At the end of 2023, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) reported there were 66,339 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) (BACB, n.d.). While this number reflects steady growth in the field, it still falls short of meeting the overwhelming demand for ABA professionals. In the same year, there were 65,366 BCBA job postings in the U.S. alone, illustrating a nearly one-to-one ratio of open positions to certified professionals (BACB, 2024). This discrepancy creates fierce competition among employers to attract and retain qualified BCBAs, making it more important than ever for ABA organizations to stand out in their search for ABA staff.
In this blog, we’ll explore best practices for writing BCBA job posts that not only capture the attention of job seekers but also position your organization as an employer of choice in this competitive field.
Consider what makes your BCBA position unique
Before crafting your BCBA job post, take time to reflect on what makes your organization and your BCBA role unique compared to other providers. In a competitive hiring market, showcasing your differentiators can make all the difference.
Ask yourself questions like:
What is your company culture like?
How do you support your BCBAs?
What growth opportunities do you provide?
Is your pay competitive?
What unique benefits do you offer?
How do you prioritize work-life balance?
What are you doing to prevent burnout?
Understand what BCBAs are looking for
To write a captivating job post, it's necessary to have a deep understanding of the pain points BCBAs face in today's workforce. Recognizing the challenges that drive BCBAs to seek new opportunities will help you to effectively highlight the aspects of your open role that align with what they're searching for.
Some of the common challenges BCBAs experience include:
Heavy caseloads
High billable expectations
Minimal administrative support
Minimal clinical support (especially for newly minted BCBAs)
Lack of control/autonomy
Limited growth opportunities
Unreasonable clinical expectations (often set by non-clinicians)
High RBT turnover
Poor work-life balance with long hours and/or inflexible schedules
Burnout (typically from one or a combination of the above)
What to include in your BCBA job listing
Now that you've taken time to reflect on what makes your practice different and what BCBAs are seeking, it's time to put it all together and create a compelling job listing. Let's explore a few of the most important components to include in your post.
Salary
While money isn't everything, it is a key determining factor in a BCBA's job search. Don't waste your time or theirs by leaving the salary blank. Be sure you're also aware of pay transparency laws, as several states require pay scales to be included in job posts.
Benefits
Transparency is key to getting the right candidates in the door. List the benefits you offer, such as:
Sign-on bonus
PTO, holiday pay, sick time
Health, vision, and dental insurance
Life insurance
CEU stipend or reimbursement
401K
Bonus plans or other incentives
Parental leave
Relocation assistance
Tuition or student loan reimbursement
Job Description
Help potential job seekers gain a clear picture of what working as a BCBA for your organization will entail. While BCBA job descriptions tend to overlap in many ways (e.g., conduct assessments, implement programming), be sure to include things that will help job seekers understand how your position could alleviate the pain points they're experiencing in their current role. For example, include information such as:
Caseload size
Anticipated working hours
Billable expectations
Location(s)
Client Population
Use of technology
Scheduling flexibility
Clinical and admin support available
Travel expectations
Opportunities for collaboration with other professionals
Expectations for providing supervised fieldwork for student analysts
About the Company
This is your chance to truly share what sets you apart from other practices. Briefly highlight your mission, values, and unique aspects of your practice that make it a fulfilling workplace for BCBAs.
Increase Visibility on your BCBA job postings
Add your BCBA positions to the ABA Resource Center Job Board!
Join an existing and rapidly growing community of BCBAs and other ABA professionals.
Maximize the visibility of your BCBA and RBT job openings in a competitive market and connect with qualified candidates.
References
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d). BACB certificant data. Retrieved from https://www.bacb.com/BACB-certificant-data.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2024). US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010–2023. https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/us_employmentdemand_ba/
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