How many hours per week of ABA therapy is recommended?

Recommended hours vary based on your child's needs. Intensive early intervention typically involves 25-40 hours per week. Moderate programs may include 15-25 hours. Focused intervention might be 10-15 hours. Your BCBA will recommend hours based on assessment results, and insurance authorization determines what's approved.

How long is each ABA therapy session?

Session length varies by setting and child needs. In-home sessions are typically 2-4 hours. Center-based programs may run 4-8 hours (like a school day). Younger children may have shorter sessions. Your BCBA will recommend appropriate session lengths for your child's age and attention span.

Can ABA therapy hours be adjusted over time?

Yes, hours can and should be adjusted as your child progresses. Children often start with more intensive hours and gradually reduce as they develop skills and need less support. Your BCBA will recommend changes during reauthorization periods, and you can discuss adjustments anytime.

How do I balance ABA therapy with school and other activities?

Work with your BCBA to create a schedule that fits your family. Many children do ABA before/after school, some do school-based ABA, and others do home-based therapy around school hours. Discuss your schedule constraints during intake so the provider can work with your needs.

ABA Therapy Schedule: What to Expect Week by Week

Understanding ABA Therapy Scheduling

One of the first questions families ask about ABA therapy is about the schedule—how many hours, how long are sessions, and how does it fit into daily life? This guide explains what to expect and how to make ABA work with your family's routine.

Recommended Therapy Hours

Treatment intensity is based on your child's needs:

Intensive Early Intervention (25-40 hours/week)

Typically for younger children (2-6 years)
Research shows best outcomes with intensive hours
Structured like a school schedule
May be center-based or in-home
Often for children with significant needs

Moderate Intervention (15-25 hours/week)

Common for school-age children
Can work around school schedules
Appropriate for moderate support needs
Allows time for other activities

Focused Intervention (10-15 hours/week)

For children with specific skill gaps
Maintenance after intensive treatment
When other activities take priority
For children with milder support needs

Consultation/Parent Training (1-5 hours/week)

Focus on parent coaching
For children making good progress
When direct therapy isn't accessible
Often includes telehealth

Typical Session Structure

While sessions are individualized, here's a general structure:

Beginning of Session

Greeting and transition activities
Check-in with parents (home-based)
Review of goals for the session
Pairing activities to build motivation

Active Learning Time

Structured teaching (discrete trials)
Natural environment teaching
Play-based skill building
Work on specific goal areas
Data collection on targets

Breaks

Regular breaks based on child's needs
Snack time (also a teaching opportunity)
Free play or preferred activities
Movement and sensory breaks

End of Session

Transition activities
Clean-up (teaching opportunity)
Session summary for parents
Preview of next session

Sample Weekly Schedules

Intensive Center-Based (35 hours/week)

Day	Time	Activity
Monday-Friday	8:30am - 3:30pm	Center-based ABA
Weekly	Varies	Parent training session
Bi-weekly	Varies	BCBA supervision/meeting

Moderate In-Home (20 hours/week)

Day	Time	Activity
Monday, Wednesday, Friday	3:30pm - 7:00pm	In-home therapy after school
Saturday	9:00am - 1:30pm	In-home therapy
Weekly	During session	Parent training

School + ABA Combination (15 hours/week)

Day	Time	Activity
Monday-Friday	8:00am - 3:00pm	School
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday	4:00pm - 7:00pm	In-home ABA
Saturday	10:00am - 4:00pm	Center-based group + individual

Making the Schedule Work

Discuss Constraints Upfront

Tell providers your scheduling limitations
Share work schedules and childcare needs
Discuss school hours and activities
Be honest about what's realistic

Build in Flexibility

Identify which days have more flexibility
Have backup plans for scheduling conflicts
Understand the cancellation policy
Know how make-up sessions work

Protect Family Time

Therapy is important, but so is family time
Build in unstructured time for your child
Maintain sibling activities
Take vacations—therapy can pause

What Affects Your Schedule

Insurance Authorization

Authorized hours determine your schedule
May be less than recommended
Can be appealed if insufficient
Re-evaluated periodically

Therapist Availability

Popular times fill quickly
After-school and weekends are high demand
Morning availability may be easier to find
Be flexible to get better therapist fit

Your Child's Needs

Younger children may need shorter sessions
Energy levels affect scheduling
School and therapy fatigue is real
Breaks and variety help sustain attention

Adjusting Over Time

Your schedule will likely change:

As Your Child Progresses

Hours may decrease as skills develop
Focus may shift to new areas
More independence requires less support
Transition to consultation model

As Life Changes

School transitions affect availability
Work changes may require adjustments
Adding activities means balancing time
Communicate changes to your team

During Reauthorization

Hours can be increased or decreased
Advocate for appropriate hours
Provide input on schedule needs
Plan ahead for transitions

Tips for Schedule Success

Consistency is key: Same times each week help children adjust
Prepare transitions: Give warnings before therapy starts and ends
Plan around energy: Schedule demanding sessions when your child is alert
Coordinate providers: If you have multiple therapies, spread them out
Build in recovery: Some days should be therapy-free
Communicate changes: Tell your team about disruptions early