San Diego's behavioral health sector recorded 72 total providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing 1% of the national weekly total. This consistent activity highlights San Diego's role as a significant hub in the country's behavioral health workforce. Of these, 36 new providers registered this week, contributing to 37 new registrations this year. The total includes 67 individual practitioners and 5 organizations.
ABA Credential Mix
Among individual practitioners, the data shows 7 BCBA providers and 30 RBT providers. It is important to note that these categories are not mutually exclusive, as 2 providers hold both BCBA and RBT credentials, indicating a career progression from direct care to a supervisory role. This results in a BCBA to RBT ratio of approximately 1:4.2, suggesting a need for more supervisory capacity to support the RBT workforce. Additionally, 19 providers hold multiple taxonomies, broadening the scope of services. Beyond ABA-specific roles, San Diego's behavioral health landscape also includes professionals with credentials such as LCSW, ASW, LMFT, and CCC-SLP.
Workforce Demographics and Trends
The individual provider workforce in San Diego is predominantly female, with 47 practitioners identifying as female, making up 70% of the individual workforce. 13 practitioners are male, representing 19%, and 7 providers identify as nonbinary, accounting for 10%. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this update, suggesting a diverse landscape of independent providers and smaller clinics rather than dominance by large multi-state chains. The significant influx of new providers, particularly RBTs, indicates a growing workforce poised to enhance access to behavioral health services for families in San Diego.
