Telehealth and telesupervision for ABA in Texas
Last researched October 21, 2026
Can a BCBA in Texas deliver or supervise ABA by video, and what licensure applies? Answers below say exactly how sure we are.
BCBA licensure
- State license required for BCBAs
Yes.
- License title
Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA); Licensed Assistant Behavior Analyst (LaBA)
- Board
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), which administers licensing; the Behavior Analyst Advisory Board advises
- Board website
- https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/bhv/bhv.htm
- Statute or rule
Tex. Occ. Code ch. 506 (SB 589, 2017); 16 Tex. Admin. Code ch. 121
- Fees and timeline
As of 2026-10-21, state licensure is required to practice behavior analysis in Texas, subject to statutory exemptions (Tex. Occ. Code § 506.251: 'Except as provided by Subchapter B'). § 506.253: an LBA applicant must hold a current Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification 'or an equivalent certification issued by the certifying entity', meet the applicable education standards and pass the required examination, comply with the certifying entity's 'professional, ethical, and disciplinary standards', and not be 'subject to any disciplinary action'. § 506.254: an LaBA applicant needs a current 'Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst or an equivalent certification', meets the education and examination standards, and practices under supervision as required for assistants. Equivalent credentials are expressly allowed: per the checker's review of TDLR's February 2025 bulletin, TDLR currently accepts QABA's QBA for LBA licensure and QASP-S for assistant licensure (reported approval December 6, 2024). Ethical, disciplinary and assistant-supervision requirements continue to apply through the approved certifying entity. Out-of-state analysts may provide up to 20 days of temporary services per year under § 506.057, which additionally requires qualifying out-of-state licensure or certification, customary practice, compliance with the chapter, and disclosure of Texas nonlicensure and the time-limited nature of the services. No fee amount was supplied or verified.
Telehealth and telesupervision
- ABA delivered by telehealth
Sometimes. See the detail below.
- Detail
As of 2026-10-21: Medicaid MCO documents (2022-era quick reference summarizing the TMPPM policy) list ABA codes 97151 (evaluation) and 97155, 97156, 97158 and 99366 (treatment services) as deliverable via telehealth using a synchronous audio-video platform, with modifier 95. Current TMPPM §2.3.12.1 requires synchronous audiovisual delivery. The older sheet's wording that only the LBA may deliver these codes is overbroad for 99366: current TMPPM §2.3.3 permits other eligible licensed team members to participate in interdisciplinary meetings remotely and be reimbursed when their requirements are met. LaBAs cannot render telehealth parent training (97156). Direct technician treatment (97153) is not in the telehealth list. TDLR telehealth guidance: same standard of care as in person, informed consent (may be refused), identity verification, and consent records kept 5+ years. TDLR allows consent to be given in audio-only form, subject to its documentation conditions; this does not authorize audio-only ABA treatment.
- Telehealth parity law
We could not verify this yet - check with the state Medicaid agency or licensing board.
- In-person requirements
1 TAC § 354.5011 describes BT and LaBA services as 'in-person ABA treatment'; BT and LaBA direct treatment must be in person.
- Supervision by telehealth
Only LBAs may provide supervision under telehealth (97155) per BCBSTX Medicaid FAQ; indirect supervision is not reimbursable.
National baseline: BACB telesupervision
Handbook: in-person on-site observation is preferred, but observation 'may be conducted via web cameras, video-conferencing, or similar means'; internet-based supervision must comply with all applicable laws; video monitoring alone without real-time interaction/feedback may not count. Phone or email contacts do not count as the face-to-face contacts. Payer/state rules can be stricter (CMS toolkit says telehealth should be a limited adjunct and 'generally avoided' for routine technician supervision; that is CMS guidance to states, not a BACB rule).
This is the BACB's certification rule for RBT supervision. State, Medicaid or payer rules can be stricter. High confidence for the BACB text as of 2026-10-21.
Related guides for Texas
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