Certifynd ABA

Arkansas

Mandatory Licensing

Arkansas enacted the Behavior Analyst Registration Act (Act 432) on April 3, 2025, creating mandatory registration for behavior analysts through the Arkansas Psychology Board. BCBA or BCaBA certification required. Registration system implementation is in progress.

Quick Reference

Licensing Status
Mandatory (newly enacted)
Primary License Type
Registered Behavior Analyst
Education Required
Master's Degree (via BACB)
Estimated Cost
TBD (pending regulations)
Renewal Cycle
TBD (pending regulations)
BACB Required
Yes
Online Verification
Not Available
Important Deadline:Registration system implementation in progress

Licensing Board

Arkansas Psychology Board

License Verification

Contact board for verification

BACB Certification

BACB certification required

Available License Types

Registered Behavior Analyst
Registered Assistant Behavior Analyst
Temporary Registration (for out-of-state practitioners)

Detailed Requirements

Education Requirements

Must hold current BACB certification as BCBA, BCBA-D, or BCaBA. Education requirements satisfied through BACB certification pathway (master's degree for BCBA, bachelor's for BCaBA).

Supervised experience requirements met through BACB certification (minimum 1,500 hours for BCBA). Specific state supervision requirements to be established through administrative rules.

Must pass the BACB certification examination. Beginning January 2025, exam follows BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) with 185 questions across nine domains.

Renewal cycle and continuing education requirements to be established through Arkansas Psychology Board administrative rules. BACB certification must remain active.

Fee structure to be established through administrative rulemaking by the Arkansas Psychology Board. Current alternative: Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling behavior analysis specialty endorsement costs $50.

BCBA, BCBA-D, or BCaBA certification is required for registration. The Act specifically recognizes Behavior Analyst Certification Board credentials as qualifying certifications.

Newly enacted legislation (April 2025) with registration system still being implemented. Temporary registration available for behavior analysts licensed in other jurisdictions or holding current BACB certification. Violations subject to fines: $500-$1,000 for unlicensed practice, up to $5,000 administrative sanctions for registered practitioners who violate the Act. Registration may be revoked for violations.

Act 432 (formerly HB 1245) signed into law April 3, 2025. This is Arkansas's first behavior analyst registration requirement. Prior to this, Arkansas had no state-level licensure for behavior analysts. ArkABA (Arkansas Association for Behavior Analysis) advocated for this legislation since April 2022.

Additional Information

Arkansas is one of the newest states to enact behavior analyst regulation (April 2025). The state previously had no licensure requirement, making this a significant change for practitioners. The alternative counselor endorsement ($50) through the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling may continue to be available during implementation.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided for general reference purposes. Requirements may change. Always verify current requirements with the official Arkansas Psychology Board. Last updated: Jan 19, 2026.