Virginia saw 46 behavioral health providers added in the latest weekly CMS NPI registry update, representing 2% of the national total. This modest weekly contribution suggests a steady, rather than explosive, growth in the state's behavioral health workforce, indicating consistent demand and supply dynamics.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis sector, the update includes 17 providers identified as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and 1 provider identified as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). It is important to note that NPI credential and taxonomy counts can overlap, as providers may hold multiple certifications or list their roles differently. There were no providers explicitly listed with both BCBA and RBT credentials in this update. The significant imbalance, with 17 RBTs for every BCBA, highlights a potential bottleneck in supervision capacity, which is critical for RBTs to practice and for the overall growth of ABA services in the state.
Provider Demographics
Of the 37 individual providers added, the workforce is predominantly female, with women accounting for 81% (30 individuals). Male providers comprise 16% (6 individuals), and 1 individual identified as nonbinary, making up 3%. No organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data. Top cities for new providers included Richmond, Vienna, and Virginia Beach.
This data suggests that while Virginia is adding direct service providers like RBTs, the limited growth in BCBAs could constrain the expansion of supervised ABA services, impacting access for individuals needing care.
