North Dakota's behavioral health workforce saw the addition of 17 providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing less than 1% of the national total. This small cohort, comprising 16 individuals and 1 organization, reflects the state's smaller population and provider base. All 6 new providers for the year were added this week.
Credential Landscape
The update reveals a notable lack of ABA-specific professionals, with 0 BCBAs and only 1 provider identified with an RBT taxonomy. This individual also holds an OTD, OTR/L credential, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of the workforce. The absence of BCBAs is critical, as they are required to supervise RBTs, suggesting a significant bottleneck for ABA service delivery. The remaining providers hold a variety of licenses, including 2 LCSWs and several other counseling and social work credentials. Nearly half the cohort, or 8 providers, listed multiple taxonomies, indicating overlapping specializations.
Workforce Demographics
Among the new individual providers, the workforce is overwhelmingly female, with 13 women making up 81% of the group, compared to 3 male providers. No large, multi-state employers common in the ABA industry appeared in this week's data for North Dakota.
This week's data, particularly the absence of supervising BCBAs, underscores the persistent workforce challenges that can limit access to ABA therapy in the state.
