10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing an ABA Clinic for Your Preschooler

ABA Therapy, Parent Education

You’re Choosing a Team, Not Just a Clinic

If your preschooler was recently diagnosed with autism, or you’re getting close to it, you’ve probably already heard a lot about ABA. You may also be touring clinics, comparing waitlists, and wondering how anyone is supposed to tell them apart.

We talk with families about this all the time, so here are the 10 questions we’d want answered if it were our own child. We’re happy to answer every one of them about ABA at Westside, too.

1. Who Will Work With My Child, and What Are Their Credentials?

Most of your child’s day to day time will be with a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), while a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) designs and oversees the plan. Ask who your child’s BCBA and regular RBTs will be, how RBTs are trained, and how the clinic keeps credentials current¹. You can look up any BCBA’s certification on the Behavior Analyst Certification Board website². It’s also fair to ask whether the team has experience with children your child’s age.

2. How Often Will the BCBA Actually Be Involved?

A BCBA’s credentials matter, but so does how much time they spend with your child’s team. Ask how often they watch sessions live, and how quickly they change the plan when progress stalls³. It’s best practice to supervise 10-20% of your child’s programmed hours (depending on the need) so ask how often the BCBA is supervising the team of RBTs. RBTs must be supervised for at least 5% of the hours they work each month, so ask whether the clinic goes beyond that minimum. You’re looking for clear, specific answers.

3. What Does a Typical Day Look Like?

In a clinic-based program, children may spend anywhere from 20 to 40 hours a week at the center, so the daily rhythm matters. Ask for a sample schedule. How much of the day is one-on-one teaching, and how much is play, snack, and circle time. Ask about full-day and half-day options and how the clinic works around family schedules. Even better, ask if you can tour while sessions are happening. Look for answers that require individualization. The program should not be a copy and paste from one child to another, including session structure.

4. How Do Play, Peers, and Group Time Fit In?

One of the real perks of a clinic setting is that your child can practice skills with other children, which is harder to set up at home. Ask how the clinic builds in peer play and group activities, and how staff support those moments. Take a look at the space too. Are there calm areas where a child can take a break when things get big? Are there active areas to play? Are there activities your child would enjoy?

5. How Will This Fit With Preschool or Kindergarten?

If your child is in preschool, or headed to kindergarten soon, ask how the clinic schedule works around it and how the team plans for that transition. Programs built for early learners, often ages 2 to 6, tend to focus on skills that help in a classroom, like following group directions, telling someone what you need, and playing alongside other kids⁴. Ask whether the team will talk with your child’s teacher or school team, with your permission, so everyone is using the same strategies.

6. How Are Goals Chosen, and Where Do I Fit In?

Goals should come from an assessment and from you. Ask how the team decides what to work on, whether you’ll get to share what matters most to your family, and how often goals are reviewed. Collaboration with parents is a key to success for each child. 

7. What Does Parent Training Look Like?

Parent involvement is a big part of what makes ABA work⁵. Ask how often training happens, what it covers, who leads it, and how you’ll get to practice with feedback. Be a little cautious if ‘parent training’ just means you’re welcome to watch sessions⁶.

8. How Will I Know My Child Is Making Progress?

Ask how progress is measured, how often you’ll see the data, and what happens when something isn’t working. You should be able to understand the updates without decoding a lot of jargon. A good team shares data regularly and changes the plan when your child’s needs change.

9. How Do You Handle Hard Moments and Respect My Child’s Comfort?

Preschoolers have big feelings, and a good clinic expects that. Ask what the team does when your child is upset, tired, or says no, and how they make sure therapy feels safe and fun. Listen for answers that mention teaching coping skills, offering choices, and watching your child’s cues. Some providers call this assent-based care, which simply means checking in with your child about whether they’re willing and comfortable taking part.

10. What About Insurance, Availability, and Other Therapies?

Last, the practical stuff. Ask whether the clinic accepts your insurance and how benefits and authorizations are handled, how soon services could start, whether there’s a waitlist, and whether the clinic offers or coordinates other therapies like speech and occupational therapy⁷. Your insurance company is the best source for what they cover and what is  expected from the caregivers, and a good clinic can tell you whether they accept your plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check a BCBA’s credentials?

You can look up certified behavior analysts on the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s website. Ask the clinic for the name of your child’s BCBA and look them up before you start.

How many hours of ABA do preschoolers usually get?

It depends on your child’s assessment. Children in clinic-based programs may spend anywhere from 20 to 40 hours a week at a center, and your BCBA will recommend a number based on your child’s needs based on an objective assessment.

Learn more about how many ABA therapy hours your child may need. 

Is clinic-based or in-home ABA better?

Neither is better for every child. Clinic-based programs often offer more time with peers and on-site supervision, while home-based programs can be more flexible. The right fit depends on your child and your family.

Here’s more on in-clinic vs. in-home therapy. 

Can I visit before we start?

Ask! Many clinics offer tours, and seeing a session in action tells you a lot about how a team works with children.

What if I’m not sure after a tour?

Trust that feeling. Ask for a second visit, ask more questions, or compare with another clinic. You should feel good about the team before you start.

Trust Your Gut, Too

Credentials and schedules matter, but so does how a clinic makes you feel. Do they listen? Do they explain things clearly? Do they seem to like your child? Bring this list on your tours, jot down the answers, and compare. If you’d like to hear how we’d answer them, we’d love to talk. Learn more about ABA at Westside, call us at 815-783-2544, or submit a contact form.

Know a family touring ABA clinics for their preschooler? Share this with them. It might be the answer they’ve been looking for.

Clinically verified by Brenda Boehm, MA, BCBA, LBA, Regional ABA Director, Westside Children’s Therapy

Where to Go Next

• How ABA Therapy Prepares Kids for the Classroom

• Applied Behavior Analysis at Westside Children’s Therapy

• Autism Diagnostic Testing at Westside Children’s Therapy

• Contact Westside Children’s Therapy

Sources

1. How to Find the Best ABA Therapy Provider for Your Child. Applied Behavior Center.
2. 12 Questions to Ask an ABA Therapy Provider Before You Enroll. Treetop ABA.
3. What Should Parents Compare When Choosing an ABA Center? Sizedesk.
4. How to Choose the Right ABA Program for Your Child. Stride Centers.
5. Questions to Ask Before Starting ABA Therapy. Centria Healthcare.
6. The ABA Provider Checklist. Divine Steps Therapy.
7. Questions to Ask Before Choosing an ABA Provider. Bista Center.

Authored By

Brenda Boehm

MA, BCBA, LBA, Regional ABA Director, Westside Children's Therapy

Brenda Boehm holds an MA in Special Education and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA). She has worked in the ABA field since 2000, beginning her career in Wisconsin and building more than two decades of experience supporting children with autism and their families.

Her work has included serving as a Clinic Director in Australia, launching both home-based and center-based ABA programs in Malaysia for families in Malaysia and Singapore, and starting centers in Wisconsin and Illinois before joining Westside as a Regional ABA Director in 2026.

An experienced ABA leader, Brenda brings a strong track record in multi-site leadership and clinical operations, with a focus on clinical quality and operational performance. She is passionate about building mission-driven teams and driving excellence through data-informed decision making, OBM principles, and strategic leadership.

Outside of work, Brenda enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage sons, walking her dog, playing cards (especially Euchre), and visiting family in Wisconsin.