Cortica logo
Cortica
Thousand Oaks, California

Play Based Behavioral Therapist (Paid Training)

Mental Health TherapyNo callFull-Time

Listed compensation

$20.87-$28/hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Title: Behavior Technician (Naturalistic, Play-Based ABA)

Cortica is looking for dedicated, compassionate Behavior Technicians to join our growing team and help us design and deliver life-changing care for children with neurodevelopmental differences. At Cortica, we don’t just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose, growth, and support.

What We Offer

Pay Range: $20.87 to $28.00 per hour, based on experience and education.

Fully Paid Training: Kickstart your career with Cortica with a comprehensive 3-week, in-person orientation that includes hands-on training. We’re invested in your success from day one.

  • Referral Bonus: Earn between $250-$500 for successful referrals.
  • Cell Phone Stipend: Stay connected with support from us.
  • Paid Drive Time and Mileage Reimbursement: We value your time on the road and include toll reimbursement in select areas.
  • 401(k) with Company Matching: Secure your future with our generous plan.
  • Ongoing Professional Development: Access continuous training through in-person and online opportunities.

Supportive Environment: Collaborate with and receive expert coaching from Lead BTs, ABA Assistant Supervisors, and ABA Supervisors who champion your growth.

Career Advancement: Opportunities to grow your career by advancing to a BCBA role, ascending the Behavior Technician Clinical Ladder, or serving in a corporate support role.

Learn from Experts in Other Fields: Partner with BCBAs and experts in speech-language therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy as well as counselors, pediatricians, neurologists, and nurse practitioners.

Your Impact & Responsibilities

Provide 1:1 and group behavior-analytic services to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences.

  • Implement positive behavior strategies developed with your BCBA.
  • Use evidence-based practices to create meaningful progress for families.
  • Document session data to track and support treatment goals.
  • Collaborate closely with families and supervisors to build supportive environments.
  • Follow Cortica's crisis protocols, including de-escalation and mandated reporting.

Who We’re Looking For

  • Experience working with children (experience with autism is a plus!).
  • High School or equivalent, bachelor’s or master’s degree.
  • Tech-savvy with EMR systems and Microsoft Office tools.

Ability to consistently travel between client sites within a 30–40-minute radius using reliable transportation.

Our Inclusive Culture

  • Transdisciplinary Approach: Collaborate with experts in various fields to care for the whole child.
  • Collaborative Process: Develop individualized care plans alongside families and clinicians.

Strength-Based, Neurodiversity-Affirming Model: Focus on building on each child’s unique strengths rather than emphasizing deficits.

Join Cortica’s team and make a meaningful impact by applying a strength-based, neurodiversity-affirming ABA therapy model. Help children recognize and build on their unique abilities, fostering positive relationships and skills that translate across home, school, and community settings. Be part of a progressive approach that combines neuroscience and developmental models to empower each child to thrive.

Ready to make a difference? Apply today!

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). For more details, visit the full job description here.

Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (BHCOE) Accredited 2024 | America’s Greatest Midsize Workplaces 2025 Newsweek | Great Place to Work Certified 2025 | Glassdoor 4.3 Rating 2025 | Indeed 4.1 Rating 2025

Privacy Notice

HYPERLINK "https://corticacare.com/privacy-policy"Cortica is committed to protecting your personal information in compliance with applicable federal and state laws. Please review our Privacy Notice to understand how your data is collected, used, and protected.

Fair Chance Ordinance Compliance

Cortica is committed to fair hiring practices. Qualified candidates with criminal histories and/or driving violations will be considered and are not automatically disqualified from employment, consistent with applicable federal law, the California Fair Chance Act, and local ordinances.

Driving Requirement

This position requires the successful completion of a post-offer background check and a motor vehicle report review.

E-Verify Participation

This employer participates in E-Verify. Click here to view the E-Verify Poster and your Right to Work.

Este empleador participa en E-Verify. Este empleador participa en E-Verify. Haga clic aquí para ver el cartel de E-Verify y su derecho a trabajar.

#LI-Onsite #LI-EG1

Key Responsibilities

Provide 1:1 and group behavior-analytic services to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental differences. Implement positive behavior strategies and document session data to track treatment goals.

Requirements

Candidates must have experience working with children and possess at least a high school diploma or equivalent. The role requires the ability to travel between client sites and proficiency with EMR systems and Microsoft Office.

Key Skills

Behavioral therapyAutism supportData documentationCrisis managementNeurodevelopmental supportClinical documentation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Play Based Behavioral Therapist (Paid Training) at Cortica a 6.1 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 35% of all Mental Health Therapy healthcare professional listings evaluated on our platform. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.

Mental Health Therapy Career Context

Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% are remote, 24% have no call, 64% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$51k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $46k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

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Annual compensation range

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401k / retirement match
93% this job
CME allowance
54%
Sign-on bonus
21% this job
Loan repayment
14%
Relocation assistance
11%

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Work-life snapshot

6.1/ 10
Listing-based score
  • No call

Living in Thousand Oaks

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$911k
Typical market rent
$3,361/mo
Residents’ average commute
25 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
110.5
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Cortica logo

About Cortica

Hospitals and Health Care
San Diego, California
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Fully paid training (3-week in-person orientation)
Referral bonus ($250-$500)
Cell phone stipend
Paid drive time and mileage reimbursement
401(k) with company matching
Ongoing professional development
Supportive environment with expert coaching
Career advancement opportunities (BCBA role, Clinical Ladder)