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
- Master's degree: 24,776 (45%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 10,252 (19%)
- No Education Listed: 10,206 (18%)
- Bachelor's degree: 5,863 (11%)
- High School or GED: 4,106 (7%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of behavior specialists. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 45% of positions. In 19% of job listings a ph.d. or professional degree was required and in 18% of postings no education level was listed.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Behavior Specialists
Jobs Postings for Behavior Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 6,074 (39%)
- 2-3 Years: 8,178 (53%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,192 (8%)
- 7-9 Years: 77 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 50 (0%)
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 53% of job postings for Behavior Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 39% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 8% 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 14 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective behavior specialists, and in 2023 a total of 234,436 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 |
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Human Development and Family Studies, General. | 8,321 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Human Development and Family Studies, General. | 8,321 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling. | 3,898 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General. | 2,454 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other. | 540 |
| Family Systems. | 432 |
| Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences. | 429 |
| Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling. | 177 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, Other. | 142 |
| Work and Family Studies. | 10 |
| Medical Family Therapy/Therapist. | 5 |
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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 46,798 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 17,176 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 16,591 | 35% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,484 | 35% |
| Social Work | 16,420 | 35% |
| Family Therapy | 15,310 | 33% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavior Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 9,868 | 21% |
| Leadership | 4,986 | 11% |
| Management | 4,381 | 9% |
| Planning | 4,371 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,065 | 9% |
Based on 46,798 job postings related to behavior specialists, psychology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 37% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for mental health, treatment planning, social work, family therapy and behavioral health were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavior specialists, followed by leadership, management, planning, scheduling and ethical standards and conduct.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 17,176 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 16,591 | 35% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,484 | 35% |
| Social Work | 16,420 | 35% |
| Family Therapy | 15,310 | 33% |
| Behavioral Health | 12,022 | 26% |
| Psychotherapy | 7,955 | 17% |
| Crisis Intervention | 6,449 | 14% |
| Psychiatry | 6,346 | 14% |
| Case Management | 6,256 | 13% |
| Group Therapy | 5,928 | 13% |
| Telehealth | 5,276 | 11% |
| Substance Abuse | 4,995 | 11% |
| Clinical Psychology | 4,252 | 9% |
| Trauma Care | 4,100 | 9% |
| Discharge Planning | 3,784 | 8% |
| Marketing | 3,635 | 8% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3,478 | 7% |
| Billing | 3,460 | 7% |
| Behaviour Therapy | 3,380 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 9,868 | 21% |
| Leadership | 4,986 | 11% |
| Management | 4,381 | 9% |
| Planning | 4,371 | 9% |
| Scheduling | 4,065 | 9% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,978 | 9% |
| Coordinating | 3,416 | 7% |
| Teaching | 2,825 | 6% |
| Writing | 2,808 | 6% |
| Advocacy | 2,801 | 6% |
| Customer Service | 2,712 | 6% |
| Presentations | 2,698 | 6% |
| Professionalism | 2,620 | 6% |
| Problem Solving | 2,590 | 6% |
| Good Driving Record | 2,280 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,275 | 5% |
| Self-Discipline | 2,270 | 5% |
| Multilingualism | 2,234 | 5% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,110 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 2,110 | 5% |
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?
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