TITLE 5
Businesses and Professions
CHAPTER 5-86
Licensing of Applied Behavior Analysts
SECTION 5-86-2
§ 5-86-2 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall be construed as follows:
(1) "Applied behavior analyst" means a person licensed to
practice applied behavior analysis under the provisions of this chapter and the
rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.
(2) "Applied behavior analyst aide" means a person not
licensed pursuant to the laws and rules applicable to the practice of applied
behavior analysis, who works under the supervision of a licensed applied
behavior analyst, who assists in the practice of applied behavior analysis and
whose activities require an understanding of applied behavior analysis, but do
not require professional or advanced training in the basic anatomical,
psychological, and social sciences involved in the practice of applied behavior
analysis.
(3) "Applied behavior assistant analyst" means a person
licensed who practices applied behavior analysis under the provisions of this
chapter and the rules and regulations authorized by this chapter.
(4) "Board" means the licensing board of applied behavior
analysts within the Rhode Island department of health, established pursuant to
the provisions of § 5-86-3 of the chapter.
(5) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health.
(6) "Director" means the director of the Rhode Island
department of health.
(7) "Education" means the academic program pursued by the
person in obtaining the bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree, that the
programs to include formal course work, seminars and practica.
(8) "Psychologist with equivalent experience" means a person
deemed to hold equivalent licensure as an applied behavior analyst upon
satisfying equivalency requirements through submission and satisfaction of
written evidence of education and relevant experience to the department
pursuant to subsection 5-86-9(c) of this chapter.
(9) "Practice of applied behavior analysis" means the design,
implementation and evaluation of environmental modifications by a behavior
analyst to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior. It
includes the empirical identification of functional relations between
environment and behavior, known as functional assessment and analysis. Applied
behavior analysis interventions are based on scientific research and the direct
observation and measurement of behavior and environment. They utilize
contextual factors, establishing operations, antecedent stimuli, positive
reinforcement and other consequences to help people develop new behaviors,
increase or decrease existing behaviors, and emit behaviors under specific
environmental conditions. The practice of applied behavior analysis expressly
excludes psychological testing, neuropsychology, psychotherapy, cognitive
therapy, sex therapy, psychoanalysis, hypnotherapy, and long-term counseling as
treatment modalities. Such services are provided by a person licensed under
this chapter only when applied behavior analysis services are prescribed by a
child psychiatrist, a behavioral developmental pediatrician, a child
neurologist or a licensed psychologist with training in child psychology
pursuant to § 27-20.11-4.
(10) "Supervised experience" means the practical application
of principles, methods and procedures of the science of applied behavioral
analysis in accordance with the requirements of § 5-86-9 of this chapter.
(11) "Supervision" means that a licensed applied behavior
analyst is at all times responsible for supportive personnel and clients.
(12) "These regulations" mean all parts of Rhode Island rules
and regulations for licensing applied behavior analysts, applied behavior
assistant analysts, and psychologists with equivalent experience.
(13) "Training" means the pre-professional or professional
supervised experience received by the person at the pre or post-doctoral level
that experience to have been obtained in an internship, clinic, or other
similar professional setting.
History of Section.
(P.L. 2012, ch. 318, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 338, § 1.)
