Choosing an ABA provider is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make after an autism diagnosis. Your child may spend many hours a week with this team. Yet most parents have never hired a therapist before and aren’t sure what to ask.
This checklist covers what a qualified provider looks like in Ontario, the questions to ask and the red flags to watch for. We wrote it as a provider of ABA therapy in Canada, and we’d be glad to answer these same questions ourselves.
Step 1: Know what your child needs
Before you call anyone, write down three to five goals. Think about what makes daily life hard right now.
- Communication: asking for things, answering questions, following instructions
- Daily routines: dressing, toileting, mealtimes, sleep
- Behaviour: hitting, long meltdowns, running off
- Play and social skills: joining others, taking turns
If you’re not sure where to start, an autism assessment for children turns your concerns into clear, measurable goals.
Step 2: Check registration, not just certificates
This is the step most parents miss.
BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) is an international certification issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
Behaviour Analyst is a regulated title in Ontario. Since July 1, 2024, only people registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO) can use it. To practise in Ontario, a BCBA must also be registered with the College.
How to check: search the clinician’s name on the CPBAO public register. It’s free and takes a minute.
Front-line ABA therapists are not registered with the College. They must work under a registered clinician’s supervision. Ask who that person is.
If you plan to use Ontario Autism Program funding, this matters even more. The OAP requires ABA services to be delivered or supervised by a CPBAO-registered clinician.
Step 3: Ask how supervision works
Good supervision is what separates a strong program from an average one. The supervisor should assess your child, write the plan, review session data and change goals when progress stalls.
Our guide to BCBA supervision in ABA therapy explains what good oversight looks like and how many hours to expect.
Step 4: Pick the setting that fits your child
- At home: skills are taught in real routines. In-home ABA therapy suits most toddlers and preschoolers.
- At daycare or school: useful for group routines and play with other children.
- Online: virtual ABA therapy works well for parent coaching and for families waiting for in-person sessions.
- Clinic: offers structure and peers, but adds travel time.
Many families combine two settings under one plan.
Step 5: Ask these 8 questions
- Who will supervise my child, and are they on the CPBAO register?
- How many supervision hours are included each month?
- Will my child see the same therapist each week?
- How do you measure progress, and how often will I see the data?
- How often will we meet to review goals?
- How will you teach me to use the strategies at home?
- What are the hourly rates, and is the assessment billed separately?
- Do your receipts work for OAP and insurance claims?
Write the answers down. Compare at least two providers before you decide.
Step 6: Understand the cost
Private ABA in Ontario usually costs $50 to $150 per hour, depending on who delivers it. Ask for a written estimate before you start. Our ABA therapy cost guide explains rates and funding options.
Red flags
- Promises of a “cure” or guaranteed results
- No one can name your child’s supervisor
- A “Behaviour Analyst” who isn’t on the CPBAO register
- No data or progress reports
- Frequent therapist changes with no handover
- Pressure to sign a long contract before any trial sessions
- Goals that don’t change for six months or more
Two or more of these is a reason to keep looking.
Choosing a provider in Toronto or Mississauga
In Toronto, ask whether the provider covers your neighbourhood and offers evening or weekend times. Travel across the city adds up fast. As an ABA therapy provider in Toronto, we serve families from Etobicoke to Scarborough and name the supervising Behaviour Analyst up front.
In Peel, a provider based nearby can usually start sooner and keep schedules steady. Our team is based in Mississauga. See ABA therapy in Mississauga for the areas we cover.
What to expect after you choose
A good provider starts with an assessment, then gives you a written plan with goals, weekly hours and a cost estimate. Sessions should start within a few weeks. Within the first month you should know your supervisor, see the first data and have a clear idea of what to practise at home.
Talk to us
Ask us any of the 8 questions above. We’ll answer them on the call, including the name and registration of the clinician who would supervise your child.
