FAQ

Answers to the frequently asked questions you may have about our company and program!

About Forta

What does Forta do?

Forta’s Mission is to clear the path to quality care for parents of children diagnosed with autism. Forta’s Family Powered Autism Therapy supports families by providing Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) training to parents and guardians so they can deliver consistent, quality ABA therapy.

What is ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hereafter referred to as Autism (which includes Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]), is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. The Autism experience is different for everyone. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is often referred to as a “spectrum condition” that affects people differently and to varying degrees.

While there is currently no known single cause of Autism, early diagnosis helps a person receive resources that can support the choices and opportunities as they define their path in life.

What type of therapy do you provide?

At Forta, we train parents to deliver ABA care under the guidance of our world-class clinical team. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a set of principles that focuses on how behaviors change, are affected by the environment, and how learning takes place. Learn more about ABA therapy here.

What certifications do your instructors have?

The training team is composed of experienced clinical and training staff, including board certified behavior analysts (BCBA) who have delivered ABA therapy to clients with autism.

What type of instruction is given to support parents?

Forta currently is offering a Central Reach Institute based curriculum. In addition, we provide virtual study sessions with a live instructor, support material, additional quizzes to aid in retention, one-on-one Q&A, and an active community of other parents taking the course.

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements to become a BT through the Forta ABA Parent Training Program?

  1. Your child has an active insurance plan
  2. Available for 20+ hours a week to work with your child
  3. Your child has ASD
  4. High school diploma or equivalent
  5. Pass a background check
  6. Complete the 50-hour training course
  7. Complete the initial assessment of competency with a BCBA 
  8. Depending on your individual requirements, pass the RBT exam at a Pearson VUE center
  9. Must be at least 18 years old
  10. Currently reside outside the states of NV and SD

I live out of the US. Can I still take the training?

At this time our program is only available to parents who reside in the US.

What ages do you work with?

We serve parents of clients who are diagnosed with or evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and have multiple programs available for all ages.

What qualifies as a diagnosis?

To be accepted into Forta’s parent-led ABA therapy, we require that your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a clinician concluded your child has ASD (often marked F84.0). The clinician conducting the evaluations must sign the diagnosis and can be one of the following licensed practitioners: MD, DO, PhD Psychologist, PsycD. 

If you have received a diagnosis for ASD, please apply and we will work with you to ensure you have your documentation in order prior to beginning therapy with Forta. 

What if I have a school IEP showing ASD and not an ASD diagnosis from my physician?

If you have a school IEP that includes an evaluation of ASD, please apply and we will work with you to get approval from your insurance. In certain cases we may require an additional evaluation and diagnosis from your physician.

Do you offer autism diagnoses?

Currently, we can only provide parent training to those who already have an ASD diagnosis. If you’re still in need of a diagnosis  or wondering if you should pursue receiving an evaluation for your child, please refer to our Guide, “Does my child have autism?”

If you have an evaluation scheduled within the next 6 months, you may be accepted into training. Please apply to see if you qualify.

Does my child qualify if they have multiple diagnoses?

Your child can still qualify for the program as long as the diagnoses fit within the clinical scope of the program and the main reason for seeking ABA services is for ASD.

Parent training

What is the Forta Parent Training Program?

Forta’s Parent Training Program teaches ABA concepts that will equip you with the tools to support your child’s unique needs. You will learn proactive and reactive strategies to assist your child in developing new skills, retaining existing abilities and promote positive behavior for your child to have success across multiple settings.

What does the Parent Training cover?

The training covers the basics of behavior therapy so parents can support their child’s development in the following areas:

  • Cognition
  • Communication
  • Social emotional
  • Adaptive living skills
  • Behavior
  • Sensory processing

Complete the application to see if you qualify for the free training. Our family care coordinators can schedule a call to give you a course overview and answer any questions.

What are the benefits of taking the parent training course?

At the end of the parent training course you will be prepared to certify as a Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT). As a parent RBT with Forta, you will work with a Forta BCBA to develop and deliver a personalized ABA therapy plan for your child.

According to a recent study, parent led ABA therapy may increase positive outcomes over practitioner led therapy.

You will learn the benefits of implementing ABA programs including:

  • How to observe and track behaviors 
  • Improve therapist + parent communication 
  • Accelerate child’s learning with enriching play
  • Navigate episodes and acting out with tools and protocols 
  • Better coordinate your child’s care with specialists, doctors, teachers, and community members

How long is the parent training course?

The course consists of 46 modules, an exam, optional  live training sessions and additional hands-on practical training. We ask parents to plan for 30 days of training for more than 2 hours a day and that all parents complete within 90 days. The training is completed on your own time and 100% online. The Forta training team provides you with training support, including live, online study sessions and Q&A. 

Is the parent training course on my own time or in classes?

Our training program is comprised of 46 self-paced modules with access to a google classroom that offers optional live virtual classroom sessions, access to 1:1 meetings with our training team, study guides and mock quizzes. The goal course completion of our course is 30 days, with mandatory completion at 90 days.

Is the training course in person or online?

The training course is an online self-paced course with access to a google classroom that offers optional live virtual classroom sessions, access to 1:1 meetings with our training team, study guides, and mock quizzes to help you along the way.

Does this course qualify for Continued Education Units?

No, the course does not qualify for Continued Education Units.

Is there an exam following the training course?

The training course does require a 2-hour assessment of the material covered in the course for all trainees. Some trainees may need to complete additional steps, depending on the state you are in, which may include some of the following: a practical assessment, additional registrations, and sitting for the RBT certification exam at a Pearson VUE center. Not all trainees may be required to sit for the RBT Exam.

