12 Questions to Ask an ABA Provider Before You Sign
Twelve specific questions that separate strong ABA providers from weak ones, with what a good answer sounds like.
Who Supervises and How Often
Ask: What is the caseload per BCBA, and how many hours per week does the BCBA directly supervise my child's program? A good answer: a BCBA carries no more than 12 to 15 active cases and spends at least 5 to 10% of your child's therapy hours on direct observation and supervision, not just paperwork.
If the BCBA is supervising 25 kids, your child's plan is likely written from a template. You want someone who sees your child weekly, adjusts goals monthly, and knows your child's name without looking at a file.
- Ask for the BCBA's name and credentials, then verify the license on your state's board website.
- Ask how supervision is documented. You should get a weekly or monthly log.
Who Works With Your Child
Ask: What is your RBT turnover rate in the last 12 months, and how many different therapists have worked with my child in the last 6 months? A good answer: turnover under 30% annually, and no more than 2 to 3 therapist changes in 6 months.
High turnover means your child constantly re-teaches rapport, and progress stalls. Ask how absences are covered. If a therapist calls in sick, does the session get canceled, or does a trained backup step in? You want a consistent team, not a rotating cast.
Parent Training and Involvement
Ask: How often do you provide parent training, and what does it look like? A good answer: at least 2 to 4 hours per month, with structured sessions where you practice techniques, not just a 5-minute chat at pickup.
Parent training is not optional. You are the one who generalizes skills at home, in the grocery store, at bedtime. If the provider treats training as an afterthought, your child's gains will stay in the clinic.
How Goals Are Chosen
Ask: How do you decide which goals to work on, and how do you involve me in that process? A good answer: goals come from a formal assessment like the VB-MAPP or AFLS, combined with your input on what matters at home and school. You see a draft goal list and get to approve it before it goes into the plan.
Avoid providers who hand you a pre-printed goal bank and say 'we'll pick from these.' Your child's goals should reflect their specific needs, not the provider's convenience.
Data Sharing and Progress Reports
Ask: How do you share data with me, and how often? A good answer: you get a written progress report every 3 to 6 months, plus a brief session note after each session. You can also log into a parent portal to see daily data on your child's goals.
You should not have to beg for data. If the provider hesitates or says 'we'll go over it at the annual review,' that's a red flag. You are paying for this service, and you have a right to see the numbers.
Billing and Costs
Ask: What are your billing rates, and how do you handle insurance? A good answer: they give you a written estimate of hourly rates for BCBA and RBT services, tell you your expected copay or coinsurance, and explain what happens if your insurance denies a claim. They also tell you if they are in-network or out-of-network.
Ask about the authorization process. Who submits the treatment plan to insurance? Who tracks your child's authorized hours versus used hours? You want a provider who manages the paperwork, not one who leaves it to you.
Ask about any extra fees: assessment fees, materials fees, cancellation fees. Get everything in writing before you sign.
Discharge Criteria
Ask: What does discharge look like? How do you decide when my child no longer needs ABA? A good answer: they have clear, measurable criteria, like mastery of goals and maintenance over 3 to 6 months, and they discuss discharge with you at least 6 months before ending services.
You also want to know how they handle a plateau. If your child stops progressing, do they reassess and change the approach, or do they keep billing the same hours? A good provider treats plateaus as a signal to adjust, not a reason to keep the status quo.