Behavior Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of behavior specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for behavior specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of behavior specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for behavior specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Behavior Specialists?
Do behavior specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do behavior specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for behavior specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Behavior Specialists
Jobs Postings for Behavior Specialists By Education
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 21,949 (68%)
- No Education Listed: 6,139 (19%)
- Master's degree: 3,869 (12%)
- Bachelor's degree: 283 (1%)
- High School or GED: 15 (0%)
A ph.d. or professional degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of behavior specialists. According to job data, a ph.d. or professional degree was required for 68% of positions. In 19% of job listings no education level was listed and in 12% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Behavior Specialists
Jobs Postings for Behavior Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 2,243 (34%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,518 (54%)
- 4-6 Years: 666 (10%)
- 7-9 Years: 43 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 83 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for behavior specialists. In 54% of job postings for Behavior Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 34% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 10% of job postings for behavior specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Behavior Specialists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for behavior specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 10 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective behavior specialists, and in 2023 a total of 174,124 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective behavior specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Behavior Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Behavior Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 10,826 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 6,780 |
| Clinical Psychology. | 5,626 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Counseling Psychology. | 10,826 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis. | 6,780 |
| Clinical Psychology. | 5,626 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology. | 1,929 |
| Health/Medical Psychology. | 388 |
| Clinical Child Psychology. | 126 |
| Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy. | 12 |
| Geropsychology. | 0 |
What Skills Do Behavior Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by behavior specialists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavior specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavior Specialists
Based on 29,656 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 23,182 | 78% |
| Clinical Psychology | 10,414 | 35% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,409 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,330 | 25% |
| Mental Health | 7,072 | 24% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 4,042 | 14% |
| Communication | 3,406 | 11% |
| Report Writing | 3,345 | 11% |
| Leadership | 2,530 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,510 | 8% |
Based on 29,656 job postings related to behavior specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 78% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for clinical psychology, psychological evaluations, psychotherapy, mental health and treatment planning were also highly sought.
As for common skills, planning was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavior specialists, followed by communication, report writing, leadership, ethical standards and conduct and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 23,182 | 78% |
| Clinical Psychology | 10,414 | 35% |
| Psychological Evaluations | 7,409 | 25% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,330 | 25% |
| Mental Health | 7,072 | 24% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,691 | 19% |
| Administrative Support | 5,685 | 19% |
| Digital Technology | 4,875 | 16% |
| Behavioral Health | 4,128 | 14% |
| Psychiatry | 3,336 | 11% |
| Telehealth | 3,333 | 11% |
| Billing | 2,884 | 10% |
| Crisis Intervention | 2,361 | 8% |
| Family Therapy | 2,319 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 2,153 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 1,949 | 7% |
| Mental Diseases | 1,853 | 6% |
| Social Work | 1,763 | 6% |
| Clinical Supervision | 1,717 | 6% |
| Case Management | 1,486 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | 4,042 | 14% |
| Communication | 3,406 | 11% |
| Report Writing | 3,345 | 11% |
| Leadership | 2,530 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,510 | 8% |
| Research | 2,247 | 8% |
| Management | 2,168 | 7% |
| Scheduling | 1,846 | 6% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,498 | 5% |
| Writing | 1,446 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,180 | 4% |
| Presentations | 1,089 | 4% |
| Administrative Functions | 1,026 | 3% |
| Coordinating | 1,026 | 3% |
| Rapport Building | 988 | 3% |
| Teaching | 910 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 894 | 3% |
| Teamwork | 843 | 3% |
| Computer Literacy | 835 | 3% |
| Customer Service | 745 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about behavior specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavior specialists.
What do behavior specialists do?
How much do behavior specialists make?
All Occupations
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