10 Best ABA Therapy Providers in Augusta, GA (2026)
Compare 14 ABA providers serving Augusta. Explore the full ranked list and find a provider that feels right for your child.
Need ABA therapy options near Augusta, Georgia?
Share your child's age, timeline, and session preference. We'll help you compare nearby therapy centers that fit.
Free for families
Other ABA Providers in Augusta
Circle City ABA - Augusta
ListedOur Augusta center on Wheeler Road includes playrooms, gross-motor rooms, individual therapy rooms, and swings. We provide direct and group ABA at part-time and full-time schedules, along with behavior consultation. Children attending full time work with a morning therapist and an afternoon therapist. We accept private insurance, Georgia Medicaid through GAMMIS, TRICARE, and state funding or grants, including Peach State.
- Center-based
- Medicaid
Launch Therapy Center
ListedAt our Augusta clinic on Augusta West Parkway, we provide one-to-one therapy, case management, and early-intervention services. Families can also join weekly social-skills groups and get support with IEPs, feeding, daily living, and toilet training. Our team works in the clinic, at home, and in the community. Clinical Director Brandi Aaron-Eimicke leads the Augusta location.
- Center-based
- In-home
Positive Behavior Services - Augusta
ListedWe provide in-home and community-based ABA therapy in Augusta, West Augusta, Martinez, Evans, and Grovetown, in homes, schools, and daycares. We serve individuals from 18 months to 21 years old with autism, ADHD, or global developmental delay, and a behavior analyst reaches out within 48 hours to schedule an assessment. We accept Georgia Medicaid, CareSource, Magellan, Peach State, Tricare, Anthem, Aetna, Amerigroup, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Circle City ABA
ListedAt our Marietta center on Franklin Gateway, families can use the playroom and therapy rooms for direct and group ABA. We also provide social-skills therapy, parent training, and behavior consultation. Speech therapy is available on site through our partnership with Leap for children receiving ABA. We accept private insurance, TRICARE, Georgia Medicaid through GAMMIS, and other state funding or grants, including Peach State.
- Center-based
- Medicaid
- Speech therapy
Explore ABA therapy options in Augusta, GA
Augusta family guide
ABA Therapy in Augusta, GA: What Families Should Know
ABA therapy for autism in Augusta comes as in-home sessions across Richmond County, clinic programs in Augusta and next door in Columbia County, and caregiver coaching by video. Families pay through a Georgia Families Medicaid plan, a state-regulated private plan under Ava’s Law, or TRICARE for military households. Children under 3 start with Babies Can’t Wait through the East Central Health District, and children 3 and older can get a free Child Find evaluation from the Richmond County School System alongside a medical diagnosis.
ABA therapy options in Augusta
In-home ABA
Home teams help families across Richmond County who would otherwise drive to a clinic several times a week. Ask whether a technician already works in your ZIP code, because staffing distance, not the waitlist, often decides the start date here.
Center-based ABA
Families compare clinic programs in Augusta with programs across the county line in Columbia County. Time the drive at your real session hour before you sign on.
School and daycare support
Ask whether the BCBA will share goals with your child’s Richmond County preschool or school team, and whether the provider can observe at a daycare with the center’s permission. Columbia County families coordinate with a separate district.
Telehealth parent coaching
Video parent training helps families in the outer parts of the CSRA keep progress going when in-person hours are thin. Ask how often the BCBA will see your child in person between video sessions.
Autism evaluations
The Medical College of Georgia’s developmental-behavioral pediatrics division is on the Health Sciences Campus, and some families travel to Atlanta for Marcus Autism Center. Request diagnostic intake early, since Medicaid and private plans both need the written report before ABA starts.
How to start ABA therapy in Augusta
- 1
Confirm the diagnosis and coverage
Insurers and Georgia Medicaid authorize ABA after a licensed physician or psychologist diagnoses autism. Call the member number on your card and ask whether ABA needs prior authorization.
