Tennessee registered 125 total behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, accounting for 1% of the national weekly total. This consistent activity signals a steady, albeit moderate, expansion of the state's behavioral health workforce to meet ongoing demand for services.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 19 BCBA credentials and 37 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these figures are not mutually exclusive, as 4 individuals hold both BCBA and RBT credentials, often reflecting a career progression from direct service to supervisory roles. This results in a ratio of approximately two RBTs for every BCBA, which, while lower than some states, indicates a foundational capacity for direct service delivery under qualified supervision, crucial for expanding ABA access.
Provider Demographics
Of the 112 individual providers registered this week, 85% are female, 10% are male, and 5% identify as nonbinary. This gender distribution is consistent with broader trends observed across the behavioral health field. The data did not highlight any specific organizations appearing multiple times in this week's registrations, suggesting a diverse range of smaller practices or individual practitioners contributing to the growth.
This influx of new providers, particularly RBTs, suggests an ongoing effort to expand ABA services and meet the growing demand for behavioral health support across Tennessee.
