Best 2026 ABA Conferences for Out-of-the-Box BCBAs: Affordable CEUs Beyond Traditional Autism-Focused Events
Best 2026 ABA Conferences for Out-of-the-Box BCBAs: Affordable CEUs Beyond Traditional Autism-Focused Events
Are you tired of the same old ABA conference circuit? Looking for affordable BCBA CEUs 2026 that actually speak to your diverse interests and career goals? Whether you're exploring behavior analysis in health and wellness, seeking Spanish-language ABA CEUs, or want to empower your RBT teams with practical training, 2026 offers a breakthrough lineup of conferences designed for BCBAs who think differently.
These aren't your typical autism-only conferences. These are specialized events where you'll gain actionable skills, network with like-minded professionals, and earn your continuing education units while exploring the expanding horizons of behavior analysis. Plus, with early bird pricing, you can save hundreds on CEU costs while investing in your professional development.
Why Choose Alternative ABA Conferences in 2026?
Traditional conferences have their place, but if you're a BCBA looking to:
Expand behavior analysis into new industries and applications
Connect with niche communities within the field
Get affordable CEUs for your entire team (including RBTs)
Learn in your native language or explore culturally responsive practice
Balance your identity as both a professional and a person with other passions
...then these conferences are designed specifically for you. Each event offers BACB-approved CEUs with early registration discounts that make professional development accessible and affordable.
January 2026: Behavior + Body Conference
What You'll Get: Learn how to integrate your behavior analytic expertise with health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness coaching - one of the fastest-growing applications of ABA outside autism services.
Perfect For: BCBAs interested in OBM in healthcare, behavioral health coaching CEUs, fitness professionals with BCBA credentials, or anyone wanting to diversify their practice into wellness consulting.
The Outcome: Walk away with evidence-based strategies to help clients achieve health goals, reduce your reliance on autism-only funding streams, and position yourself in the booming wellness industry.
Register for Behavior + Body Conference
Use code MELLANIEPAGE2026 for $10 OFF
February 2026: ABA Reimagined
What You'll Get: Two powerful tracks in one event - one focused on expanding ABA into new industries (education, sports, business, criminal justice) and another on advancing autism care with innovative, modern approaches.
Perfect For: BCBAs seeking non-autism ABA applications, entrepreneurs looking to diversify ABA services, or clinicians who want cutting-edge autism intervention strategies that go beyond DTT and NET.
The Outcome: Gain concrete business strategies and clinical innovations that will help you stand out in a crowded market, attract diverse clients, and grow your impact beyond traditional service models.
March 2026: Hablando ABA 2026
What You'll Get: A completely Spanish-language ABA conference - finally, earn your CEUs while learning in español from presenters who understand the cultural nuances of serving Hispanic communities.
Perfect For: Bilingual BCBAs, Spanish-speaking behavior analysts, or anyone seeking culturally responsive ABA training in Spanish.
The Outcome: Enhance your cultural competence, better serve Spanish-speaking families, and connect with a community of Spanish-speaking behavior analysts who share your language and values.
Regístrate para Hablando ABA 2026
March 2026: BT Experience
What You'll Get: A full 12 PDU conference designed specifically for RBT PDU requirements and behavior technician skill development - practical, hands-on training your team can actually use.
Perfect For: Owners or clinical directors looking for affordable RBT training, behavior technicians needing all their annual PDUs in one place, or BCBAs who want to share with their direct care staff.
The Outcome: Your entire BT team gets all their required PDUs for less than $5 per PDU - that's an incredible value compared to piecemeal training. Plus, they'll gain practical skills that improve treatment quality AND job satisfaction immediately.
Register for BT Experience 2026
May 2026: Mothers in Behavior Analysis (MIBA)
What You'll Get: A conference that honors and supports your dual identity as both a mother and a behavior analyst - featuring sessions on work-life balance, parenting with ABA, emotional regulation, self-compassion, and more.
Perfect For: BCBAs who are mothers, pregnant BCBAs planning maternity leave, working moms struggling with burnout, or allies who want to support mothers in the field.
The Outcome: Find your tribe, gain strategies for managing motherhood and career, earn CEUs while feeling seen and supported, and discover that you don't have to choose between being an excellent mother and an excellent BCBA.
June 2026: The OBM Experience
What You'll Get: Two intensive workshop days teaching BCBAs how to apply behavior science to organizational performance - both transforming their current organizations from within and launching OBM consulting practices. Covering behavioral systems analysis, performance management design, consulting frameworks, and strategies for pivoting into OBM. This isn't clinical ABA; this is hands-on training in applying the science to workplace performance and organizational systems.
