ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Behavior Specialist Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsBehavior Specialist JobsBehavior Specialist Jobs in Reston, VA

Behavior Specialist information

See Reston, VA salary details

$12

$24

$37

How much do behavior specialist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for behavior specialist in Reston, VA is $24.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.76 and $27.26 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What qualifications do you need to be a behavioral specialist?

A behavioral specialist typically needs a bachelor's degree in psychology, education, social work, or a related field, with many roles requiring a master's degree or higher. Certification or licensure, such as Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), is often required or preferred, along with strong communication and observational skills. Experience working with individuals with behavioral challenges is also valuable.

What is a Behavior Specialist?

A Behavior Specialist is a professional who assesses, plans, and implements strategies to help individuals improve their behavior, often focusing on those with behavioral or developmental disorders such as autism. They work in various settings, including schools, clinics, and community organizations, and collaborate with families, teachers, and other professionals to create customized behavior intervention plans. Their goal is to help clients develop positive behaviors, enhance social skills, and achieve greater independence.

Is a BCBA a behavior specialist?

A BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) is a type of behavior specialist who designs and oversees behavior intervention plans, often working with individuals with developmental or behavioral challenges. They hold a graduate degree, complete supervised fieldwork, and pass a certification exam to practice in the field.

What is the difference between Behavior Specialist vs Behavior Therapist?

AspectBehavior SpecialistBehavior Therapist
Required CredentialsOften requires a bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or related field; certifications like BCBA may be preferredTypically requires a master's degree in psychology, counseling, or related field; licensure or certification such as BCBA is common
Work EnvironmentSchools, clinics, community programs, or residential settingsPrivate practice, clinics, hospitals, or mental health facilities
Employer & Industry UsageEducational institutions, healthcare providers, special education programsHealthcare organizations, mental health clinics, private practices

Both roles focus on behavior intervention and support but differ mainly in educational requirements and work settings. Behavior Specialists often work in educational or community settings with a focus on behavioral support, while Behavior Therapists typically have advanced degrees and work in clinical environments providing therapy for mental health and behavioral issues.

What do you do as a behavior specialist?

A behavior specialist assesses and develops strategies to improve behavior, often working with individuals with developmental or behavioral challenges. They observe behaviors, create intervention plans, and may use techniques like positive reinforcement, often collaborating with families, teachers, or healthcare providers. Certification or training in behavior analysis is typically required for this role.

How do Behavior Specialists typically collaborate with teachers and parents to support student progress?

Behavior Specialists regularly work alongside teachers and parents to create and implement individualized behavior intervention plans. They observe students in various settings, provide actionable feedback to staff, and offer training or guidance on behavioral strategies. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as Behavior Specialists often facilitate meetings to review progress and adjust interventions as needed, ensuring everyone involved is aligned and supported.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Behavior Specialist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavior Specialist, a background in psychology, behavioral analysis, or a related field—often with a relevant certification such as BCBA—is essential. Familiarity with behavior intervention plans, data collection software, and assessment tools like the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) is typically required. Strong communication, patience, and problem-solving skills help build trust and effectively address clients' needs. These skills and qualifications are important for designing and implementing effective interventions that improve clients’ behavioral outcomes.
More about Behavior Specialist jobs
What are popular job titles related to Behavior Specialist jobs in Reston, VA? For Behavior Specialist jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Behavior Specialist jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Behavior Specialist jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Behavior Specialist jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Behavior Specialist job openings:
Behavior Specialist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Behavior Specialist job openings in Reston, VA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,049 per year, or $24.5 per hour.

Behavior Specialist

COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS & CHI

Montgomery Village, MD • On-site

$85K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Youth Services, the Behavior Specialist is responsible for training staff on behavior plans and doing follow-up, on-site monitoring of the implementation of behavior plans.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university in Psychology, Applied behavior analysis (ABA), or a related field of study. Master’s preferred.

Experience: Minimum of one (1) year experience desirable in training on behavior plan implementation, or relevant formal educational training in applied behavior analysis.

Skills: Must possess strong written and oral communication skills, as well as good organizational and coordinative ability. Must possess and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills with the ability to exercise patience, caring and concern in new and sometimes stressful situations. Computer literacy required, with a proficiency in standard business software applications (i.e., word processing, e-mail and spreadsheets).

Hours: Day, evening and weekend hours are available.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Responsible for training all new staff in school setting, and in residences throughout Montgomery County, MD, on the behavior management plan (BMP).
  • Responsible for re-training staff on the BMP as directed by the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA.)
  • Behavior Specialist travels onsite to student educational settings and residential settings to monitor BMP implementation, coach staff, and provide follow up consultation to staff on the BMP.
  • Conducts on-site visits and trainings, as determined by the BCBA.
  • Interfaces with BCBA, as well as Director of Education, to arrange school staff behavioral trainings and retrainings.
  • Interfaces with BCBA, as well as Residential Managers, to arrange residential staff trainings, as applicable.
  • Provides direct feedback to residential and educational staff on BMP and instructional programs.
  • Follows guidance and direction of the BCBA, and provides feedback to staff in accordance with the BMP.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (cont’d)
  • The behavior specialist will review behavioral and instructional data and communicate data clearly to the supervising BCBA, including recurring, new, or increasing maladaptive behaviors and behavior and instructional changes.
  • Behavior specialist will review and monitor electronic data, including performing data entry and monthly data review.
  • Writes a complete summary of follow-up visit so that the recommendations are useful to CSAAC staff and to the BCBA.
  • Reports of follow-up site visits and direct observations (called behavior specialist notes) are due within a maximum of 48 hours of the visit.
  • Distributes the notes to all designated personnel.
  • Invites questions from staff and relays staff questions or updates to BCBA.
  • Conducts evaluations of staff implementation of the BMP in residential and school settings, as assigned by the BCBA; Conducts reliabilities, and observations of staff implementation of the BMP in residential and school settings, as assigned by the BCBA.
  • Coordinates and consults with educational staff and teachers to investigate behavioral difficulties of individuals in school setting; Coordinates and consults with residential managers and residential staff to investigate behavioral difficulties of individuals in residential setting; makes recommendations on possible solutions and approaches to the problems and provides notifications to the supervising BCBA.
  • Completes behavior questionnaires, assessments, interviews, and/or functional assessment measures as directed by the BCBA.
  • Communicates clearly to BCBA and Director of Youth Services of student/staff/environmental concerns or needed student supports.
  • Adheres to mandatory use of CIMS system to access, send email, and access and report health information, data and incidents for individuals supported in CSAAC program. Adheres to mandatory use of VIBEHCM for Human Resource and Accounting related duties.

REQUIRED TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or ABA related field.
  • Completion and demonstration of techniques taught in the MANDT Training.
  • Successfully complete annual recertification of the MANDT Training.
  • MANDT training provided upon hire.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Employee must be able to effectively complete a non-adverse physical intervention with autistic individuals of varying heights, weights, and levels of physical strength according to the guidelines presented in MANDT Strategies training.