I’m not a parent, but another relative. Can I complete the training to become a BT?

We often accept other family members to join the primary guardian in the training but we do require that they have the ability to work in person for a minimum of 20 hours a week with the child  and meet all other program requirements. Apply for our program!

Can two parents or multiple family members deliver therapy?

Yes, both parents can take the training and work together to deliver the therapy hours.

Can a parent(s) deliver therapy to multiple children?

A parent or multiple parents can deliver therapy to multiple children so long as they are able to meet the criteria of delivering therapy for a minimum of 20+ hours.

Do I have to complete the training in exactly 30 days?

We encourage our parents to work diligently through the course and keep up with the classroom pace we set. We also require that parents who can not meet this demand, do complete it in 90 days.

If I complete the parent training course do I automatically qualify for parent-led therapy?

After completing the training program, you can choose to continue toward therapy. Both the family and Forta evaluate to see if the program is a qualified fit. If we both agree, we will continue to therapy delivery, and you will be introduced to a Clinical Coordinator who will work to match you with a BCBA for clinical assessment and ongoing supervision. Due to varying eligibility requirements by state and insurance, completion of the Forta parent training course does not guarantee therapy delivery.

Additional certifications

How do I know if I must become certified as an RBT or BT?

Some trainees may be required to complete additional registration steps and sit for the RBT Exam at a Pearson VUE center. This varies by state, and more information will be provided during onboarding.

Will I earn a certificate to be a behavior technician by completing this course?

Yes - by completing the training program and passing the final test you will earn a behavior technician certificate.

How much will it cost for me to take the training and become an RBT?

Forta does help cover the cost of exam and processing fees, as long as you complete our training program and you qualify to receive benefits..  More details will be provided once you begin eligibility & benefits review after completing the course.  Note: There may be different fees and processes required depending on the state you reside in. 

How does Forta support me getting ready for the exam?

In addition to the 50-hour course that will prepare you for the exam, we will provide you with access to virtual live study sessions, 1:1 support from a member of the training team and a google classroom with access to study guides, mock quizzes, and study games. Our 50-hours includes a custom 10-hour Forta course to prepare you for delivering therapy. Throughout the learning journey you will have the support of our care coordinators and training team.

Delivering care

What is ABA?

Applied behavioral analysis is a therapeutic method developed based on extensive research on the causes and consequences of autism. It also relies on numerous studies on the behavior of children with autism and how they communicate, interact and respond to sensory information. Overall, most experts agree that methods based on ABA principles can significantly improve language and communication skills, attention, and problem behavior.

How do I provide care as a parent RBT?

As a parent BT at Forta you will lead parent-led ABA alongside a Forta BCBA. This will include developing a personalized therapy plan, working toward and measuring objective goals, modifying your response to socially significant behaviors with positive reinforcement, and intervening with evidence, data, and information.

We aim to provide sessions Monday-Friday and are supported with a BCBA observing on video conference. Using our mobile application you can quickly deliver session notes, time tracking, and billing.

Will I be a full time employee or a contractor for Forta?

Some parents who complete our training will have the opportunity to become a W2 employee of Forta and earn an hourly wage.

Will I be working with a BCBA at Forta?

Yes, you will work with your BCBA to develop and implement your therapy plan including live monitoring of your sessions from time to time.

Will the BCBA come to my house?

No. Therapy will be parent-led in the home with children and the BCBA will remotely attend a portion of your sessions via video conference.

Do you offer care for non-autism cognitive conditions? (ADHD, social anxiety, behavior issues, etc)

Currently Forta is focused on supporting families with a child on the autism spectrum and does not currently offer a program for ABA therapy for non-ASD individuals.

Can ABA therapy help my autistic child with X conditions? Is ABA therapy successful for symptoms related to autism?

Every child with autism is different. Forta focuses on evidence-based ABA Therapy by structuring exercises that lead to benefits and outcomes. Various ABA therapy studies show documented improvement in increased focus, improved connections with family and friends, more effective communication with others, and the understanding of personal space and physical contact. Our goal at Forta is to help you and your family achieve the best possible outcomes with the support of ABA therapy.

Can I provide services to others outside of Forta after the training?

As a BT at Forta you are only authorized to deliver paid therapy to your own child.

Insurance questions

When will I begin receiving bills for the program?

You will not be billed without prior knowledge. Your first copayment would be due after delivering your first therapy session.

Is my healthcare / insurance accepted?

ABA therapy is covered by most insurance plans. In order to assess our ability to provide care, are you interested in registering for an intake interview? If so, please fill out the getting started form on our site.

We will conduct an eligibility check with your insurance provider. Once the eligibility check has been performed, further details on pre-authorization requirements, the copayment, coinsurance, and deductible required can be determined.

Do you accept Medicaid?

We are currently accepting Medicaid in the following states: CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, IN, LA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY. We are continuously working to expand insurance coverage and encourage you to apply so we can review the details of your plan.

Why do you require insurance to take the training program?

In order to be eligible to provide care and bill for that care we require you work with an approved insurance provider.

What is the financial responsibility that I am accepting?

Our training program is provided at no cost, however as the guardian of our client, your child, you will accept responsibility to pay any necessary copays or coinsurance associated with completing a clinical assessment and delivering therapy.

My child doesn’t have insurance. Can I pay for the training and therapy out of pocket?

We are not accepting out of pocket payments at this time.

If I cannot afford the copayments are there services to help me?

We will review your eligibility for a payment plan prior to beginning therapy and after completing training.

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