Alabama saw the addition of 32 behavioral health providers in the latest weekly CMS NPI registry update, representing 1% of the national total. All 32 providers are new enrollments this week and for the current year, indicating a consistent, albeit smaller, contribution to the national behavioral health workforce expansion.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 2 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 13 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). It is important to note that one of the BCBAs also holds an Alabama state license as a Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), which is a common state-level credential layered on top of the national BCBA certification. There were no providers identified with dual BCBA and RBT credentials in this update. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs stands at 6.5:1, which is a favorable ratio for direct service delivery, ensuring a solid base of technicians can be supervised by qualified BCBAs.
Provider Demographics
Of the 26 individual providers added this week, the workforce is predominantly female, with 24 female providers accounting for 92%. One male provider makes up 4%, and one nonbinary provider accounts for the remaining 4%. In addition to individuals, 6 organizations also registered this week. No single organization appeared multiple times in this update, suggesting a diverse range of new entities entering the market.
The influx of RBTs, in particular, suggests a growing capacity for direct ABA service delivery, which is crucial for expanding access to care for individuals with autism and related disorders across Alabama.
