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Join our salaried internship program!

Graduate Student Interns are temporary employees who work toward the BACB’s Supervised Fieldwork requirements. Interns will learn our compassionate and thoughtful approach to the treatment of developmental disabilities. They will be given first priority for postgraduate employment.

You are eligible to apply if you:

• Are enrolled in, have a current acceptance to, or have completed a graduate program that meets BACB educational requirements.
  • You can begin the internship once accepted to a graduate program, but will need to begin applied behavior analysis coursework before accruing hours toward the exam.
• Plan to apply to take the BACB exam within the next 5 years.
• Are currently a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), or have completed a 40 hour RBT training course.
• Have read the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Handbook and Fieldwork Checklist.
• Can commit to the internship full time (40 hours per week) or part time (20 hours per week) for a minimum of 6 months, with scheduling flexibility allowed for coursework.
• Have reliable transportation and can commute to client sites in Arlington, Alexandria, and eastern Fairfax County, Virginia.

Interns will receive:

• A 6-month exam supervision contract, with the option to renew if performance is satisfactory
• A base salary of $30,000 for full-time work (or $15,000 for part-time work)
• Billable hour bonuses up to $10,000 per year for a total compensation of up to $40,000
• 4 weeks of flexible paid time off per year
• 13 paid holidays, including a 3 days off at Thanksgiving and 5 days off at Christmas
• Individualized and frequent supervision in client sessions and staff meetings.
• Diverse supervision experiences with regard to clients’ ages, cultures, settings, and support needs.
• Supervised experience with BCBA Test Content Outline items including: direct intervention, assessments (observation, interview, skills probe), coordination of care (teachers, therapists, physicians), functional communication and tolerance training, goal selection, data collection, data analysis, supervision of paraprofessionals, and parent training.
• Preferential consideration for postgraduate employment.

Responsibilities:

• Direct Work with Clients and Families
  • Conduct sessions of 97153 Treatment by Protocol: teach social and communication skills to clients based on BCBA’s protocols
  • Assist with sessions of 97155 Treatment with Protocol Modification: assess RBT’s implementation, make changes to programs
  • Assist with sessions of 97156 Family Treatment Guidance: conduct family meetings using Patterson Behavior curriculum, provide coaching on implementation
  • Fill in for others who call out if not already scheduled with a client
  • Collect data within Hi Rasmus
  • Write session notes within Hi Rasmus software, make sure all submitted prior to Monday
• Assessments
  • Conduct sessions of 97152 Supporting Assessment: observation at home and in social setting, interview caregivers, probe client’s baseline skills
  • Assist with writing Initial Assessment Reports in Hi Rasmus
  • Assist with writing Progress Reports in Hi Rasmus
  • Assist with writing Observation Summaries in Hi Rasmus
  • Assist with writing sleep, meal, and potty training plans in Hi Rasmus
  • Assist with writing transition summaries for clients who are discharged
• Communication
  • Assist in meeting with client’s daycare, preschool, or school staff (if applicable) to explain treatment plan and offer training
  • Keep a to-do list and complete or delegate tasks in a timely manner
  • Update Patterson Behavior calendar when scheduling client meetings, include location and guests
  • Respond to client and employee emails within approximately 1 business day
  • Use Google Chat or phone call to communicate with employees about time-sensitive issues
  • Inform supervisor of client cancellations
  • Inform supervisor and reschedule any appointments you must cancel
  • Inform supervisor immediately of notable incidents (injury, illness, innapropriate caretaker behavior, etc.)
  • Inform supervisor if families are not meeting their responsibilities (cancelling meetings, not implementing outside sessions, etc.)
  • Resolve misunderstandings and disagreements, or escalate to supervisor
  • Serve as a role model for friendly, prompt, and effective communication
• Materials
  • Keep Patterson Behavior iPad or other electronic device(s) charged for sessions
  • Communicate to supervisor when materials are needed
  • Return unneeded materials to supervisor
  • Label Patterson Behavior materials to avoid loss
• Professional Development
  • Gain and maintain RBT certification
  • Complete monthly and final verification forms
  • Monitor your own progress toward your professional goals
  • Ensure you have enough unrestricted hours and communicate with supervisor if more are needed
  • Develop and lead project(s) related to your professional interests
  • Participate in other Interns’ projects
  • Assist with training technicians
  • Participate in fidelity assessments
  • Attend crisis training and assist others with challenging situations

Physical requirements:

• Mobility and posture
  • Ability to frequently stand, walk, sit, kneel, crouch, crawl, and bend to engage with children at their level and to facilitate activities
  • Ability to engage in physical play games with children (run, chase, swing, dance, climb, etc.)
  • Ability to frequently sit on the floor or child-sized furniture
• Strength and endurance
  • Capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, including assisting children with mobility challenges or transferring them as needed
  • Sufficient stamina to actively engage with children during instructional, play-based, and therapy activities throughout the day
  • Prepared to safely restrain or hold children when necessary, following established behavior intervention plans, to ensure the safety of all individuals​
• Manual dexterity
  • Proficient in using hands and fingers to operate instructional materials, technology devices, and to assist children with fine motor tasks
  • Fine motor skills for writing and for manipulating objects used in teaching or therapy sessions
• Sensory abilities
  • Adequate vision and hearing to monitor children’s activities, respond to their needs, and communicate effectively
• Environmental adaptability
  • Comfortable working in various settings including homes, classrooms, playgrounds, and community environments, which may involve exposure to different weather conditions and noise levels
  • Ability to move quickly and respond effectively in emergency or safety-related situations
• Transportation
  • Reliable means of transportation to travel between different work sites

To apply

Send your resume to Ally Patterson, PhD, BCBA-D via email at ally@pattersonbehavior.com