---
title: "Green Flags vs. Red Flags: What to Actually Look for in a Clinic"
author: Liat Sacks
date: 2026-01-15
updated: 2026-09-22
url: https://pairaba.com/blog-posts/green-flags-vs-red-flags-bcba-clinic.html
publisher: Pair ABA
summary: "Caseload size, supervision quality, and the questions that reveal more than any job posting ever will."
---

# Green Flags vs. Red Flags: What to Actually Look for in a Clinic

By Liat Sacks, Founder, Pair ABA · January 15, 2026

Every BCBA job posting says the same things: "supportive team," "growth opportunities," "we're like a family." None of that tells you anything. Here's what actually matters when you're sizing up a clinic.

## Green flags

- **Caseload numbers they can actually explain.** If a clinic can tell you exactly how many clients you'll carry and why that number, that's a good sign they've thought about sustainability.
- **Supervision that shows up on a calendar.** Not "we'll figure it out," an actual recurring time.
- **Leadership who answers hard questions directly.** Ask about turnover. Watch how they respond.

## Red flags

- Vague answers about caseload "it depends" with no follow-up.
- Supervision framed as a formality instead of a real clinical relationship.
- Any version of "we're like a family" used to explain away boundaries.

If you wouldn't accept these answers from a partner, don't accept them from an employer either.

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Source: https://pairaba.com/blog-posts/green-flags-vs-red-flags-bcba-clinic.html · The Pair Post, Pair ABA (https://pairaba.com/)