New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 8802. Definition of the practice of “applied behavior analysis”

1. The practice of applied behavior analysis by a “licensed behavior analyst” shall mean the design, implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications, using behavioral stimuli and consequences, to produce socially significant improvement in human behavior, including the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relationship between environment and behavior, pursuant to a diagnosis and prescription or order from a person who is licensed or otherwise authorized to provide such diagnosis and prescription or ordering services pursuant to a profession enumerated in this title, for the purpose of providing behavioral health treatment.  For purposes of this section, prescriptions or orders for behavioral health treatment provided by a licensed behavior analyst shall be limited to providing treatment to individuals with behavioral health conditions that appear in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, or an equivalent classification system as determined by the department.  In addition, licensed behavior analysts providing services pursuant to a prescription or order, as authorized by this section, shall provide a report at least annually regarding the status of the individual served to the licensed person prescribing or ordering such service or more frequently, if needed, in order to report significant changes in the condition of the individual.

2. The practice of applied behavior analysis by a “certified behavior analyst assistant” means the services and activities provided by a person certified in accordance with this article who works under the supervision of a licensed behavior analyst to perform such patient related applied behavior analysis tasks as are assigned by the supervising licensed behavior analyst.  Supervision of a certified behavior analyst assistant by a licensed behavior analyst shall be in accordance with regulations of the commissioner.  No licensed behavior analyst shall supervise more than six certified behavior analyst assistants.

3. The practice of applied behavior analysis shall not include diagnosis of a disorder or condition for which ABA may be appropriate, or prescribing or ordering ABA for a particular individual.

4. Any individual whose license or authority to practice derives from the provisions of this article shall be prohibited from: