Licensed behavior analysts.

Existing law provides for the licensure and regulation of various healing arts professions and vocations, including, but not limited to, marriage and family therapists, licensed educational psychologists, social workers, and licensed professional clinical counselors by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. This bill would, commencing January 1, 2015, prohibit a person from holding himself or herself out to be a behavior analyst or an assistant behavior analyst unless licensed by the Board of Behavioral Sciences. The bill would require the board to issue a license to a person who meets certain educational requirements and passes an examination administered by the board, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, or another comparable accredited entity approved by the board, as specified, and is certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, a nonprofit corporation, or another comparable accredited entity approved by the board, as specified, and submits an application and pays fees established by the board. The bill would specify that a license shall expire no later than 24 months after its date of issue, as specified, and is subject to renewal upon the completion of various requirements, including the payment of a renewal fee and the completion of continuing education hours. The bill would describe the services that may be provided by a licensed behavior analyst and a licensed assistant behavior analyst, subject to specified supervision. The bill would authorize the board to regulate these licensees and to enforce these provisions.