Using FES-UA for ABA Therapy
Provider requirements, costs, and coordination
ABA is covered — but the details matter. Here's how to verify providers and budget effectively.
💡 Quick Answer: Can FES-UA Pay for ABA Therapy?
Yes. Applied Behavior Analysis is a covered "specialized service" under Florida Statute 1002.394. To qualify, your ABA provider must be: (1) an organization approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), (2) an individual listed on the BACB website as practicing in Florida, or (3) a staff member under an Office of Early Learning SIS provider. ABA costs typically range from $50-$150/hour depending on provider credentials (RBT vs BCBA). At comprehensive ABA hours (20-40/week), this can consume most of a high-matrix family's annual award — which is why many families also budget separately for academic tutoring.
If your child has autism and you're exploring FES-UA, ABA therapy is likely on your list. It's one of the most intensive — and expensive — services families fund through the scholarship.
This guide covers provider requirements, costs, how to verify approval status, and how ABA fits alongside other services like academic tutoring.
Important note: We provide tutoring, not ABA therapy. This article is informational. If you're looking for ABA, you'll need a licensed provider. If you're looking for academic tutoring that complements ABA, that's where we come in.
ABA Is a Covered FES-UA Service
Florida Statute 1002.394 explicitly lists ABA as an approved expense under FES-UA. It falls under "specialized services" — meaning it's not just a general therapy category; it's specifically named.
This matters because some scholarships and programs don't cover ABA or impose restrictions. FES-UA does not — as long as the provider meets Florida's requirements.
Provider Requirements (This Is Where It Gets Specific)
Not every ABA provider qualifies for FES-UA payment. The provider must fall into one of these categories:
1. Organizations approved by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
APD maintains a list of approved providers for behavioral services. If your ABA agency is APD-approved, they qualify for FES-UA.
2. Individuals listed on the BACB website as practicing in Florida
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) maintains a registry of certified behavior analysts. If your provider (BCBA or BCaBA) appears in the BACB registry with a Florida practice address, they qualify.
3. Staff members under an Office of Early Learning SIS provider
For younger children, some ABA services are delivered through the VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) system. Staff under these providers qualify.
How to Verify Your ABA Provider Is FES-UA-Approved
Before committing to an ABA provider, verify they can actually accept FES-UA payment:
Step 1: Ask the provider directly
"Are you registered to accept FES-UA scholarship payments through Step Up or AAA?" A qualified provider should be able to answer yes.
Step 2: Check the APD provider directory
The Agency for Persons with Disabilities maintains a searchable provider list. If your agency appears there, they're APD-approved.
Step 3: Verify BACB certification
Go to bacb.com and search the certificant registry. Confirm the individual is currently certified and listed with a Florida practice address.
Step 4: Check Step Up's Find Providers
If the provider is enrolled in EMA's network, they'll appear in Step Up's Find Providers tool. This is the easiest confirmation — but not all qualified providers are in the directory yet.
Typical ABA Service Costs in Florida
ABA pricing varies significantly based on who delivers the service:
| Provider Level | Typical Hourly Rate | What They Do |
|---|---|---|
| RBT | $50-$80/hour | Direct therapy implementation; works under BCBA supervision |
| BCaBA | $80-$100/hour | Supervises RBTs; designs some interventions |
| BCBA | $100-$150/hour | Assessment, treatment planning, supervision, parent training |
Most ABA therapy hours are delivered by RBTs under BCBA supervision. The BCBA conducts assessments, writes the treatment plan, and provides ongoing supervision — but the bulk of direct therapy hours are at the RBT rate.
How Families Budget ABA Against Their Annual Award
Here's where the math matters:
Example: Matrix 254 family (~$22,000/year)
- • Focused ABA: 10 hours/week × $75/hour = $750/week
- • Annual cost: $750 × 44 weeks = $33,000
That's $11,000 more than the annual award.
Example: Matrix 255 family (~$36,000/year)
- • Comprehensive ABA: 25 hours/week × $75/hour = $1,875/week
- • Annual cost: $1,875 × 44 weeks = $82,500
That's $46,500 more than the annual award.
The reality:
Intensive ABA often exceeds what FES-UA provides. Families typically:
- • Use FES-UA for a portion of ABA hours
- • Pay out-of-pocket for additional hours
- • Use insurance (if available) to cover the gap
- • Reduce ABA hours to fit the budget
FES-UA helps — significantly — but for comprehensive ABA, it usually doesn't cover everything.