- 2
Compare Augusta providers
Use the provider list on this page to check settings, ages served, and insurance. Shortlist two or three that fit your schedule and location.
- 3
Ask the intake questions that matter
Ask about current intake timing, in-network status for your exact plan, who writes the treatment plan, and how parent training works.
- 4
Get matched if you want help
Tell us your child's age, coverage, and preferred setting. We share options in and around Augusta that fit. It is free for families.
Does insurance cover ABA therapy in Augusta?
Medicaid in Richmond County
Georgia Medicaid covers ABA as Adaptive Behavior Services for members under 21 under its EPSDT benefit. Most Richmond County children on Medicaid, and children on PeachCare for Kids, are enrolled in a Georgia Families plan: Amerigroup, CareSource, or Peach State Health Plan. After a licensed physician or psychologist documents the autism diagnosis, an enrolled provider such as a BCBA requests prior approval for the behavioral assessment and a separate approval for treatment, and a follow-up assessment is due every six months. Call Georgia Families at 888-423-6765 to check or change your child’s plan.
Private insurance
Ava’s Law (O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.10) requires state-regulated health plans, including the State Health Benefit Plan, to cover autism diagnosis and medically necessary ABA for members 20 or younger with no limit on visits, and lets plans cap ABA at $35,000 a year. It does not apply to employers with ten or fewer employees, and self-funded employer plans follow federal ERISA rules instead.
Plans Augusta families often ask about:
- Amerigroup (Georgia Families)
- CareSource Georgia (Georgia Families)
- Peach State Health Plan (Georgia Families)
- PeachCare for Kids
- State Health Benefit Plan
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- UnitedHealthcare
- TRICARE
Georgia’s autism insurance law (Ava’s Law, O.C.G.A. § 33-24-59.10)
What state-regulated insurers cannot do
- Refuse to cover assessments, evaluations, or tests by a licensed physician or licensed psychologist to diagnose autism in a member 20 or younger.
- Refuse to cover ABA for autism when the plan determines it is medically necessary under established criteria.
- Limit the number of visits.
- Count payments for care unrelated to autism toward the yearly ABA maximum.
- Use the law to cut speech, occupational, or physical therapy the plan otherwise covers.
What still applies
- Coverage runs through age 20; the law does not require ABA coverage at 21 or older.
- Plans may cap ABA at $35,000 a year and may apply deductibles, coinsurance, and reasonable limits that fit the law.
- ABA must be provided or supervised by a person certified by a national board of behavior analysts, and a physician or psychologist can be asked to show ongoing medical necessity at least once a year.
- The law does not apply to plans from employers with ten or fewer employees, and self-funded employer plans follow federal ERISA rules instead.
- Marketplace plans need not cover benefits beyond the ACA essential health benefits, and an insurer can claim a one-year exemption if the Insurance Commissioner approves an actuary’s certification that the newly required coverage would raise average premiums by more than 1 percent.
Getting an autism diagnosis in Augusta
Augusta families have two separate tracks. Children under 3 go to Babies Can’t Wait through the East Central Health District, where autism qualifies a child on its own. Children 3 and older usually need a medical diagnostic evaluation for insurance or Medicaid, and can also be referred to the Richmond County School System for a free school evaluation. Neither track replaces the other.
Under age 3
Babies Can’t Wait, East Central Health District
Georgia’s early intervention program for children from birth to the third birthday, regardless of income. The district serves Richmond, Columbia, and 11 other counties. Call the district main line and ask for Babies Can’t Wait or Children 1st. Anyone can refer, and parental consent is not required to make the referral.
Evaluation
Medical College of Georgia, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Consults on infants, children, and teens with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities. The team includes a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and a pediatric clinical psychologist, based in the Dugas Building, 1120 15th St.
Evaluation
Marcus Autism Center (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta)
Diagnostic evaluations at 1920 Briarcliff Road in Atlanta. Every new patient needs a doctor referral, so start with your pediatrician.
