a certified BCBA. Here is what matters most.

Supervision Quality

This is the single most important factor. Ask these questions before accepting any offer:

• How many trainees does each supervisor oversee?
• What does a typical supervision session look like?
• Does the company use a formal supervision curriculum?
• Will you receive both individual and group supervision?

Fieldwork Structure

Make sure the position offers a realistic path to completing your hours. Can you accrue both unrestricted and restricted hours? What is the expected monthly hour count? If a position only provides restricted hours (direct implementation), you will struggle to meet the 60% unrestricted requirement.

Caseload Diversity

Exposure to different client populations, age groups, and behavioral presentations makes you a stronger clinician. Positions that limit you to a single client type may leave gaps in your competency.

Post-Certification Pathway

Ask whether the employer offers a defined BCBA role once you pass the exam. The best ABA companies have clear promotion tracks from trainee to certified BCBA, often with a salary increase tied to certification.

Why the BCBA Shortage Works in Your Favor

If you are accruing fieldwork hours right now, the labor market is working in your favor in ways it has not before.

The numbers tell the story. Demand for BCBAs has grown at a 44.2% compound annual rate since 2017, according to the BACB's Lightcast employment report. In 2025 alone, job postings increased 28% over the previous year. Meanwhile, the supply of new BCBAs is constrained: the first-time BCBA exam pass rate has dropped from 66% in 2020 to roughly 51% in 2025, meaning only about 8,000 new BCBAs enter the workforce annually.

Several forces are sustaining this demand:

• Rising autism prevalence: The CDC's 2025 ADDM Network report found that 1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, up from 1 in 36 in previous estimates.
• Insurance mandates: All 50 states now require private insurers to cover ABA therapy, creating a baseline demand floor that did not exist a decade ago.
• Expanding settings: BCBAs are increasingly needed in hospitals, schools, insurance companies, and organizational behavior management, not just traditional ABA clinics.

What this means for you as a trainee: you can afford to be selective. Choose your position based on supervision quality and career development, not desperation. Employers know that today's trainees are tomorrow's BCBAs, and many are willing to invest in competitive salaries, supervision stipends, and professional development to attract you.

"The BCBA field has grown eightfold in a decade, from roughly 38,000 certificants in 2015 to over 317,000 worldwide today. Yet demand continues to outpace supply."

Start Your Search Today

BCBA-in-training jobs are abundant, well-paying, and increasingly competitive on the employer side. Your fieldwork period is not just a requirement to check off; it is the foundation of your clinical career. The position you choose now determines the quality of your supervision, the breadth of your experience, and the professional network you build.

With 50,000+ unfilled BCBA positions and growing demand across every state, the market favors you. Use that leverage to find a position with quality supervision, diverse caseloads, and a clear path to certification and beyond.