The Virginia Board of Medicine issues licenses for those individuals who have obtained and continue to maintain the required qualifications needed to practice Behavior Analysis. The BACB is a governing board that focuses on the implementation of the science, not solely for treating symptoms of Autism. The BACB currently has 37,859 individuals who hold a BCBA credential globally. The QABA registry shows that of the 5,953 registered practitioners, only 53 are from Virginia. Of the 53 listed practitioners, 47 of them have expired certifications leaving only 6 with current credentials. Of the 6 individuals with an active certification in the state of Virginia, none of them appear to also hold the BCBA credential through the BACB. There are individuals listed on the registry that do not hold a bachelor’s degree, let alone a masters which does not align with their requirements listed for credentialing. To obtain the BCBA credential, all individuals must obtain a master’s degree to ensure they have had ample exposure and knowledge within Applied Behavior Analysis.

The QABA credentialing board states that they are “validated in all aspects of ABA with specialization in Autism”. Obtaining a credential through the BACB and a license through Virginia’s Board of Medicine ensures that the license holder is trained and has demonstrated competence with implementing behavior analysis. This is a major discrepancy that should not be overlooked when providing licensure through the state’s governing board.

Creating additional opportunities to extend the privilege of being licensed in the State of Virginia should be based on qualifications and experience implementing the science of Applied Behavior Analysis not solely based on experiences with individuals on the Spectrum. If there are individuals that belong to the QABA that actually reside in the state of Virginia, they should be invested in following the outlined procedures and experience requirements set forth by the state. The matter of credentialing and licensing through the state of Virginia should be reserved for actual residents of the state. There is no need for individuals outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia to be concerned with our licensing practices. If holding a QABA credential is sufficient for the state where you reside, then continue focusing your energy and ethical practices where you have been recognized to do so.