Abstract
The implementation of behavior analysis for the provision of autism services frequently entails the close supervision and direction of behavior technicians implementing programs designed and overseen by qualified applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers. To date, there has been no investigation into the geographic distribution of the supervision of ABA services, which has important implications for the implementation of a quality tiered service-delivery model. In this study, we examined county-level distribution of the supervision of ABA services by BCBAs in the U.S. as well as the number of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) with an active credential overseen by BCBAs. The sample included all U.S. counties in 50 states and D.C. (N = 3138). Of all qualified supervisors, one-half were not supervising any RBTs. Most actively supervising BCBAs oversaw 10 or fewer RBTs. Just over half of counties did not have either at least one RBT with an active credential or at least one qualified supervisor; 24.2% did not have a qualified supervisor or an RBT with an active credential. These and other results are discussed in the context of the provision of a tiered service-delivery model of ABA services to children with autism.