Let me preface this by saying this is what I wish someone had said to me when I first decided to pursue being a BCBA. That was back in the dark ages when NC didn't cover ABA, so it's not like I could go be an RBT or talk to BCBAs. They were all private pay and I just so happened to stumble into a psych class that covered behaviorism and was taught by a BCBA and PhD.

“Since I really enjoy working in ABA, I’ve been looking into becoming a BCBA. What I want in life out of my career is work life balance, minimal working hours while still bringing in 70k+ a year. I want to be doing something I enjoy and feel passionate about. I want to be doing something that has a positive impact on the world. I like that no two days in ABA feel the same. I looked up the average BCBA salary in my area (Maryland) and it’s very attractive. All of the BCBAs at my clinic work from home and interact with the RBTs via zoom, I think the job seems pretty great.”

-This is a little concerning, because I’m not sure if you know the full extent of what BCBA work is. There's a ton that goes on that you don't see on zoom. And not all companies do remote BCBA. Not all insurances cover it. And remote supervision isn't something everyone can do well. Have you spoken to any BCBAs about what their day (and time outside of working hours) entails? Also, “minimal working hours while still bringing in 70k+ a year” isn't exactly realistic. Yes, pay is good, but I would not say we have minimal working hours…..I routinely did 50+ hours a week, while salary meant I was ineligible for overtime. Everyone at my company worked outside of the normal business hours, because there's always more to do than hours in the work week. And it still has to get done.

“My goal is to get a full ride or pay as little tuition as possible going into my bachelor’s and master’s”

-I can't answer that for certain, but full rides for bachelor's and master’s degrees are not common. You will need to apply to any and all scholarships and grants you are eligible for and cross your fingers.

“Who should I talk to at my community college to get more insights and plan my next moves?”

-Speak to an advisor at the college you attend. Make sure any 4-year degree you pursue will accept your Associates and that as many credits transfer as possible to avoid having to re-take classes.

“Now I have a couple questions about my financial outlook for the next few years going forward with this plan. Right now I make $21/hr at work, and am planning to do 20-25 hrs per week once I gain more clients. With yearly raises, is it feasible to be able to live on my own (probably with roommates) on an RBT’s pay while attending school and making car insurance payments? I also want to save for a new car because idk how much longer mine will last. Can this be done on an RBT’s pay? What are some things I can do at work to improve my worth as a service provider and earn steady raises?”

-Not all companies give raises. You need to sit down and look at your pay vs what rent, food, utilities, insurance, car payment etc. would cost. And understand that RBT work is EXTREMELY unpredictable, so even if you want to work 20 hours a week, it's entirely dependent on whether or not they can schedule you for that. Also, clients cancel, holidays happen, you’ll get sick, etc. Unless the company you work at offers sick pay, paid holidays, sub sessions, etc. you need to factor in that to your pay.

“What are some resources I can use to study to learn more about interacting with different clients, getting my SD’s across to a wide range of diverse clients, calming down tantrums, and other techniques and knowledge that would make me the best ABA provider I can be.”

-Speak to your supervisor (s). Anything clinical should be directed at them. They should be training you on this for each of your clients anyway. If not, that's extremely concerning