A behavioral specialist is a psychological counselor who deal with clients that have disabilities of problems that hinder their learning and social interactions. These specialists are needed in various schools, government institutes and clinics. Behavioral specialists are well-trained and highly qualified in their field of health care.

 

To become a behavioral specialist, one needs a qualification for it,  and work experience in this field. You will also need a license The right way to become a behavioral specialist is as follows:

 

Master’s Degree

You will need a Master’s degree in sociology or psychology for becoming a behavioral specialist. Get an admission in a known institute with licensing from a board in any state, and take courses on this field.

 

Past Education

Your Bachelor’s degree should be in an applicable field as well, such as psychology, sociology, special education, or behavioral learning education. You may get a job with only a Bachelor’s degree as well, provided you have had several years of work experience as a behavioral specialist.

 

Further Education

Although having a Master’s degree is sufficient for this profession, with a doctorate in psychology, you will be able to work with people with mental health problems more tactfully and capable of performing diagnostic tests.

 

Level of Experience

A degree in this field will include clinical components that raises your experience level as a behavioral specialist. But you will require more experience to get a good job in this field. Gain more work hours with the populations you wish to work with as a behavioral specialist. For example, for autistic children, you may require 1500 hours of experience in a clinic by a certain institute.

 

License

Most states require a license for this profession. The licensing requirements vary from state to state, and your stat’s licensing board will give you information on applying for one.

 

Certification

Although a certification is not usually a requirement for working as a behavioral specialist, many institutes give preference to applicant with one. According to the Behavioral Analyst Certification Board (BACB), two types of certifications can be earned for behavioral specialists.  One is by having a master’s degree and pertain to the BACB experience standards. Second is a certification as a behavioral analyst assistant with a bachelor’s degree and meeting the BACB experience standards. For both these certifications, an exam is needed to be passed.