The routes to professional recognition and regulation vary across countries, including countries within Europe. Only a few countries within Europe have some sort of national regulation in place for behaviour analysts:
Czech Republic
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in the Czech Republic
The Czech Society of Applied Behavior Analysis (CSABA) was established in 2016, followed by the foundation of the Working Group for Applied Behavior Analysis of the Czech Medical Society (Kelly et al., 2018). Also in 2016, there was a decree by the Government Committee for Citizens with Disabilities at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic which issued an initiative to address the situation of people with autism and their families (Vládní výbor pro zdravotně postižené občany [Government Committee], 2016). It outlined the need to establish a comprehensive system of professional training in ABA as well as delivery of behavioral services with support from national health insurance.
Act no. 201/2017 Coll. (Zákon 201/2017), which amended the Act no. 96/2004 Coll. (Zákon 96/2004), was adopted in 2017 and recognized behavior analyst, assistant behavior analyst and behavior technician as health care professions and established conditions for their professional education and scope of practice (Act on Allied Health Professions). Subsequently, the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic issued related decrees that described the minimum standards for theoretical and practical training (Vyhláška [Decree] 39/2005 Coll.) and detailed the scope of practice of each profession (Vyhláška [Decree] 55/2011 Coll.). In 2017, the new allied health profession of behavior analyst was established, including the ranks of assistant behavior analyst and behavior technician.
See: https://www.ped.muni.cz/en/research/research-and-development/publications/1576237#
France
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in France
ONPAC — Organisation Nationale des Professions de l'Analyse du Comportement (France)
Founded in 2020, ONPAC (Organisation Nationale des Professions de l'Analyse du Comportement) is a non-profit professional association (Loi 1901) dedicated to structuring, professionalizing, and promoting Applied Behaviour Analysis in France. Operating in the absence of formal statutory regulation for behaviour analysts, ONPAC has established the first national professional framework for ABA in France, grounded in rigorous scientific, ethical, and professional standards fully consistent with international practices. The association has developed a Code of Ethics, a structured three-level certification system (ACC-A, ACC-B, TEC-C), official certification examinations, and professional supervision standards. As of 2026, ONPAC counts 160 active certified members across its three certification levels, organised through nine active volunteer committees.
Since its founding, ONPAC has grown at a remarkable pace — from 18 members in its first year to over 150 certified professionals by 2023, reaching 160 members in 2026 across all three certification levels. In just six years, the association has built a fully operational professional infrastructure: a comprehensive Code of Ethics, structured certification pathways, formal examination processes, supervision frameworks, continuing education tracking, and an active network of nine volunteer committees. This trajectory reflects both the depth of demand within the French ABA community for a credible national framework, and the collective determination of its professionals to develop the field on rigorous, science-based foundations — independent of any statutory framework, and entirely driven by the profession itself.
See: http://www.onpac.fr/
Iceland
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in Iceland
Behavior analysis in Iceland has developed substantially in recent years, driven by increased demand for evidence-based practices, the establishment of university-level training, and the growth of a professionally organized workforce. Similar to other countries, our field and professionals have relied on US certification guidelines—most notably the Behavior Analyst Certified Board (BACB)—as a model of competence. While such certification standards have been important for ensuring professional standards, it has not been a legal requirement for practice in Iceland.
Consequently, behavior analysis has operated without formal governmental regulation, protected professional titles, or licensure. In response to this gap, Icelandic Association for Behavior Analysis (ICEABA) has taken a leading role in advancing the professionalization of behavior analysis in Iceland. After several years of preparatory work focused on developing national standards for education, supervision, and continuing professional development, a formal process toward professional recognition was initiated on January 1, 2025. As a first step, ICEABA established a national registration system for behavior analysts. This registry represents a shift toward internal regulation, allowing the profession to define and uphold its own standards of practice while increasing transparency and accountability.
ICEABA’s strategy is to build this foundation incrementally. By first creating a robust, profession-led registration system, the organization aims to strengthen cohesion within its membership and demonstrate the maturity and readiness of the field. From this position, ICEABA intends to engage in collaboration with governmental authorities to pursue formal recognition of behavior analysis as a regulated profession, including the development of protected professional titles. This work is ongoing and reflects a deliberate transition from reliance on an external certification toward a nationally recognized and regulated professional framewSork.See:
Ireland
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in Ireland
The Irish Society for Behaviour Analysis (ISBA) advocates for the professional regulation of ABA in Ireland and seeks to align with international standards of practice as they develop. The principal objective of ISBA is to work to protect the public by advancing public accountability, promoting high standards of professional conduct, professional education and continuing professional development for behaviour analysts in Ireland. In the past, the BACB provided shared ethical standards and a means of assessing minimum standards for competence in the practice of ABA. However, the lack of statutory recognition and regulation of ABA inhibited further growth in Ireland.
