Why Are ABA Therapy Waitlists So Long?
The ABA therapy workforce shortage is not a new problem, but it has grown significantly over the past decade as autism diagnosis rates have risen faster than the supply of trained providers. Understanding the root causes helps explain why waitlists persist — and why some strategies for getting off them are more effective than others.
The diagnosis rate has outpaced the workforce
The CDC currently estimates that approximately 1 in 36 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Diagnosis rates have risen steadily for two decades, driven by a combination of broader diagnostic criteria, increased awareness among pediatricians and parents, and improved screening protocols. The pipeline for training BCBAs and behavior technicians has not kept pace with this growth, creating a structural imbalance between demand and available providers.
ABA therapy is time-intensive
Unlike a one-hour weekly therapy appointment, ABA therapy is typically delivered at 10 to 40 hours per week per child. Each full-time ABA client requires significant staff hours — a behavior technician for direct sessions plus BCBA oversight time. A single therapist can only serve a limited number of clients at full intensity, which means each new opening requires either a new hire or an existing client reducing their hours.
Provider credentialing takes time
Before a provider can start billing your insurance, they must be credentialed with your specific insurance plan. For new providers, this process can take 90 to 180 days. This means that even a provider with physical space and trained staff may not be able to start your child's services immediately if they are not yet credentialed with your insurer.
Concentration in urban markets
ABA providers tend to cluster in urban and suburban areas where there is a larger client base and a deeper talent pool for hiring. Families in smaller cities, suburban edges, and rural areas often have significantly fewer provider options, which extends waitlists further.
Important context: Not every provider has a long waitlist. Provider capacity shifts constantly as clients complete programs, reduce hours, or age out of services. Some providers are accepting new clients right now — they are just harder to find without current, accurate information.
How Long Are Waitlists Typically?
Waitlist lengths vary considerably by location, insurance type, and time of year, but research and clinical reports consistently show that delays of six to eighteen months are common in many markets. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that families faced an average wait of nearly two years from first raising developmental concerns to beginning ABA therapy — with insurance authorization and waitlists both contributing to the delay.
In densely populated areas like New York City and its suburbs, waitlists at individual providers can extend twelve months or longer. In New Jersey and North Carolina, families in suburban and rural areas often report waiting six to twelve months for an initial spot. Urban centers in North Carolina, including the Research Triangle and Charlotte, have shorter waits on average due to higher provider density — though this varies by insurance and timing.
It is also worth knowing that waitlists are not static. A provider who quoted a six-month wait in January may have an opening the following month if a family relocates, a child transitions to school-based services, or a new therapist joins the team. Staying in contact with providers on whose waitlist you are enrolled is not just acceptable — it is advisable.
7 Strategies to Get Off the Waitlist Faster
While you cannot eliminate the structural shortage, you can take specific steps to improve your family's position. Here are seven strategies that consistently help families access services more quickly:
1. Apply to multiple providers simultaneously
Many families call one provider, hear about a long waitlist, and stop there. Instead, contact every provider in your area at the same time. Having your child on three or four waitlists simultaneously dramatically improves your odds of getting a call back sooner. Keep a spreadsheet of who you have contacted, the date, waitlist length quoted, and a follow-up date.
2. Get your diagnostic documentation ready
Some providers will not formally place your child on a waitlist until they have received a copy of the autism diagnosis report. Have a complete copy of your child's diagnostic evaluation ready to send as soon as a provider asks for it. Delays in paperwork can push your effective start date back further than the waitlist itself.
3. Verify insurance in advance
Confirm your insurance coverage and get a list of in-network providers before you start making calls. Calling out-of-network providers — or providers who do not accept your plan at all — wastes time for everyone. Ask your insurer for a current list of in-network ABA providers accepting new patients, understanding that these lists are often outdated and require follow-up verification.
4. Ask about partial openings
Some providers have partial availability — they may not have a full schedule slot open, but could start your child at a reduced number of hours per week while building to the recommended intensity. Starting with 10 hours per week is far better than waiting six months for a 25-hour slot. Ask explicitly: "Do you have any partial availability for new clients while we wait for a full slot?"
5. Ask about home-based and telehealth options
Clinic-based ABA therapy often has longer waitlists than home-based or telehealth services. Home-based programs can sometimes start sooner because they do not require a physical clinic slot — the therapist comes to your home. Telehealth ABA is increasingly available and evidence-based for certain skill areas. Ask providers whether these options have different availability than in-clinic services.
6. Stay active on the waitlist
Providers cycle through their waitlists and often call families in the order they were added — but they frequently cannot reach families due to changed phone numbers, full voicemail boxes, or slow call-backs. Respond promptly to any communication from a provider, and check in with providers on your list every four to six weeks to confirm your continued interest and update your contact information.
7. Request early intervention or school services in parallel
While waiting for ABA therapy, explore whether your child is eligible for early intervention services (for children under 3) through your state, or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) through your school district. These services are not a replacement for ABA, but they can provide meaningful support in the interim and prevent developmental regression during the wait.
Tired of calling providers one by one only to hear "we have a waitlist"? Match Care ABA finds providers in NY, NJ, NC, and CO who are currently accepting new clients — for free.
Find Providers With AvailabilityWhat to Do While You Are on a Waitlist
Waiting for ABA therapy does not have to mean standing still. The months between diagnosis and the start of formal services are precious developmental time, and there is meaningful work you can do in the interim:
- Start parent training: Many BCBAs offer consultation or parent training sessions independent of a formal ABA program. These sessions can teach you foundational ABA principles you can apply at home while waiting for services to begin. Ask providers on your waitlist whether they offer this.
- Pursue speech and occupational therapy: Speech language therapy and occupational therapy are often easier to access than ABA and address needs that overlap with ABA goals. Both can provide real developmental benefit in the interim.
- Connect with parent support groups: Other parents who have navigated the waitlist process in your specific area and with your insurance plan are among the most valuable resources available. Local autism parent groups — both in-person and online — often share real-time information about provider availability.
- Document your child's development: Keep a log of your child's current behaviors, skills, and challenges. This documentation will be valuable to your BCBA when services begin, helping them design a more targeted treatment plan from day one.
Remember: The window for early intervention is not lost while you are on a waitlist. Every skill you help your child develop at home, every support you put in place, and every step you take now matters. The wait is frustrating — but you are not powerless during it.
How Match Care ABA Helps You Skip the Line
The fundamental problem with waitlists is an information problem: families do not know which providers currently have availability, and calling every provider in a directory one by one is inefficient and demoralizing. Match Care ABA exists to solve exactly this problem.
We maintain active relationships with ABA providers across New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Colorado and track which providers are currently accepting new clients — including which insurance plans they are in-network with and whether they have home-based or telehealth options available. When a family fills out our matching form, we match them to providers with real, current availability for their location and insurance plan.
We follow up with families within one business day. Our service is completely free for families — we are funded by the providers in our network, not by the families we serve. There is no obligation attached to any match we provide.
Many families who come to us have already spent weeks or months calling providers only to be placed on yet another waitlist. In a significant number of cases, we are able to surface providers with current availability that the family had not yet contacted — sometimes providers who have recently opened slots or recently joined our network. We cannot make a waitlist disappear, but we can dramatically reduce the time you spend searching.
If your child is waiting for ABA therapy in New York, New Jersey, or North Carolina, fill out our matching form today. It takes less than five minutes, and our team will be in touch the next business day with options tailored to your family's situation.