School districts serving Augusta families
Public schools evaluate children from age 3 at no cost through Child Find. ABA providers can coordinate with your child's IEP team. Compare special needs schools in Augusta too.
-
Richmond County School System, Department of Special Education
For children ages 3 to 5, complete the Richmond County Preschool Referral Form on the Special Education website or email preschoolsupport@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us. For a school-age student, send a dated written evaluation request to the school. Families of private or homeschooled children living in the county call Student Services at 706-826-1000.
Autism in Augusta by the numbers
- 1 in 31
- 8-year-olds identified with autism across 16 CDC monitoring sites
- About 1,520
- Estimated autistic children in Richmond County
- 45,946
- Children under 18 living in Augusta
- 8.0%
- Augusta children under 18 with a disability
- 95.0%
- Augusta children under 19 with health insurance
- 3.8%
- Augusta residents age 5 and up who speak Spanish at home
- $55,485
- Median household income in Augusta
- 31.3%
- Augusta children under 18 living below the poverty line
CDC Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 2022 data published in 2025.
An estimate: 47,209 county residents under 18 divided by 31, not a count of diagnoses.
Census disability questions cover hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, self-care, and independent living, so this is broader than autism.
Ask providers whether they have Spanish-speaking BCBAs or technicians.
Many of these children qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, which cover ABA.
Sources: CDC ADDM Network (2022 surveillance year, MMWR April 2025); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B01001, B18101, B27010, C16001, B19013, B17020) for Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government (balance) and Richmond County. The county autism figure is an estimate, not a count.
Augusta local numbers
What ABA therapy costs in Augusta
Private-pay ABA in Georgia typically runs $95 to $160 an hour. The table multiplies that range by weekly hours (hours x 52 weeks / 12 months) to show a monthly bill before insurance. This is an illustration, not a quote: your bill depends on authorized hours, the mix of technician and BCBA time, and what your plan pays.
| Hours per week | At $95/hr | At $160/hr |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | $4,117/mo | $6,933/mo |
| 20 hours | $8,233/mo | $13,867/mo |
| 30 hours | $12,350/mo | $20,800/mo |
Estimate your cost with insurance using your deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum.
How long is the ABA wait in Georgia?
In January to March 2022, TRICARE families in Georgia waited an average of 53 days from a verified referral to their first ABA appointment, 25 days longer than TRICARE's 28-day access standard for specialty care. This figure covers military families only, comes from one 2022 snapshot, and does not promise a wait for any family today. See every published ABA wait time.
Source: Defense Health Agency, TRICARE Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration report to Congress, Table 3 (April 2023; data January 1 to March 31, 2022).
Augusta kids compared with Georgia and the US
| Measure | Augusta | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 18 with a disability | 8.0% | 5.1% | 4.9% |
| Children under 19 with health insurance | 95.0% | 93.1% | 94.5% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.3% | 18.3% | 16.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (ACS 2024 5-year), tables B18101, B27010, and B17020, via Census Reporter. Census disability questions cover hearing, vision, cognitive, mobility, self-care, and independent living, so the disability rate is broader than autism.
Georgia autism identification vs the US
Georgia public schools served 13.90 children per 1,000 ages 5 to 21 under the IDEA autism category in 2024-25, about 1 in 72, below the national rate of about 1 in 64. School identification counts only children served in special education under the autism category, so it runs lower than the CDC's clinical estimate of 1 in 31 eight-year-olds. Compare autism rates in every state.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Section 618 child count, school year 2024-25, divided by Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population ages 5 to 21.
Augusta autism resources for families
Advocacy & navigation
Parent to Parent of Georgia
Home of Georgia’s Parent Training and Information Center and the Babies Can’t Wait central directory. Free parent-to-parent support, training, and a statewide special needs database.
Early intervention
East Central Health District, Child and Adolescent Health
Babies Can’t Wait and Children 1st referrals for Richmond County. Ask the main line to connect you to the program.
