Best ABA Programs in Atlanta (2026)
The ABA and BCBA programs an Atlanta student can actually attend, what behavior analysts earn in the Atlanta metro, the local employers hiring RBTs and BCBAs right now, and the Georgia license you need to practice.
Key Takeaways
- Behavior analysts in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro earn a BLS median of $60,880 (the category that includes behavior analysts), about 2.6% above the $59,350 national median. BCBA-specific pay runs much higher, with Glassdoor reporting an Atlanta BCBA average near $92,000.
- Atlanta has a real campus option in Georgia State University, whose downtown M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis carries ABAI Tier 2A recognition and sits in the largest ABA job market in the state.
- Commutable and statewide options include the University of Georgia in Athens (about 70 miles east) and a fully online ABAI-verified track at Columbus State University, so you can stay in Atlanta and finish your coursework online.
- Atlanta is one of the deeper ABA job markets in the Southeast. The Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hires BCBAs and RBTs year-round, and national providers like Hopebridge, BlueSprig, and Centria Autism staff metro centers.
- To practice independently in Atlanta you need a Georgia Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) credential through the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board under the Secretary of State, which requires BCBA certification plus a background check.
Atlanta anchors Georgia's ABA market, and it is the obvious place to build a behavior analysis career in the state. It is the largest metro in the Southeast outside of Florida, autism diagnosis rates keep climbing, and demand for ABA therapy has pulled national providers into the metro alongside a deep bench of local clinics. The result is a steady supply of RBT and BCBA openings across clinics, schools, and one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the country.
For students, Atlanta gives you a genuine local campus program. Georgia State University runs its M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis downtown, with ABAI Tier 2A recognition and clinical placements across the metro. If GSU is too competitive or you want a research-heavy program, the University of Georgia in Athens is about 70 miles east and runs an intensive five-semester M.S. where you complete all of your supervised hours in UGA settings. And if you need to keep working, Columbus State University offers Georgia's first fully online ABAI-verified course sequence, so you can study from Atlanta and finish your coursework remotely. Kennesaw State also offers a 40-hour RBT training course if you want to start working before you start a master's.
The pay picture in Atlanta is solid and getting better. The metro median for the broader behavioral counselor category runs a little above the national figure, and BCBA-specific pay reported by employers sits in the low $90,000s, with center-based providers like Centria advertising $90,000 to $100,000 base plus bonuses. Georgia's cost of living, especially housing outside the urban core, stretches those dollars further than the same number would in Boston, New York, or the West Coast. Pair that with employer-paid supervision and the RBT-to-BCBA path here is one of the more sensible routes into the field in the region.
ABA Programs You Can Attend From Atlanta
All 7 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia State University: M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis | $408/credit | On-campus | |
| 2 | University of Georgia: M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis | $399/credit (~$11,002/year) | On-campus | |
| 3 | Columbus State University: M.Ed. in Special Education, ABA Track (Online) | $309/credit | Fully online | |
| 4 | Georgia Southern University: M.S. in Psychology, Behavior Analysis | $284/credit | On-campus | |
| 5 | University of North Texas: M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online) | $570/credit (~$13,900/year) | Fully online | |
| 6 | Ball State University: M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Emphasis (Online) | ~$590/credit (online rate) | Fully online | |
| 7 | Kennesaw State University: Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Training | Short-course tuition (voucher included) | Online |
Georgia State University: M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
In-State
$408/credit
Out-of-State
$1,322/credit
Length
2 years
Field Hours
1,500 supervised experience hours
Concentrations
- Located in downtown Atlanta, the largest ABA job market in Georgia, with diverse clinical placements
- ABAI Tier 2A program recognition, meeting rigorous training standards for BCBA preparation
- Optional ABA Professional Specialization certificate adds nine credits across five focus areas
- Graduate research assistantships available that can provide full or partial tuition waivers
- Strong connections to Atlanta-area ABA clinics, school districts, and healthcare systems
University of Georgia: M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
In-State
$399/credit (~$11,002/year)
Out-of-State
$1,182/credit (~$29,774/year)
Length
5 semesters (under 2 years)
Field Hours
1,500+ supervised experience hours (all completed in UGA on-campus settings)
Concentrations
- Students complete 100% of supervised experience hours in UGA's own on-campus clinical settings
- Intensive five-semester format, so you graduate faster than a traditional two-year program
- Almost all in-state students begin paying limited tuition through assistantship support
- About 70 miles east of Atlanta on I-85, a commute or short relocation for east-metro students
- R1 research university with strong autism intervention, ethics, and applied research coursework
Columbus State University: M.Ed. in Special Education, ABA Track (Online)
In-State
$309/credit
Out-of-State
$858/credit
Length
2 years
Field Hours
1,500 supervised experience hours (completed separately)
Concentrations
- Georgia's first fully online ABAI-verified ABA course sequence, so an Atlanta student studies remotely
- Affordable in-state tuition at $309/credit, one of the cheaper accredited routes in the state
- M.Ed. in Special Education framework gives graduates dual expertise in education and ABA
