FAQS

Questions about the Behavior Therapist position

Through this innovative program, passionate and dedicated students can work as Behavior Therapists for families impacted by Autism in Central Massachusetts. 

1. Are Behavior Therapists provided comprehensive training?
   Once Behavior Therapists are hired, they attend HMEA First day training, CPR/First Aid, observe current Behavior Therapists working with children, and participate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) training. Training is an ongoing process. Our Behavior Therapists are supervised weekly or biweekly for instruction and feedback while they work with children.
2. What does the Behavior Therapist position entail?
   The work that each Behavior Therapist does will be specifically tailored to the behavioral goals and plans of the children that he or she supports. 
   
   In a home setting, you might help a child learn anything from letters, numbers, shapes, and colors to hand washing, teeth brushing, using the toilet and chores. In a classroom setting, you might help a child participate in lessons with his or her peers and assist with schoolwork. In a community setting, you might help an older child (up to 22-years-old) learn how to communicate with community members, make purchases, exercise or use public transportation.
   
   Our clinic can support different aspects of each environment, but it also supports social skills with peers in a more controlled setting.
   
   These are just a few examples of what the Behavior Therapist position entails. Where you report to work and your job expectations will depend on what setting the children that you are matched with need support in and what their goals are.
3. Are there opportunities for professional growth within the Behavior Therapy career track?
   Absolutely. Upon graduation, students have the opportunity to come on board full-time. Full-time Behavior Therapists receive many benefits, including Tuition Reimbursement for the pursuit of a Masters of Arts degree to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
   
   At HMEA, BCBAs create behavioral goals and plans for clients and supervise Behavior Therapists as they implement those plans. This is a position that is in great need and pays very well.
   
   Many of our Behavior Therapists receive their Master’s of Arts degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. You can learn more about the program here. 
4. Will my work schedule as a Behavior Therapist accommodate my academic schedule? 
   Yes. The children that we support require services at all times of the day (morning, afternoon, and evening) and a session with a child typically lasts from two to three hours. Behavior Therapists tell us when they are available to work during a typical week and we match them with children that need services at those times. If a Behavior Therapist’s availability does not match the current needs of our client waitlist, he or she might need to wait until a need arises. Behavior Therapists will need to be available for four to ten hours per week.
   
5. I do not live in the Central Massachusetts area year-round and will need college breaks off from work. Is that okay? 
   Unfortunately, no. While HMEA is flexible and understanding of students’ schedules, we need to provide consistent care to the children that we support and their families.
   
6. I cannot work as a Behavior Therapist right now, but I am interested in this opportunity in the future. Will I miss out if I wait to apply?
   No. The Students for Higher: Rising Up for Autism program is always looking for new Behavior Therapists. HMEA is continually hiring students so the children we serve can receive the services they need. Because diagnoses of Autism are on the rise and there are not enough trained staff to support the number of children being diagnosed, we anticipate having a continuous need to hire Behavior Therapists.
   
7. Are Behavior Therapists compensated for travel in-between clients? 
   Yes, Behavior Therapists are compensated for travel in-between clients. They are paid $20 per hour for the time that they are working directly with children and traveling in-between clients. In addition, they are paid 45 cents per mile that they travel in-between clients to more than reimburse for the cost of gas.
   
8. I do not have a vehicle. Can I work as a Behavior Therapist?
   Having a driver’s license and reliable transportation are requirements of the Behavior Therapist position because we work with the children that we serve in their homes, schools, and communities. Sometimes a Behavior Therapist will need to transport a child in his or her vehicle to participate in a community outing. Please wait until you meet all requirements of the Behavior Therapist position before applying
   
9. I have reviewed the website and still have questions about the Behavior Therapist position. How can I get answers?
   If you have unanswered questions about the Behavior Therapist position, please submit a message to Lydia Mitchell (Students for Higher Project Leader at HMEA) through the form on the Apply to Become a Behavior Therapist page.