In this guide, you'll discover exactly how to write an ABA Therapist resume that highlights your strengths, communicates your value, and increases your chances of landing interviews.
What Should You Include in an ABA Therapist Resume?
A strong ABA Therapist resume should highlight your professional skills, hands-on experience, certifications, and educational background. It should be tailored to reflect your understanding of behavior intervention plans, data collection, and client progress monitoring. Recruiters want to see how you can support client outcomes, work collaboratively with families, and follow treatment plans with precision and care.
How to Write an ABA Therapist Resume Step-by-Step
Creating a winning ABA Therapist resume requires thoughtful organization, strategic wording, and attention to what employers are looking for. Here’s exactly how to write yours step-by-step:
1. Start with a Strong Professional Summary
Your professional summary is the first section employers will read — make it count. Think of it as a brief, compelling overview of who you are as a professional and a professional resume.
Tips for writing it:
- Keep it 3–4 lines long.
- Include your total years of experience in ABA therapy or behavioral health.
- Mention key certifications (like RBT or BCaBA).
- Highlight your strongest skills relevant to the job (e.g., behavior intervention, data collection, caregiver training).
- Use active language and avoid vague buzzwords.
Example:2. Focus on Your Relevant Skills
Your skills section should immediately show hiring managers that you have the technical knowledge and interpersonal strengths they need. This section is also important for passing ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that scan for keywords.
Tips for writing it:
- Use a bulleted list format.
- Include a balance of hard skills (e.g., Applied Behavior Analysis, Functional Behavior Assessment) and soft skills (e.g., communication, patience, problem-solving).
- Prioritize skills mentioned in the specific job ad.
Sample skills for an ABA Therapist resume:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
- Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) Implementation
- Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
- Data Collection and Progress Tracking
- Positive Reinforcement Techniques
- Parent and Caregiver Training
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
- Crisis Management and De-escalation
- Team Collaboration and Multidisciplinary Communication
3. Highlight ABA Certifications and Education
Employers often require ABA Therapists to have formal certifications, such as certifications like Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and being a board-certified behavior analyst, that validate their skills.
How to showcase certifications:
- Create a dedicated “Certifications” section.
- List certification names, the certifying body (e.g., BACB for RBTs), and expiration dates if applicable.
Certifications to include:
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Certification
- CPR and First Aid Certification
- Mandated Reporter Training (if applicable)
- Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) (if you hold a higher certification)
Education section tips:
- Include your degree(s) in Psychology, Education, Special Education, or a related field.
- Add graduation year, institution name, and major.
Example:Bachelor of Science in Psychology
University of Florida | Graduated: 2021
4. Showcase Your Work Experience Clearly
The experience section should prove you know how to apply ABA methods in real-world settings, especially with children diagnosed, including individualized treatment plans, and achieve measurable results.
Tips for writing experience entries:
- List jobs in reverse chronological order.
- Include job title, employer name, location, and dates.
- Use 3–6 bullet points under each job.
- Begin bullet points with strong action verbs like "Implemented," "Developed," "Collected," "Trained," "Collaborated," or "Monitored."
- Emphasize outcomes over tasks (show what you accomplished).
Example bullets:- Implemented individualized ABA programs for 10+ clients, resulting in a 25% reduction in maladaptive behaviors over 6 months.
- Collected and analyzed behavioral data daily, achieving 95% accuracy for BCBA progress reviews.
- Trained parents in implementing intervention strategies at home, increasing treatment consistency by 40%.
5. Tailor Your Resume for Each Job Application
A generic resume is a missed opportunity.
Every job description highlights slightly different priorities — mirror their language and focus.
Steps to tailor your resume:
- Analyze keywords and phrases from the job description.
- Match your skills and achievements to their needs.
- Customize your Professional Summary for each role.
- Emphasize any direct experience that matches the employer’s specialty (e.g., early intervention, in-home therapy, school-based services).
Example of tailoring:6. Use a Clean, Professional Format
First impressions matter.
A well-organized and visually clean resume increases readability and shows professionalism.
Formatting tips:
- Choose a simple, modern font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica).
- Use clear section headings with consistent formatting (bold, larger font size).
- Keep margins at about 1 inch.
- Stick to black font on a white background.
- Save your file as a PDF unless the employer requests otherwise.
Sections to include:
- Contact Information
- Professional Summary
- Key Skills
- Professional Experience
- Education
- Certifications
- (Optional) Volunteer Work or Specialized Training
7. Include a Strong Call to Action at the End
If you have room (especially in LinkedIn versions or professional portfolio resumes), end with a subtle but strong statement that might attract social services agencies, encouraging employers to contact you.
Example line:8. Proofread Carefully Before Submitting
Small errors can cost you big opportunities. Always triple-check your resume.