Diagnosis & evaluation
MCG Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Augusta University’s pediatric consultation service for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions on the Health Sciences Campus.
Developmental disability services
DBHDD Region 2 Field Office (Augusta)
State intake and evaluation for developmental disability services, including the NOW and COMP waivers, at 3405 Mike Padgett Highway, Building 3. Ask for Developmental Disabilities Intake and Evaluation at 706-792-7693.
Medicaid
Georgia Families
Check which Georgia Families plan your child is in, or change plans. For general Georgia Medicaid questions, call 877-423-4746.
Medicaid
Georgia Medicaid autism services
State page on Adaptive Behavior Services for members under 21, including how prior authorization works.
More questions about ABA therapy in Augusta
Does TRICARE cover ABA for military families in Augusta?
Yes. TRICARE covers ABA through its Autism Care Demonstration, which runs through December 31, 2028. Your child needs an autism diagnosis from an approved provider, a referral to the demonstration, and pre-authorization for every ABA service, and the referral must be renewed every two years. Ask each Augusta provider whether it is TRICARE-authorized before you join its list.
What happens to ABA coverage when an Augusta teen turns 21?
Georgia Medicaid covers Adaptive Behavior Services only until the 21st birthday, and Ava’s Law requires private coverage only through age 20. Plan the transition with your BCBA a year or more ahead. For adult supports such as the NOW and COMP waivers, contact the DBHDD Region 2 office on Mike Padgett Highway, which handles developmental disability intake and evaluation for Richmond County.
Will Richmond County schools evaluate a child who is homeschooled or in private school?
Yes. The Richmond County School System’s Child Find duty covers every child living in the county, including children in private schools, homeschool programs, and foster care. Call the Department of Student Services at 706-826-1000 to start a referral. The evaluation is free, and it runs separately from any private ABA your child receives.
How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need each week?
It depends on the treatment plan. Focused programs that target a few skills often run 10 to 25 hours a week, while comprehensive programs for young children can run 30 to 40 hours. The supervising BCBA recommends hours after an assessment, and your insurer or Medicaid plan authorizes them.
What is the difference between a BCBA and an RBT?
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) holds a graduate degree, assesses your child, writes and adjusts the treatment plan, and supervises the team. A Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) delivers most one-to-one sessions under that BCBA's supervision.
How long does ABA therapy take to show results?
Families often see early changes in the first few months, and the BCBA reviews progress data against goals at least every six months, which is also when most insurers reauthorize hours. Ask any provider how they share progress data with parents.
Do I need a referral to start ABA therapy?
Most plans require an autism diagnosis and a prescription or referral for ABA from a physician or psychologist, followed by prior authorization. Some commercial plans skip the referral step, so check your policy before your first intake call.
Reviewed 2026-10-22 against linked state and provider sources.
Planning guides
Plan your next ABA provider call in Augusta
Use these guides before you ask about intake, insurance, school coordination, parent training, or waitlists.
Georgia Katie Beckett and TEFRA Medicaid guide
Medicaid for a disabled child living at home without counting parent income: who qualifies, costs, and how to apply.
How to choose an autism therapy center
Questions to ask about BCBA supervision, intake, setting, parent training, and waitlists.
ABA therapy cost by state
Private-pay ranges, insurance mandates, and current Medicaid ABA rules for every state.
IEP process guide
Use this when therapy decisions overlap with school evaluations, supports, or placement.
Working in ABA?
See current ABA therapy jobs in Georgia on Special Needs Jobs, our job board for RBTs, BCBAs, and behavior technicians.
Why Choose ABA Therapy in Augusta?
Augusta families search for autism therapy across Richmond and Columbia counties, from downtown and West Augusta to Evans, Martinez and Grovetown, and some look across the river toward Aiken. ABA here comes as in-home sessions, clinic programs, or a mix. Insurance or Georgia Medicaid authorization, BCBA staffing and the drive across the CSRA shape which option starts first.
