South Dakota added 10 behavioral health providers in the latest weekly CMS NPI registry update, representing 0% of the national total. This small number reflects the state's comparatively smaller population and a more nascent or slower-growing behavioral health sector. All 10 providers are new this year, indicating a fresh wave of professionals and organizations entering the field.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis field, the update includes 2 BCBA-credentialed providers and 1 Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). The BCBA count includes one individual with a BCBA credential and one organization with a BCBA taxonomy. There are no providers with dual BCBA and RBT credentials in this update. This limited ratio of BCBAs to RBTs suggests a very constrained direct service workforce, which could pose challenges for scaling ABA services if this trend continues. Other listed credentials include one Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), one Master of Education (M. ED.), and one Clinical Social Worker (CSW).
Provider Demographics
Among the 7 individual providers, the workforce is predominantly female, with women accounting for 71% of the total. Male providers make up 29%. No nonbinary providers were reported in this update. The three organizational providers are LIVWELL, PLLC in Sioux Falls, THRIVE THERAPY COLLECTIVE LLC in Rapid City, and OPUS ABA LLC in Aberdeen, none of which appeared multiple times in this week's data.
The small number of new ABA professionals, particularly RBTs, suggests that South Dakota faces significant hurdles in expanding access to applied behavior analysis services and building out its workforce.
