ABA Practice Guidelines (Version 3.0)
Executive Summary
The purpose of these practice guidelines is to inform decision making regarding the use of ABA as a medically necessary, efficacious, and cost-effective treatment to develop, maintain, or restore, to the maximum practicable extent, the functioning of individuals with ASD.
These practice guidelines are based on the best available scientific evidence and expert clinical opinion regarding the use of ABA as a behavioral health treatment for people diagnosed with ASD. The guidelines are intended to provide a concise, user-friendly introduction to the delivery of ABA services for ASD and to reflect consensus standards for the effective practice of these services. They are written for healthcare funders, agents of government health programs and private health insurance plans, regulatory bodies, consumers, and ABA practitioners and employers.
These practice guidelines provide information about standards of care in ABA that should be used in planning, implementing, and evaluating assessment and treatment services. As a behavioral health treatment, ABA includes many distinctive clinical and delivery components. It is important for all stakeholders, including those receiving and providing services, coordinating care, administering funding, or building provider networks, to understand the essential elements of ABA.
The ASD Practice Guidelines were originally published by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. In March 2020, the Guidelines were transferred to CASP. The 3rd edition of the ASD Practice Guidelines were released April 29, 2024.
