North Dakota registered 31 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing 0% of the national weekly total. Of these, 13 were new this week. This limited number of new providers suggests a slow growth period for the state's behavioral health workforce, indicating a modest expansion of available services.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 0 BCBA credentials and 1 RBT credential. No individuals held both BCBA and RBT credentials in this update. The absence of BCBAs is a critical indicator, as RBTs require direct supervision from a BCBA to deliver services. This suggests a significant challenge for expanding ABA service capacity in North Dakota due to a lack of supervisory professionals. Beyond ABA, other licensed professionals include 2 LSWs, 2 LPCCs, 2 LBSWs, 1 LAPC, 1 MA, and 1 LCSW, reflecting a broader mix of mental health professionals.
Provider Demographics
Of the 26 individual providers, the workforce exhibits a clear gender distribution: 22 (85%) are female, 3 (12%) are male, and 1 (4%) identifies as nonbinary. This demographic breakdown aligns with broader trends observed in the behavioral health field. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a diverse landscape of smaller practices rather than dominance by large multi-state employers.
Overall, this data highlights a pressing need for increased recruitment and training of BCBAs in North Dakota to support the foundational structure required for robust ABA service delivery and improved access statewide.