Perfect For: BCBAs who want to improve staff performance and retention in their practices, clinical directors and operations managers solving organizational challenges, BCBAs exploring OBM consulting as additional income, and behavior analysts ready to expand their impact beyond direct clinical services. If you're interested in performance consulting or see untapped potential in applying ABA principles to business problems, this conference is for you.
The Outcome: Most BCBAs are trained to work with individual clients, not organizational systems. You can be an excellent clinician, but if you don't understand how to analyze workplace performance, design feedback systems, or structure consulting engagements, you'll miss massive opportunities to apply your science where it's desperately needed. This conference bridges the gap between clinical training and organizational application - giving you the workshop-tested skills that open doors to internal leadership roles, consulting income, and career paths most BCBAs don't even know exist.
Registration coming soon!
July 2026: Women in Behavior Analysis (WIBA)
What You'll Get: A celebration of female empowerment in ABA - sessions on leadership development for women, negotiation and salary advancement, and elevating women's voices in behavior analysis.
Perfect For: Female BCBAs at any career stage, women pursuing BCBA certification, male allies committed to equity, or anyone passionate about women in leadership in ABA.
The Outcome: Build confidence, expand your professional network with powerful women in the field, gain leadership skills, and earn CEUs while celebrating womanhood and professional excellence.
August 2026: ABA C.A.R.E.S. Summit
What You'll Get: A first-of-its-kind summit addressing the recruitment and retention of ABA providers - specifically staff recruitment, retention, training, and organizational culture. Learn proven strategies to stop the revolving door of turnover.
Perfect For: Clinical directors, practice owners, BCBAs in management roles, HR professionals in ABA organizations, or anyone struggling with ABA staff retention issues.
The Outcome: Walk away with actionable recruitment strategies, retention programs that actually work, and systems for building a workplace culture where staff want to stay. Reduce turnover costs and build a stable, happy team.
Register for ABA C.A.R.E.S. Summit
September 2026: The Business of ABA Conference
What You'll Get: A comprehensive deep-dive into running a profitable, sustainable ABA practice - covering financial management, operational systems, strategic growth, regulatory compliance, payer relations, and leadership development. This isn't clinical training; this is the MBA-level business education most BCBAs never received.
Perfect For: ABA practice owners, clinical directors transitioning to ownership, BCBAs in executive leadership roles, operations managers, or clinicians considering starting an ABA business. If you're responsible for P&L, billing, contracts, or scaling a practice, this conference is for you.
The Outcome: Most BCBAs are trained as clinicians, not entrepreneurs. You can be the best behavior analyst in the world, but if you don't understand cash flow, margins, billing optimization, or operational efficiency, your practice will struggle. This conference fills the critical gap between clinical excellence and business success - giving you the ABA practice management CEUs and actionable strategies that keep practices thriving while competitors close their doors.
Registration coming soon!
Why Early Bird Registration Matters for Your CEU Budget
Let's be honest - BCBA CEU costs add up fast. Between recertification requirements and staying current in the field, many BCBAs spend $500-1000+ annually on continuing education. Early bird conference registration typically saves you 20-40% off regular rates, which means:
More affordable access to specialized training
Better ROI on your professional development budget
Ability to attend multiple conferences without breaking the bank
Savings you can reinvest in books, supervision, or other growth opportunities
Finding Your People: The Power of Niche ABA Communities
One of the biggest benefits of these specialized conferences isn't just the CEUs - it's finding your people. The BCBAs who get you. Whether that's fellow Spanish-speakers, working mothers, women leaders, health and wellness enthusiasts, or innovators expanding ABA into new fields, these conferences create space for authentic connection and community.
You'll leave with more than just CEUs. You'll leave with:
A network of professionals who share your interests and challenges
Mentorship connections and collaboration opportunities
Validation that your "non-traditional" interests make you a stronger BCBA
Concrete strategies and skills you can implement immediately
Renewed energy and passion for the field
Make 2026 Your Year of Intentional Professional Development
Instead of checking boxes for CEUs at generic conferences, what if you intentionally chose events that align with your values, interests, and career goals? What if your professional development actually excited you?
These seven conferences represent the future of behavior analysis - diverse, innovative, and practical. They prove that ABA is so much more than one application or one population. They celebrate who you are as a whole person while making you a better behavior analyst.
Take action now: Review the calendar, mark the conferences that speak to you, and register early to maximize your savings. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.
All conferences listed are hosted by BehaviorLive and offer BACB-approved CEUs/PDUs. Visit individual conference pages for specific CEU counts, pricing details, and presenter lineups.
