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ABA quotes may omit supervision, assessment, reporting, parent coaching, materials, travel, and cancellation charges. Request every fee in writing before signing.
Direct answer
The total cost of private ABA therapy in Ontario is provider-specific and can go beyond the base hourly rate. Ask each provider for an itemized written quote covering direct therapy, clinical supervision, assessments, reports, parent coaching, materials, travel, cancellations, and taxes. For OAP core clinical services, fees should be agreed on by families and providers before service starts.
Ask what happens if your assigned therapist leaves partway through the year, how long the agency takes to assign a replacement, and whether you are billed during a gap. Confirm whether BCBA hours are folded into the therapy rate or invoiced on a separate line, and ask how many supervision hours the program includes each week. Ask about the cancellation policy on both sides, including what happens if the therapist cancels rather than the family. Find out whether progress reports carry a separate charge and how often they are produced. Write down every answer before you commit, and have someone familiar with ABA contracts review the agreement first. A program that looks affordable based on the direct-therapy rate alone can still leave the true monthly cost unclear until supervision, assessment, and reporting are added in.
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Figures as of · MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · checked
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
About This Article
Published:
| Cost details | What the page says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Direct therapy and supervision | Direct therapy (front-line therapist hours): the visible number, but not the full picture. Behaviour analyst supervision: ask how many supervision hours the program includes, how they are billed, and how supervision is documented. | See the page source list below. |
| Assessment, reassessment, and coaching | Initial BCBA assessment plus program design: this happens before therapy begins. Ask if it is included. Reassessments: ask how often they happen and what they cost. Parent coaching sessions: ask how they are billed. Ask how many hours are planned. | See the page source list below. |
| Materials, reporting, and travel | Materials, reinforcers, curriculum: visual aids, token boards, reinforcers. Clinical reports and written updates: check whether reports are included or charged per report. Therapist travel time (home-based programs): ask how travel is billed. | See the page source list below. |
Beyond the direct therapy (front-line therapist) hourly rate, a full intensive ABA program can involve several components that may be billed separately: behaviour analyst supervision hours, an initial behaviour analyst assessment and program design, reassessments, parent coaching sessions, curriculum materials and reinforcers, and possibly therapist travel time. Ask for an itemized quote so you can see the true yearly cost, not just the base direct-therapy rate.
In the OAP, ABA must be delivered or supervised by a behaviour analyst, psychologist or psychological associate registered with the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. BCBA stands for Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a certification from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. According to the BACB, a BCBA provides ABA services and supervises RBTs, though the BACB reports that Ontario RBT certifications have been inactive since July 1, 2024. If an agency tells you supervision is included in the direct-therapy hourly rate, ask for written clarification of how many behaviour analyst hours are provided per week.
Initial BCBA assessment and program design happens before therapy begins, and reassessments follow during the program. Ask each provider for the fee in writing. Ask whether assessment costs are bundled into a program fee or billed separately.
It depends on the provider. Parent coaching - sessions where the BCBA teaches the parent to implement ABA strategies at home - may be billed separately from your child's direct therapy hours. Ask how many coaching hours are planned each month and what they cost. The OAP guidelines list building parent and caregiver skills as a goal of core clinical services - so this is not a cost to skip; it is a cost to budget for.
Before signing any ABA therapy contract, ask about: billing for therapist travel time; cancellation policy; whether clinical reports and progress reports are included or billed separately; how staff turnover is handled; what happens if the BCBA changes; and how rate increases are communicated.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board - BCBA and RBT credentials
OAP Core Clinical Services guidelines
Ontario Autism Program guidelines for Core Clinical Services and supports
Medical Expense Tax Credit guidance on therapy for a person eligible for the disability tax credit
Once you have the true annual cost, the Medical Expense Tax Credit and insurance claims can recover a meaningful portion.
Private ABA prices vary by provider, clinician role, location, goals, and schedule. Learn what to request in an itemized quote and which funding rules to confirm.
ABA targets behaviour and communication; OT targets sensory and self-care skills. Both OAP-funded. Ontario guide to choosing and combining.
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: April 29, 2026.
How much does ABA therapy cost in Ontario?
Private ABA fees in Ontario vary by provider, credentials, setting and intensity. Ask for a complete written quote. OAP Core Clinical Services may fund eligible services after a funding invitation ($6,600–$65,000/year).
Source: Ontario Autism Program: guidelines for core clinical services and supports · Open source record
How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need?
There is no single right number of hours. A Cochrane review (Reichow et al., 2018) found EIBI may improve adaptive behaviour and communication, with low-certainty evidence. Intensity should follow an individual assessment.
Source: Reichow et al., Cochrane 2018 (PMID 29742275) · Open source record
What are the out-of-pocket costs for autism therapy?
Private therapy fees in Ontario vary by provider, credentials, setting and intensity, so ask each provider for a complete written quote. OAP Core Clinical Services can fund eligible services after a funding invitation ($6,600–$65,000/year, set by the Determination of Needs). The wait for that invitation is 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026).
Source: Ontario Autism Program: guidelines for core clinical services and supports · Open source record
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system