Proofreading tips:
- Read it out loud to catch awkward phrasing.
- Use tools like Grammarly or the Hemingway App to catch grammar and clarity issues.
- Ask a trusted colleague or mentor to review it.
- Ensure all dates, certifications, and job titles are accurate and consistent.
Final checklist before submitting:
- Is the main keyword ("ABA Therapist Resume") naturally placed?
- Are there no spelling, grammar, or formatting errors?
- Does the resume look polished and professional?
ABA Therapist Resume Example
Here’s a sample resume to give you a clear idea of how to format yours:
Jane Doe
Certified ABA Therapist | RBT Certified | CPR Certified
Boston, MA | (555) 123-4567 | jane.doe@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janedoe
Professional Summary
Compassionate ABA Therapist with 4+ years of experience supporting children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. Expert in data collection, crisis intervention, and family education. RBT certified and skilled in implementing tailored behavior intervention plans to promote lasting positive change.
Key Skills
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Implementation
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
- Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
- Positive Reinforcement and Behavior Modification Techniques
- Data Collection, Analysis, and Progress Monitoring
- Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
- Parent, Caregiver, and Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
- Behavioral Crisis Intervention
- Adherence to BACB Ethical Guidelines
- Program Development and Goal Setting
Professional Experience
ABA Therapist
Sunshine Behavioral Center | Boston, MA
August 2020 – Present
- Conduct individualized ABA therapy sessions for children and adolescents (ages 2–18) diagnosed with ASD, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders.
- Implement customized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) designed by BCBAs, leading to a 20%+ improvement in targeted behaviors within 6 months for most clients.
- Accurately document session data and behavioral observations using electronic data systems, achieving a 95% compliance rate with BCBA standards.
- Conduct skill acquisition programs targeting communication, social, and daily living skills using DTT, NET, and pivotal response training techniques.
- Train and coach parents and caregivers on behavior management strategies, generalization of skills, and positive reinforcement methods, significantly improving home-based skill acquisition.
- Collaborate closely with clinical teams during bi-weekly case review meetings to analyze client progress and update treatment plans accordingly.
- Participate in ongoing professional development workshops on advanced ABA strategies, crisis intervention, and ethical practice.
Behavior Technician
Bright Minds ABA Services | Cambridge, MA
May 2018 – July 2020
- Provided direct 1:1 behavioral intervention for a caseload of 12+ clients across school, home, and community settings.
- Supported the implementation of functional behavior assessments (FBA), collecting antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) data for BCBA evaluation.
- Assisted in developing and implementing skill acquisition and behavior reduction plans tailored to client needs.
- Monitored client progress through precise data recording and timely reporting, contributing to measurable improvements in behavioral and academic outcomes.
- Maintained strict confidentiality and ethical standards, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and BACB guidelines.
- Participated in staff training programs and completed 40+ hours of initial RBT training.
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology
University of Massachusetts Boston | Boston, MA
Graduated: May 2018
Certifications
- Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) – BACB Certified
- CPR and First Aid Certified – American Red Cross
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Your ABA Therapist Resume
Avoid these common mistakes that can cause your resume to be overlooked:
1. Being Too Vague
Saying something like "provided therapy services" is too general and doesn't tell employers what you did. Instead, be specific by highlighting the types of techniques you used (e.g., Discrete Trial Training, Natural Environment Teaching) and the measurable outcomes you helped clients achieve.
Example:2. Ignoring Keywords
Many organizations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. If your resume lacks industry-specific keywords like "behavioral analysis," behavior intervention plans," "data collection," or "functional behavior assessment," it may never even reach a hiring manager.
3. Listing Duties Without Achievements
Simply listing job responsibilities (e.g., "worked with clients," "completed reports") makes your resume blend in with others. Employers want to see what impact you had.
Focus on accomplishments:4. Poor Formatting
Messy layouts, tiny fonts, or inconsistent design make your resume difficult to read and appear unprofessional; therefore, using a professional font is important. First impressions matter — if your formatting is sloppy, employers may assume your work will be too.
Use clean formatting with clear section headers, consistent font sizes (10–12 pt for body text), and bullet points for easier readability.
5. Leaving Out Certifications
Certifications like Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), CPR/First Aid, or specialized ABA training courses, along with strong academic credentials, are critical for applied behavior analysis therapist roles. If you don't list them clearly on your resume, you may be overlooked by candidates who do.
Always place certifications in a dedicated section near the top or immediately after your education.
Conclusion
Creating a standout ABA Therapist resume can open doors to exciting career opportunities. By highlighting your expertise in ABA techniques, certifications, and real-world achievements, you show employers you are ready to make an immediate impact. Follow this guide to build your resume, customize it for each role, and land more interviews in today’s competitive job market.
