Finish your bachelor's degree and, in most cases, a master's degree. Typically, the master's degree should be in a human services profession. Common degrees are in psychology, education, special education, ABA or behavioral education. Related fields will usually be considered (e.g., speech pathology or social work). Some schools also require that you be a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA), or that you qualify for certification.
Take qualifying exams and obtain satisfactory scores on examinations before applying to doctorate programs. These include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MLA). Check with individual programs for testing requirements, as different schools require different tests.
Find a school that offers doctorates in ABA. Simmons College in Boston, Mass. is a private college that offers a 60-credit program. Utah State University offers a doctoral program within their Disability Disciplines Doctoral Program. Other schools that offer similar programs include Western New England College in Massachusetts, Caldwell College in New Jersey, University of the Pacific, Western Michigan University and the Florida Institute of Technology.
Complete all required steps for the application process. Plan to send your school of choice three letters of recommendation, a writing sample and a personal statement. Some schools may also require a personal interview before admission. Pay attention to admission deadlines and take your time with the application process. Check schools' individual websites for required materials, as requirements will differ from school to school.
Continue to work on your courses and requirements, keeping in mind that doctorate studies often take many years, and most require a dissertation. Most Ph.D. candidates continue to work in their field of study while also providing original research within their specialty. Although time-consuming and rigorous, a Doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis can lead to a rewarding career.