Oklahoma saw the addition of 143 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 1% of the national total. This steady, albeit smaller, contribution to the national workforce suggests consistent demand and growth in the state's behavioral health sector.

ABA Workforce Dynamics

Focusing on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) credentials, the data shows 5 BCBA credentials and 37 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these figures are not mutually exclusive, as 2 individuals hold both BCBA and RBT credentials, indicating a career progression path. The resulting ratio of 7.4 RBTs for every BCBA is higher than the commonly recommended 1:5 supervision ratio, which could signal a potential strain on supervisory capacity or a strong emphasis on direct service delivery roles within the state.

Provider Demographics

Among individual providers, the gender breakdown reveals 107 female (84%), 15 male (12%), and 6 nonbinary (5%). This distribution aligns with broader trends observed in the behavioral health field. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's new registrations.

The current RBT to BCBA ratio highlights an ongoing need for increased BCBA recruitment and development to ensure adequate supervision and support for Oklahoma's growing ABA workforce, ultimately impacting service access.