Provider Name

Visit Date

Location

0 of 21 questions answered

1. Supervision Ratio

Most Important (20% of ethics score)

How much expert oversight does your child receive?

"What is your BCBA-to-RBT supervision ratio?"

Good: 1:6 or fewer. Concerning: 1:10+, or "it varies"

"How is supervision delivered? In-person observation or remote?"

Best: Direct in-person observation of sessions

"How often does a BCBA observe my child's sessions?"

BACB minimum is 5% of hours. Ethical providers exceed this.

2. Training Quality

15% of ethics score

How well-trained is the person working directly with your child?

"What ongoing training do your RBTs receive beyond the initial 40 hours?"

Good: Regular in-service training, conferences, mentorship

"Do you have a career development path for your therapists?"

Organizations that invest in staff growth retain better talent

"How do you onboard a new RBT to my child's case?"

Good: Overlap sessions, case review, behavior plan walkthrough

3. Compensation and Turnover

15% of ethics score

Fair pay = stable staff = consistent care for your child

"What is the average tenure of your RBTs?"

Good: 18+ months. Concerning: unable or unwilling to share

"If my child's therapist leaves, what is the transition process?"

Good: Overlap period, parent notification, data handoff

"How many therapist changes has a typical client experienced in the past year?"

More than 2 per year is a concern

4. Clinical Leadership

15% of ethics score

Who makes the decisions that affect your child's treatment?

"Is your clinical director a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?"

This should be a clear yes. If not, ask who makes clinical decisions.

"Who decides how many hours of therapy my child receives?"

Good: "Our BCBA based on assessment." Concerning: "Our intake team" or "insurance determines it."

"Who owns this organization?"

You have a right to know. Transparent providers answer without hesitation.

5. Work-Life Balance

10% of ethics score

Burned-out therapists cannot give your child their best

"How many direct therapy hours per week does each RBT provide?"

Good: 25-30 hours. Concerning: 35+ with no prep time

"Do therapists have time for session preparation and data entry?"

If all hours are direct therapy with no admin time, staff are overworked

6. Client Outcomes

10% of ethics score

Is the therapy actually working?

"Can you show me a sample progress graph from a current client?"

Data-driven ABA = data you can see. No data = red flag.

"How often will my child's treatment plan be reviewed and updated?"

Good: Every 6 months minimum, with ongoing weekly data review

"Is parent training included as part of the treatment?"

Should be included, not a separate billable add-on

"What is your approach to reducing therapy hours as my child progresses?"

Good providers plan for discharge. If hours never decrease, question why.

7. Billing Transparency

10% of ethics score

You have a right to understand every charge

"Can I get an itemized statement showing each session, duration, and service code?"

This is your right. Resistance to providing it is a red flag.

"Will I be billed for canceled or missed sessions?"

Know the cancellation policy before you start

"How do you determine which CPT codes to bill for my child's sessions?"

Good: Based on what was actually delivered. Concerning: vague or defensive

ABA Provider Interview Checklist

1. Supervision Ratio

2. Training Quality

3. Compensation and Turnover

4. Clinical Leadership

5. Work-Life Balance

6. Client Outcomes

7. Billing Transparency