- No GRE required and a lower 2.75 GPA bar, a more accessible entry point than most GA programs
- Built for working teachers and RBTs who need evening and weekend flexibility
Georgia Southern University: M.S. in Psychology, Behavior Analysis
In-State
$284/credit
Out-of-State
$1,160/credit
Length
2 years
Field Hours
1,500 supervised experience hours
Concentrations
- Most affordable ABA program in Georgia at $284/credit for in-state students
- Fully ABAI-accredited, one of only a handful of Georgia programs with that distinction
- Smaller cohorts on the Armstrong Campus mean more individual faculty attention
- Requires a move to Savannah, but the price and accreditation pull applicants from across the state
- Eligible for HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships as part of the University System of Georgia
University of North Texas: M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis (Online)
In-State
$570/credit (~$13,900/year)
Out-of-State
~$21,300/year out-of-state
Length
2 years (42 credits)
Field Hours
1,500 supervised experience hours
Concentrations
- Home to the nation's first stand-alone department of behavior analysis, founded in 1966
- ABAI-accredited and fully online, so an Atlanta student never has to set foot in Texas
- First-time BCBA exam pass rates above the national average
- Faculty includes internationally recognized behavior analysis researchers
- Complete your 1,500 supervised hours at an Atlanta clinic while taking classes online
Ball State University: M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis, Autism Emphasis (Online)
In-State
~$590/credit (online rate)
Out-of-State
~$590/credit (online rate)
Length
2 to 3 years (33 credits)
Field Hours
1,500 supervised experience hours
Concentrations
- Long-running ABAI-verified online course sequence with a flat per-credit rate for all states
- Autism emphasis pairs well with center-based Atlanta clinic work
- Designed for working RBTs, with part-time pacing across two to three years
- No GRE required, which lowers the barrier to admission
- Complete supervised fieldwork at an Atlanta-area clinic or school placement
Kennesaw State University: Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Training
In-State
Short-course tuition (voucher included)
Out-of-State
Short-course tuition (voucher included)
Length
Weeks (40-hour course)
Field Hours
Not a master's; RBT entry credential
Concentrations
- Covers the full 40-hour RBT training requirement set by the BACB
- A fast, low-cost way for Atlanta residents to start working as a behavior technician
- Voucher for the certification exam is included with the course
- Use it to land a paid RBT job, then bank supervised hours toward your BCBA
- Not a degree, so pair it with one of the master's programs above for BCBA eligibility
Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensure (LBA) for Atlanta Practitioners
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board (under the Secretary of State)
(844) 753-7825
To practice as a behavior analyst in Atlanta you need a state license through the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board, which sits under the Georgia Secretary of State. Georgia stood the board up in 2022, so the licensing framework is still relatively new, but it is now the law: you need both BACB certification and a Georgia license to bill and supervise independently. The credential applies statewide, so the rules are the same whether you work in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Marietta, or Decatur.
The main credential is the Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) for master's-level independent practice, with an assistant-level pathway tied to BCaBA certification for bachelor's-level practitioners working under supervision. Georgia does not run a separate state exam: the board accepts your current BACB certification as meeting the examination requirement. Because the board is still in its buildout phase, it has eased early costs, including a window in which renewal fees were waived to help the first wave of licensees.
Every Atlanta applicant must clear a criminal history background check as a condition of licensure, and you apply directly through the Secretary of State's office. If you are an RBT working at an Atlanta clinic, your RBT credential comes straight from the BACB and does not require a separate Georgia license, but the BCBA who supervises you must hold an active Georgia LBA.
Licensed Behavior Analyst
Independent practice of applied behavior analysis: assessment, treatment design, supervision of RBTs and assistants in Atlanta clinics, homes, and schools
Hours
1,500
Duration
Associate
Exam: BCBA Exam (BACB); no separate Georgia exam
Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst
Practice of ABA under LBA supervision: implement and monitor treatment plans for Atlanta clients
Hours
1,000
Duration
Associate
Exam: BCaBA Exam (BACB); no separate Georgia exam
Georgia does not run a formal reciprocity agreement, but because the board ties licensure directly to BACB certification, relocating to Atlanta is straightforward. If you already hold current BCBA or BCaBA certification in good standing, you apply for a Georgia license by submitting your application, proof of certification, and clearing the background check through the Secretary of State. There is no extra Georgia exam, residency requirement, or repeated supervised-practice period for certified behavior analysts moving into the Atlanta market.
Behavior Analyst & BCBA Salary in Atlanta
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Atlanta behavior analysts are paid a bit above the national average. The BLS Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro data below covers the broader behavioral-disorder and mental-health counselor category (SOC 21-1018), which is the standard proxy for behavior analysts. The metro median of $60,880 sits about 2.6% above the $59,350 national median, and the metro employs roughly 5,880 people in this category, with the bottom 10% near $38,650 and the top 10% above $95,110. BCBA-specific pay reported by employers and job boards runs much higher: Glassdoor puts the average Atlanta BCBA near $92,000, and center-based providers like Centria advertise $90,000 to $100,000 base plus bonuses. Georgia has a state income tax, but a lower cost of living, especially housing outside the urban core, keeps Atlanta competitive on real take-home pay.
