Green flags in an ABA clinic, for BCBAs

Updated Oct 14, 2026 · By Liat Sacks

1. They can explain your caseload

Ask how many kids you’ll carry, how many client hours that adds up to, and the weekly billable target. A good clinic says all three numbers out loud. “It depends” with no follow-up is a red flag.

2. Supervision is on a calendar

Not “we’ll figure it out.” Ask how often supervision is scheduled, and how often it actually happens as scheduled.

3. Pay and expectations are clear

Base pay is one part. Look at bonus rules, PTO, CEU money, caseload and billables together. Ask why the number is what it is, and what happens to billables when clients cancel.

4. Leaders answer hard questions

Ask about turnover. Ask the most common reason people leave the role. Ask who makes the clinical call when billables push. Watch how they answer.

5. There’s a real ethics path

If something feels off, who do you go to, and what happens next? A good clinic has an answer.

6. Work/life balance is real

Ask what a normal Tuesday looks like for a BCBA there. A clinic that runs well can describe a normal day without hedging.

Red flags to watch for

• Vague caseload answers.
• Supervision treated as a formality.
• “We’re like a family” used to explain away boundaries.
• A start date tied to “until staffing catches up.”

Does ownership matter?

Less than you’d think. PE-backed and BCBA-owned clinics can both be great or bad. Check the caseload, supervision and pay, not the logo.

How Pair checks clinics

Every clinic on Pair passes our Green Flag Assessment first: ethical leadership, clear pay and expectations, realistic caseloads, work/life balance, and clinical support that actually exists. It’s free for BCBAs. Talk to a matchmaker.

Sources (Pair’s own pages): the Green Flag standards on every job page; For BCBAs; Pair Post posts on green and red flags, interview questions, caseloads, ownership, and salary on the blog. See also BCBA salary by state.