The Division of Behaviour Analysius (DBA) of the Irish Psychological Society (PSI) continues to pursue accreditation from the PSI for the MScABA programmes in the Republic of Ireland (Trinity College Dublin and the National University of Ireland Galway). Both of these MSc programmes were accredited by the PSI and verified as course sequence by ABAI, and accept applicants without a primary degree in psychology. Accreditation provides a route to professional recognition for those with a primary degree in psychology.
See: https://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/groups/Division-of-Behavioural-Psychology
Romania
Current Status of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Romania
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is currently a formally recognised and regulated field in Romania. A major step in the professional recognition of Behaviour Analysts was achieved in November 2021, when the profession was officially included in the Romanian National Occupational Classification, providing a clear legal identity at national level.
Since January 2024, ABA has been regulated under the authority of the Romanian College of Psychologists, which recognises ABA as a professional specialisation within independent psychological practice. The College accredits long-term professional training programmes and issues licences for the practice of ABA, ensuring professional and ethical oversight.
At present, licensure in ABA is available to licensed psychologists. Legislative amendments are under development to extend eligibility to other relevant professional backgrounds, such as social work, special education, occupational therapy, and medicine. ABA services are also included in the public reimbursement system, allowing children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder to receive state-funded ABA services when services are delivered by licensed professionals.
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in Romania
Applied Behaviour Analysis began developing in Romania in the early 2010s, primarily through non-governmental organisations and professionals trained internationally. For several years ABA was practiced without a formal regulatory framework, despite increasing demand and demonstrated effectiveness, particularly in autism intervention. In May 2019, the ABA Institute Romania was established with the explicit goal of achieving national recognition, regulation, and professionalisation of Behaviour Analysts. One of the first major outcomes of this effort was the inclusion of the profession of Behaviour Analyst in the Romanian Occupational Classification in November 2021, following extensive inter-institutional consultation with the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, and relevant professional bodies. Building on this achievement, between 2022 and 2023 the ABA Institute Romania coordinated the drafting of a dedicated legislative proposal for the establishment of a College of Behaviour Analysts. The draft law was submitted to the Romanian Parliament in April 2023 and generated substantial dialogue at governmental and professional levels. As a result of this process, a strategic decision was reached to integrate the regulation of ABA within an existing statutory authority. In December 2023, the Romanian College of Psychologists formally assumed responsibility for the regulation of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Since then, ABA has been recognised as a professional specialisation, with accredited training pathways and a clear licensure process. This framework also enabled the formal inclusion of ABA services within the public healthcare and social support system, marking an important step toward accessibility and sustainability.
While the regulatory model continues to evolve, Romania has transitioned from an informal practice environment to a nationally recognised and regulated professional field, representing a significant development in the regional context of behavioural services.
United Kingdom
National Recognition Process of Behaviour Analysts in the UK
The UK Society for Behaviour Analysis (UK-SBA) was established by a community of behaviour analysts seeking to advance and professionalise behaviour analysis in the United Kingdom. To achieve professional recognition, the UK-SBA pursued accreditation of its membership register by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). The (PSA) is an independent UK body, accountable to Parliament, that oversees the regulation and registration of health and social care professionals. This process required the Society to develop and maintain a membership register, formulate an ethical code, and implement a comprehensive complaints procedure to ensure that registered members meet standards relating to insurance, safeguarding training, and background checks. The approval process took several years and was subject to significant audits and public scrutiny.
In parallel, the UK-SBA engaged extensively with stakeholders to design a certification framework comprising three levels of practitioner certification: UKBA(cert), UK Intermediate Behaviour Analyst (UKiBA), and the UK Vocational Behaviour Analyst (UKvBA), each with defined academic requirements and competence standards for supervision. In 2026, these certifications replaced the BCBA as the standard qualification for behaviour analysis in the UK. In the next year, only members who have met UK-SBA certification requirements will be be part of the PSA register.
As a voluntary organisation, the UK-SBA relies on the commitment and time of its board members. Throughout its development, a guiding principle has been the alignment of standards with the specific contexts and contingencies of professional practice in the United Kingdom. These standards are embedded within the competence frameworks and ethical codes, reflecting a sustained commitment to collaboration, careful deliberation, and transparent communication.
See: https://uk-sba.org/psa-accreditation.
Additional Resources
Please also refer to these papers for examples of how recognition and regulation is being approached around the world:
De los Santos, M. et al. (2024). Regulation of Behavior Analysis in 15 Countries of Latin America: Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation of the Science. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 458-479.
Keenan, M. et al. (2022). Professional Development of Behavior Analysts in Europe: A Snapshot for 21 Countries. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 16, 709-729.
Kelly, M.P. & Trifyllis, I. (2022). Developing National Occupation Standards for Behavior Analysts. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 23, 196-214.
Thomson, K. et al. (2023). The Long and Winding Road to Professional Regulation in Ontario Canada. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 480-489.