Illinois registered 307 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, contributing 3% of the national total. This consistent influx of new providers underscores Illinois's steady demand for behavioral health services, positioning it as a significant market for professionals across various disciplines, including ABA.

ABA Workforce Composition

Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 13 BCBA credentials and 86 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these figures are not mutually exclusive, as 1 individual holds both BCBA and RBT credentials, signaling a potential career progression from direct service to a supervisory role. The resulting ratio of approximately 6.6 RBTs for every BCBA indicates a substantial RBT workforce, but also a considerable need for more BCBA-level supervisors to ensure adequate oversight and expand service capacity.

Provider Demographics and Key Employers

Of the 237 individual providers registered, 86% are female, 13% are male, and 1% identify as nonbinary. This gender distribution is consistent with broader trends observed in the behavioral health field. Among organizations, CHINESE AMERICAN SERVICE LEAGUE, INC., MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS OF WESTERN ILLINOIS, and ALEXIAN BROTHERS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH each appeared 2 times in the new registrations, signaling their active presence and continued expansion efforts within the Illinois provider landscape.

Overall, this data suggests a robust and expanding behavioral health workforce in Illinois, particularly within the ABA sector, but also highlights the ongoing need to balance direct care providers with sufficient supervisory capacity to meet growing service demands.