Comprehensive vs. Focused ABA
ABA isn't one-size-fits-all. Clinical recommendations vary:
Comprehensive ABA (20-40 hours/week)
- • Typically recommended for young children (2-6) newly diagnosed with autism
- • Intensive, often delivered in-home or at an ABA center
- • Targets multiple skill domains: communication, social, adaptive, behavioral
- • Research-supported for early intervention
Focused ABA (5-15 hours/week)
- • Appropriate for older children, children with milder needs, or as step-down from comprehensive
- • Targets specific behaviors or skill deficits
- • Often delivered alongside school or other therapies
Your child's BCBA should recommend the appropriate intensity based on assessment. Not every child needs 40 hours/week — and not every family can fund it through FES-UA alone.
ABA + Academic Tutoring: Why Families Use Both
Here's where we come in — and why this matters:
ABA targets:
- • Behavior reduction and replacement
- • Learning readiness skills
- • Attention and compliance
- • Social skills and communication
- • Self-regulation
Academic tutoring targets:
- • Grade-level curriculum content
- • Reading decoding and comprehension
- • Math facts and problem-solving
- • Writing skills
- • Test preparation
The gap:
ABA teaches your child how to learn — attention, following instructions, tolerating academic tasks. But it doesn't typically teach what to learn — the actual reading, math, and writing content.
A child can complete 20 hours/week of ABA and still be behind in reading. ABA addressed the behaviors that were interfering with learning, but someone still needs to teach the academics. That's where tutoring fits.
Families in Miami and Tampa commonly combine ABA with academic tutoring — using FES-UA to fund both when the budget allows.
For more about FES-UA and autism, see our Autism and FES-UA guide.
How Tutoring Fits Into an ABA-Heavy Schedule
Families using comprehensive ABA often add tutoring at 1-3 sessions per week:
Sample: Comprehensive ABA family
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | ABA (3 hrs) | Tutoring (1 hr) |
| Tue | ABA (3 hrs) | — |
| Wed | ABA (3 hrs) | Tutoring (1 hr) |
| Thu | ABA (3 hrs) | — |
| Fri | ABA (3 hrs) | Speech therapy |
Sample: Focused ABA family
| Day | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | Private school | ABA (2 hrs) |
| Tue | Private school | Tutoring (1 hr) |
| Wed | Private school | ABA (2 hrs) |
| Thu | Private school | — |
| Fri | Private school | Tutoring (1 hr) |
The key: tutoring doesn't replace ABA; it addresses the academics that ABA doesn't cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can FES-UA pay for ABA therapy?
Yes. ABA is specifically listed as a covered specialized service under Florida Statute 1002.394.
What are the provider requirements for FES-UA ABA?
The provider must be APD-approved, BACB-listed with a Florida address, or under an OEL SIS provider.
How do I verify my ABA provider accepts FES-UA?
Ask them directly, check the APD provider directory, verify BACB certification, or search Step Up's Find Providers.
How much does ABA cost?
Typically $50-$80/hour for RBTs, $100-$150/hour for BCBAs. Most therapy hours are delivered by RBTs.
Will FES-UA cover all my ABA costs?
Often not for comprehensive ABA. Intensive programs (20-40 hrs/week) frequently exceed annual awards.
What's the difference between comprehensive and focused ABA?
Comprehensive is 20-40 hours/week for young children. Focused is 5-15 hours/week for specific behaviors.
Why would I need tutoring if my child gets ABA?
ABA teaches learning readiness and behavior skills. Tutoring teaches academic content. They're complementary.
Can I use FES-UA for both ABA and tutoring?
Yes. Both are approved expenses. Budget accordingly — ABA is expensive.
Do you provide ABA therapy?
No. We provide academic tutoring. For ABA, you'll need a licensed BCBA and RBT team.
How do I fit tutoring into an ABA schedule?
Most families add 1-3 tutoring sessions per week alongside ABA hours.
Ready to Add Academic Tutoring?
If your child is receiving ABA and you're ready to address academic gaps, we can help. Our tutoring complements ABA by targeting the reading, math, and writing skills that behavior therapy doesn't cover.
Book a Free Consultation →Sources: Florida Statutes 1002.394, Step Up For Students, BACB, Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Last updated: May 2026