ABA Specialist - PLBA

The ARC of The Ozarks Inc; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

BCBA supervision

Paid initial and ongoing training

Potential for annual wage increases

Retirement plan with employer match up

advancement opportunities

Collaborative team of behaviorists

Meaningful work building skills

Job summary

The Arc of the Ozarks is hiring an ABA Specialist who is actively pursuing BCBA certification. You will gain hands-on experience developing behavior support plans, data analysis, and caregiver training under BCBA supervision.

You will join a mission-driven team focused on meaningful progress for individuals with disabilities, with structured training, fieldwork hours, and pathways toward licensure. Springfield, MO offers a stable, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• At least one year of professional experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and/or psychiatric disorders.
• Current enrollment in an accredited master's program specializing in behavior analysis, education, psychology, or a related field.
• Completion of a BACB-approved course sequence.
• Eligibility to accrue supervised fieldwork hours toward BCBA certification.
• Active pursuit of BCBA certification.
• Provisional Missouri Behavior Analyst licensure.
• Completion of the 40-hour RBT training.
• Eligibility to complete the RBT initial competency assessment before starting.
• Strong communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and data-analysis skills.
• Ability to work a full-time Monday-Friday schedule, with sessions occurring between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Daytime availability during the first 1-2 weeks of employment for initial training

Responsibilities

• Develop clear behavior goals and measurable objectives for each client.
• Collect data related to client behavior, caregiver interactions, and environmental factors.
• Create behavior support plans, skill-acquisition programs, treatment checklists, and data-collection tools.
• Train caregivers and team members to implement programming accurately and consistently.
• Use Microsoft Excel to graph and analyze behavioral data.
• Review data and make data-informed treatment recommendations.
• Provide monthly updates, including graphs and written summaries, to client teams.
• Modify programming based on client progress, team feedback, and direct observation.
• Support skill generalization and the gradual fading of supports across environments.
• Participate in team meetings, client meetings, and ABA training.
• Peer‑review behavior programming and contribute to high‑quality interventions across the department.
• Apply feedback from supervising BCBAs while progressing toward certification and licensure

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Education

Master’s program (behavior analysis/ psychology/education)

BACB-approved course sequence

Tools

Excel

Job description

Pay: $50,400-$55,646 per year, based on relevant experience
Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday; client sessions are scheduled between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Location: Springfield, Missouri
Training: Daytime availability is required during the first 1-2 weeks for initial training

Build Your BCBA Career with Proven Support

The Arc of the Ozarks is hiring an ABA Specialist who is actively working toward BCBA certification and Missouri behavior analyst licensure.

This role provides hands‑on experience developing behavior support plans, analyzing data, training caregivers, and supporting meaningful skill development under the guidance of Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Individuals who completed supervised fieldwork at The Arc have achieved an 88% first‑time pass rate and a 96% overall pass rate on the BCBA examination. By comparison, the national first‑time BCBA examination pass rate was 51% in 2025.

You will gain practical experience, individualized feedback, and professional support while completing supervised fieldwork and preparing for the next step in your behavior analysis career.

Why Join The Arc of the Ozarks?

The Arc offers meaningful work, professional development, and the opportunity to build a long‑term career in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Benefits and opportunities include:

• Starting salary of $50,400-$55,646, based on relevant experience
• BCBA supervision and opportunities to accrue supervised fieldwork hours
• Paid initial and ongoing training
• Potential for annual wage increases
• Retirement plan with employer match up to 4% after one year
• Opportunities for advancement within the organization
• A collaborative team of behavior analysts and support professionals
• Meaningful work helping individuals build skills and increase independence
• Position‑related training may include CPR and First Aid, MANDT verbal and physical de‑escalation, Paraclete, Level One Med Aide, and other required certifications.

What You Will Do

As an ABA Specialist, you will work with clients, caregivers, and interdisciplinary support teams to develop, implement, and monitor individualized behavior programming.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop clear behavior goals and measurable objectives for each client
• Collect data related to client behavior, caregiver interactions, and environmental factors
• Create behavior support plans, skill‑acquisition programs, treatment checklists, and data‑collection tools
• Train caregivers and team members to implement programming accurately and consistently
• Use Microsoft Excel to graph and analyze behavioral data
• Review data and make data-informed treatment recommendations
• Provide monthly updates, including graphs and written summaries, to client teams
• Modify programming based on client progress, team feedback, and direct observation
• Support skill generalization and the gradual fading of supports across environments
• Participate in team meetings, client meetings, and ABA training
• Peer‑review behavior programming and contribute to high‑quality interventions across the department
• Apply feedback from supervising BCBAs while progressing toward certification and licensure

What We Are Looking For

Required Qualifications

Candidates must have:

• At least one year of professional experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and/or psychiatric disorders
• Current enrollment in an accredited master's program specializing in behavior analysis, education, psychology, or a related field
• Completion of a BACB‑approved course sequence
• Eligibility to accrue supervised fieldwork hours toward BCBA certification
• Active pursuit of BCBA certification
• Provisional Missouri Behavior Analyst licensure
• Completion of the 40‑hour RBT training
• Eligibility to complete the RBT initial competency assessment before starting
• Strong communication, collaboration, problem‑solving, and data‑analysis skills
• Ability to work a full‑time Monday‑Friday schedule, with sessions occurring between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Daytime availability during the first 1-2 weeks of employment for initial training

About The Arc of the Ozarks

The Arc of the Ozarks supports individuals with disabilities in enhancing the quality of their lives. Our team is mission‑driven, collaborative, and committed to helping people build skills, increase independence, and live meaningful lives in their communities.