r/bcba • u/TheDeliberateDanger • 1h ago
Career Advancement Opportunities with Unrelated Master's Degree
I'm just putting out some feelers and wanting confirmation on whether this whole thought process is a no-go. I'm transitioning away from a career in management in the tourism and resource interpretation field and am contemplating a pivot to another career with advancement potential. I've seen postings for Registered Behavior Technician positions, and am curious. While I recently completed a career pathway certificate in alcohol and drug counseling, my master's degree is in historic preservation, a field that has been absolutely gutted by the current administration. It appears that the Verified Course Sequence has been phased out, so do I now need to complete an entire master's degree if I'm ultimately looking at BCBA positions in a few years' time?
Is this pretty much guaranteeing me a job where I would be stuck making $20-25 an hour with no upward trajectory, or are there opportunities to have continuing education and job placement supported? I am in western Oregon, near Eugene. Brutal honesty would be appreciated here. I completely understand that behavioral fields are rife with burnout but am emotionally mature and resilient. Analysis and instruction is a core part of my current position, but it is becoming increasingly untenable to find work that offers compensation to support a household.
