Oklahoma added 156 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing 2% of the national weekly total. This includes 71 new providers added this week, indicating a consistent, albeit moderate, expansion of the state's behavioral health workforce. This level of activity suggests a steady effort to address the demand for services across Oklahoma.

ABA Workforce Composition

Focusing on the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 6 BCBA credentials and 35 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these credential counts are not mutually exclusive, as 1 individual holds both BCBA and RBT credentials, which often signifies career progression and a deeper commitment to the field. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs highlights a growing direct service workforce, emphasizing the critical need for sufficient BCBA supervision to maintain high-quality ABA therapy.

Provider Demographics

Of the 144 individual providers, 114 (79%) are female, 20 (14%) are male, and 10 (7%) identify as nonbinary. This gender distribution is largely consistent with broader trends in the behavioral health field. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's update, suggesting a diverse landscape of employers rather than dominance by a few large chains.

The continued growth in RBTs, supported by a smaller but crucial BCBA contingent, indicates ongoing efforts to improve access to ABA services and meet the evolving workforce demands in Oklahoma.