Behavioral Disorder & Mental Health Counselors (incl. Behavior Analysts), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
National median: $59,350
Top metro: $60,880 (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell)
BCBA-Certified Professionals, Atlanta (employer-reported)
National median: $78,000
Top metro: $117,275 (Atlanta metro)
RBT / Behavior Technicians, Atlanta (employer-reported)
National median: $37,800
Top ABA Employers and Jobs in Atlanta
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Atlanta is one of the deeper ABA job markets in the Southeast, and it is anchored by a name students should know: the Marcus Autism Center, part of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Marcus is one of the largest autism centers in the country and hires BCBAs across skill acquisition, complex behavior, and language and learning clinics, plus RBTs to staff those programs. Working there puts you alongside clinicians who also do nationally recognized autism research, which is hard to find at a for-profit clinic chain.
Around that hospital sits a dense field of national and regional providers. Hopebridge runs a cluster of Atlanta-area centers, from Brookhaven and Camp Creek to Marietta, Suwanee, and Cumming, and recruits BCBAs and RBTs through its careers page. BlueSprig serves north Atlanta out of its Sandy Springs center, and Centria Autism staffs BCBA roles in Atlanta, Norcross, Decatur, and Tucker, advertising $90,000 to $100,000 base with sign-on and monthly bonuses. Local groups like Innovative Behavior Options, a family-owned provider operating since 2005, round out the clinic landscape with mentorship for newly certified BCBAs.
The other big employer in Atlanta is the public schools, which hire behavior analysts and behavior specialists directly. The large metro districts post these roles year-round: Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools (the largest district in the state), Cobb County School District, and Fulton County Schools all employ BCBAs to support special education. These jobs come with a school calendar plus a path to Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Between the hospital, the clinic chains, and the districts, the RBT-to-BCBA pipeline works well here: most students start as a Registered Behavior Technician, earn their 1,500-plus supervised fieldwork hours on the job while a clinic BCBA signs off, finish an online or local master's, sit the BCBA exam, and then apply for the Georgia LBA. Many of these employers pay for your supervision and reimburse part of your tuition.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): BCBAs employed by Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Cobb County, Fulton County Schools, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, or nonprofit ABA providers qualify for federal PSLF after 120 qualifying payments.
Employer-paid supervision and tuition reimbursement: Atlanta clinics like Centria, Hopebridge, and BlueSprig advertise paid BCBA supervision, CEU stipends, and sign-on bonuses, which cuts your real cost of certification.
HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships: Georgia residents attending in-state public programs such as Georgia State, UGA, or Georgia Southern can offset tuition through the state's HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship programs.
Low-cost in-state programs: Pairing an affordable online or in-state master's like Columbus State (~$309/credit) with a paid RBT job is the cheapest realistic route to BCBA from Atlanta.
How to Choose an ABA Program in Atlanta
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
From Atlanta the real decision is campus versus online, and which local employer you want to grow into. Use these factors to narrow it down.
If you want a program inside the city: Georgia State University's downtown M.S. carries ABAI Tier 2A recognition and sits in the largest ABA job market in Georgia, with placements across the metro. It requires the GRE, so plan your application early.
If you want a research-intensive program and can commute: the University of Georgia in Athens is about 70 miles east, runs an intensive five-semester M.S., and has you complete all supervised hours in UGA settings.
If you need to work full-time while you study: go online. Columbus State (ABAI-verified, in-state pricing), UNT (ABAI-accredited), and Ball State all let you keep an RBT job at an Atlanta clinic and bank supervised hours while you take classes.
If cost is the deciding factor: Columbus State online (~$309/credit) and Georgia Southern in Savannah (~$284/credit) are the cheapest accredited Georgia options, and HOPE or Zell Miller can lower the bill further for residents.
If you want to start working first: Kennesaw State's 40-hour RBT training gets you a paid behavior technician job fast, so you can earn supervised hours and confirm the field is for you before committing to a master's.
Match the program to the employer you want: school-district BCBA roles at Atlanta Public Schools, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Fulton reward the special-education-heavy curricula at Columbus State and UGA, while clinic chains like Hopebridge, BlueSprig, and Centria and the Marcus Autism Center care most that you are credentialed and licensed.
Related Pages
ABA Programs in Georgia
The full statewide guide to Georgia ABA programs and LBA licensure
BCBA Career Guide
What BCBAs actually do day-to-day
BCBA Salary Data
Salary data by state, experience, and employer type
Best Online ABA Programs
National ranking of the top online ABA master's programs
ABA Programs in Miami
ABA programs, salary, and employers in the Miami metro
ABA Programs in Charlotte
ABA programs, salary, and employers in the Charlotte metro
Sources
- BLS: Occupational Employment and Wages, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (May 2025)
- Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board (Secretary of State)
- BACB: Verified Course Sequences
- ABAI: Accredited Programs Directory
- Georgia State University: M.S. in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta: Careers
- Hopebridge: Atlanta Autism Therapy Centers
- Glassdoor: BCBA Salary in Atlanta, GA