Pros
- Most families are a pleasure to work with.
- Normal work day (8 AM — 6 PM) instead of a 2 PM to 8 PM model.
- Some amount of flexibility with scheduling.
- Good mix of different types of clients and settings to work in.
- Tuition and professional development reimbursement.
- Wellness stipend up to $25/month for gym or studio memberships, virtual fitness subscriptions, meditation apps, fitness class passes.
- Most BCBAs are knowledgeable and care about their clients, though they're often undersupported by management.
Cons
- RBT administrative overhead is a nightmare. Have fun using four different applications to change your drive time. 4-6 hour sessions require multi-paragraph notes.
- RBTs with more than two years of experience have no room for growth unless you get into a BCBA program.
- Clinical supervisors training for their BCBA get used heavily for session coverage instead of working on their direct and indirect hours.
- Minimal BCBA oversight from management. BCBAs aren't held accountable or supported, leading to inconsistent quality and burnout.
- Management can't retain talent. Years of experienced staff have left due to incompetence, lack of support, admin overhead, or mistreatment. Complete brain drain.
- Unequal pay based on negotiation skills, not experience or time at company. Ask coworkers what they make and negotiate hard.
- Takes on clients who shouldn't be receiving ABA or need support not available.
- Management prioritizes billing over neurodiversity-affirming services.
