Oklahoma Moves Behavior Analyst Licensing to the Psychologists Board November 1

SB 1557 transfers BCBA licensing and BCaBA certification from OKDHS to the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, adds a national criminal history check for applicants, and removes the $100 cap on license fees before the April 2027 renewal.

Oklahoma's SB 1557, signed May 12 after passing 47-0 and 88-0, takes effect November 1, 2026. It moves the licensing of behavior analysts and certification of assistant behavior analysts from the Department of Human Services to the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

The board's own notice says there are “no immediate changes to existing licenses, certification requirements, standards of practice, or ongoing regulatory responsibilities.” That's true on November 1. The statute changes two things that arrive after it.

The turn: the fee ceiling is gone

The old law let the regulator charge “reasonable fees for issuance or renewal of a license or for certification, not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).” SB 1557 strikes the cap. Fees are now to be “in an amount sufficient to cover the cost and expense incurred by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.” Under the current DHS rule, a BCBA renewal is $100 for two years and a BCaBA is $50.

Renewal is still due “on or before April 30 of each odd-numbered year.” So April 30, 2027 is the first renewal under the new board, at a fee it hasn't set yet.

What else changes

  • Background checks. “The Board shall require that each applicant submit to a national criminal history record check.” That's new for applicants.
  • Ethics reference updated to the BACB's “Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.”
  • Violations carry a fine of up to $500, plus suspension or revocation.
  • Rules to come. The board “shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.”

The limits

No new fee has been set, and the statute sets no date for the board's rules. There's also a loose end. SoonerCare's ABA rule, OAC 317:30-5-311, still requires providers to be “licensed by OKDHS DDS as a BCBA” or “certified by OKDHS DDS as a BCaBA.” We found no OHCA amendment or notice that updates that wording for November 1. Nothing suggests current enrollment is at risk, but it's worth watching.

What you must know or do

  • Owners: add fingerprinting lead time to onboarding for any BCBA or BCaBA hire whose Oklahoma application goes in after November 1.
  • Budget the April 2027 renewal as unknown, not $100. Watch the Psychologists Board's rulemaking for the fee.
  • Make sure every licensee's contact details are current so the new board's notices reach them.
  • Billers: note the OHCA rule wording, and ask your SoonerCare provider representative how licenses issued by the new board will be verified at revalidation.