Comprehensive Autism Therapy Services in Augusta
Augusta has a smaller ABA market than metro Atlanta, so families often widen the search to Columbia County. Compare ABA therapy in Evans and ABA therapy in Martinez alongside Augusta clinics. For each provider, ask who supervises your child, how often the BCBA observes sessions, how much parent training is included, and whether in-home staff cover your street. The ABA intake checklist lists the records most providers request.
When exploring special needs educational programs alongside behavioral therapy, families in Augusta often find that coordinated services produce the best outcomes.Understanding Insurance Coverage for ABA Therapy in Augusta
Georgia's autism coverage law, O.C.G.A. 33-24-59.10, was strengthened by Ava's Law in 2015 and expanded again in 2018. It requires state-regulated health insurance policies and HMO contracts, including the State Health Benefit Plan, to cover autism for covered individuals age 20 and under. Plans must cover diagnostic assessments by a licensed physician or psychologist and medically necessary applied behavior analysis, which a nationally board certified behavior analyst must provide or supervise. Plans may not limit the number of visits but may cap ABA at $35,000 per year, and payments for care unrelated to autism do not count toward that cap. A licensed physician or psychologist may be asked to confirm ongoing medical necessity at least once a year. The law does not apply to plans offered by employers with 10 or fewer employees, exchange plans do not have to cover benefits beyond the federal essential health benefits, and self-funded employer plans follow federal ERISA rules instead. Georgia Medicaid covers Adaptive Behavior Services, its name for ABA, for members under 21 with a documented autism diagnosis from a licensed physician or psychologist, including children in Georgia Families plans and the Katie Beckett program. No NOW or COMP waiver is needed. Prior authorization is required for all services, with the assessment and the treatment plan authorized separately. Families seeking additional support may find valuable resources through Georgia's special needs resource directory.
Georgia Autism Support Programs and Regulations
Babies Can't Wait, run by the Georgia Department of Public Health, is Georgia's early intervention program under Part C of IDEA. It serves children from birth to the third birthday, regardless of income, who have a diagnosed condition likely to cause delay or a confirmed developmental delay. Anyone can refer a child by sending the state's Child Health Referral Form to the local referral contact for the county where the family lives, or by phone, email, fax, letter or in person. Evaluation and service coordination are free; other services use a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay, and Medicaid and private insurance are billed with the family's permission. After the third birthday, the local school system handles Child Find and special education evaluation. For longer term support, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities operates the NOW and COMP Medicaid waivers for people with an intellectual disability or a closely related developmental disability, such as autism, that substantially limits functioning. Applicants who appear eligible go on a planning list, and funding goes to those with the highest need rather than by time on the list. When exploring specialized educational programs to complement ABA therapy, Augusta families have access to a comprehensive network of support services.
Selecting the right ABA therapy provider in Augusta is an important decision that can significantly impact your child's progress. The 14 therapy providers serving the Augusta area each bring unique strengths, from specialized early intervention programs to school-based services and intensive behavioral support. Many Augusta providers offer comprehensive parent training, ensuring that therapeutic strategies extend seamlessly into daily life. With Georgia's strong insurance protections and regulatory framework supporting autism treatment, families in Augusta can confidently access high-quality, evidence-based ABA therapy services designed to help children reach their full potential.
Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy in Augusta
How long is the wait for ABA therapy in Augusta?
Is in-home ABA available in Augusta?
Does Georgia Medicaid cover ABA for autism in Augusta?
What does private insurance cover for ABA in Georgia?
Can Augusta families use ABA providers in South Carolina?
Where can a child in Augusta get an autism diagnosis?
How does early intervention work in Augusta for children under 3?
Which school district handles evaluations for Augusta children?
Also Looking for Special Needs Schools?
Explore specialized schools and educational programs in Augusta.
Browse Schools in Augusta