How to Become a Behavior Support Specialist: If you want to be the one to really put behavior techniques into action in classrooms and other environments, being a behavior support specialist is the way to go. In contrast to other behavior specialists, whose concentration is on research and observation, you will work directly with teachers and students to implement evidence-based behavioral supports that help kids stay on task and engaged in their learning.
It is an essential and fulfilling position that will enable you to make a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of children with a variety of disabilities and abilities.
What is a Behavior Support Specialists
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) instruction for kids with developmental delays or other disabilities is a federally required aim, and school-based behavior support specialists play a critical role in making this a reality. Students who require help paying attention in class will be able to get the help they need to learn at the same rate as their peers if you provide behavioral assistance throughout class and other activities.
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- You will assist individual students in shaping their behavior and concentrating on their studies by employing behavioral techniques such as establishing routines, delivering nonverbal signals, and utilizing other reinforcements.
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) outline the agreed-upon supports and services essential for a full and appropriate education. As part of this, we work directly with instructors to alter lesson plans as needed to accommodate students with these plans.
- There is an abundance of direct interaction between behavior support specialists and their clients. On a daily basis, you may schedule many one-on-one sessions with a small number of clients, but you usually only work with one at a time.
- As well as instructors and school administrative personnel, specialists engage in extensive communication with other medical and psychological professionals. A multidisciplinary Individualized Education Program (IEP) team may ask you to help with Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs), and you’ll almost likely be required to keep track of your notes and the results of your sessions with pupils.
- Working together with the kids’ regular and special education teachers, behavioral intervention experts, physicians, and anyone else engaged in their care and education, you will most likely contribute to the creation of individualized education programs (IEPs).
- While not as common as other behavioral responsibilities, several districts still need behavior support experts to travel between schools on a regular basis.
Providing Role Modeling Is an Important Aspect of Behavioral Support
Mentoring and help are often equally important components of behavioral support. Instead of just going through the motions of behavioral therapy, building relationships with the children you’re helping may have just as big of an impact on their growth and success in the long run.
But you must be able to connect with them on a personal level while keeping your whole professional distance. With the start of a new school year comes new clients, and as a behavior support expert, you’ll need to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of all these different people.
Earning a Solid Salary as a Behavior Support Specialist
The salaries of behavior support specialists are contingent upon their specific qualifications, employer, and job responsibilities. For example, a behavior support expert in the Big Apple would probably earn more than one in a small town in Texas, just because of the difference in population density.
School districts contract out their behavior support expert requirements to commercial firms. Some behavior support specialists are hired directly by districts, but districts are increasingly turning to private organizations due to the conventional perks and security of public sector positions. While some organizations may pay more, they provide less security and fewer perks. Also, they often provide possibilities outside of the classroom, which might provide you some leeway in your work that you might like.
According to the BLS, many Behavior Support Specialists also work as Mental Health Counselors, Substance Abuse Specialists, or Behavioral Disorder Specialists. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data from 2021 shows that Behavior Support Specialists made a median yearly wage of $48,520.
- 25th percentile: $38,520
- 50th percentile: $48,520
- 75th percentile: $61,660
- 90th percentile: $77,980
Behavior Support Specialists earned the highest mean salaries in the following states:
- Utah: $66,190
- Alaska: $65,090
- District of Columbia: $64,920
- Rhode Island: $64,640
- New Jersey: $63,430
The top-paying metropolitan areas for Behavior Support Specialists, according to mean salary, were:
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: $74,560
- Carson City, NV: $73,200
- Reno, NV: $71,690
- George, UT: $70,630
- Salt Lake City, UT: $68,370