How to Open an ABA Clinic in New York
New York licenses behavior analysts at the state level — and a national certification alone won't let you practice. Getting the LBA license right, then enrolling with Medicaid and managed care, is the path to opening in NY.
First: the NYS LBA license (New York-specific)
New York requires a state Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) license from the NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions. Critically: BACB certification alone is not sufficient to practice in New York — it provides a pathway to licensure, not an exemption.
- Pathway Two (since Nov 22, 2022): applicants may be licensed based on acceptable national certification (BACB), submitting an application plus a BACB verification letter sent directly to NYSED.
- Pathway One (standard): master's or higher from a registered ABA program, supervised experience, and an acceptable exam.
- Also required: Child Abuse Identification & Reporting training, be at least 21, good moral character. Licensure + first registration fee is $300.
- Graduate permit: graduates completing supervised experience can practice under a permit while supervised by an LBA.
Business & clinical foundation
1Form your entity & get an EIN. Register in New York, get an IRS EIN and W-9.
2Get NPIs. Type 1 for each provider, Type 2 for the organization.
3Secure liability insurance.
4Build & attest CAQH profiles.
New York Medicaid & eMedNY
New York Medicaid covers ABA, and enrollment runs through eMedNY:
- LBAs enroll for Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) via eMedNY using the ABA enrollment forms.
- Contract with Medicaid managed care plans to serve members enrolled in those plans — most NY Medicaid members are in managed care.
- Review the eMedNY ABA Policy Manual for covered services, documentation, and billing rules.
New York Medicaid & Licensing
NY Medicaid / eMedNY (enrollment)
https://www.emedny.org/info/providerenrollment/ABA/
NYSED Office of the Professions (LBA license)
op.nysed.gov — Licensed Behavior Analysts
Built for New York's licensing rules.
Cue tracks each analyst's NYS LBA license and renewal, keeps authorizations and documentation organized per client, and surfaces deadlines before they lapse — so a lapsed license or expired auth never becomes a denial. Free for your first five kiddos.
Request an Invite →The universal pieces
- How to start an ABA clinic — the full launch checklist.
- Insurance credentialing — NPI, CAQH, applications, timelines.
- Authorization & reauthorization — units, treatment plans, avoiding lapses.
- ABA billing — CPT codes, modifiers, clean claims.
FAQs
Do you need a license to practice ABA in New York?
Yes — a NYS Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) license. BACB certification alone is not sufficient; it's a pathway to licensure, not an exemption. Pathway Two (since Nov 22, 2022) allows licensure based on national certification.
How do providers enroll in NY Medicaid?
LBAs enroll via eMedNY for fee-for-service and contract with Medicaid managed care plans for members in those plans. See the eMedNY ABA Policy Manual.
Who can deliver ABA in New York?
A NYS LBA directs services; graduates in supervised experience may work under a graduate permit supervised by an LBA. Confirm supervision rules with NYSED and Medicaid policy.
This guide is general information, not legal, billing, or regulatory advice, and reflects publicly available NYSED and eMedNY information as of June 2026. Licensing, Medicaid, and managed-care rules change — always confirm current requirements with the NYS Office of the Professions, eMedNY, the relevant managed-care plans, and qualified professionals before acting.