Behaviour Analyst

Skills and abilities: Excellent communication, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Good, detail-oriented observation. Willingness to work with a range of behavioural problems.

What you’ll be doing: You may decide to work in a research capacity, or in applied behaviour analysis, and specialise in one of many areas, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. Typical day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Identifying behaviours and skills to target through behavioural assessments 
• Maintaining and increasing a person’s skills, or teaching new ones, such as social interaction
• Transferring behaviours, such as from controlled environments to the larger world
• Modifying environments to improve behaviours, isolating or removing interferences
• Reducing interfering behaviours such as self-harm
• Writing and revising treatment plans, and overseeing their implementation
• Training others, and increasing organisational functions

Career progression: Entry level positions require a bachelor’s degree, whilst a master’s is often required for senior roles, and you may then choose to become a board certified behaviour analyst. Careers in behavioural analysis usually begin with internships and assistant positions. You could manage a team or rise to other senior positions within an organisation, or choose to move into a related specialisation, such as behavioural economics, pharmacology, or toxicology.