FAQ

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.

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.

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.

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.

1. Have an approved insurance policy 
2. Available for around 20+ hours a week to work with your child
3. Your child must have an ASD diagnosis
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 AK, MS, NV, NY, SD

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We serve parents of clients who are under the age of 21 years old and diagnosed with or evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

We are currently accepting Medicaid in the following states: CA, CO, LA, ME, NC, OR, PA, RI, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI. We are continuously working to expand insurance coverage and encourage you to apply so we can review the details of your plan.

To be accepted into Forta, we require that your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and a clinician concluded your child has ASD (marked F84.0). The clinician conducting the evaluations must sign the diagnosis and can be one of the following licensed practitioners: 

• Physician 
• Psychologist
• Speech Language Pathologist
• Occupational Therapist
  See CDC Guidance
  

School IEPs/504s are not classified as diagnostic reports and do not meet insurance carrier’s requirements.

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Currently, we can only provide parent training to those who already have an ASD diagnosis or evaluation. 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?” You can contact us with further questions at care@fortahealth.com.

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.

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.

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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

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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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

We often accept other family members to join the primary guardian in the training but we do require that you have the ability to work in person for a minimum of 20 hours a week with your family member apply for our program.

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.

Forta has two programs - ABA parent training and ABA therapy delivery. The free parent training program, you’ll acquire the skills needed to become a Behavior Technician or BT, a certification for delivering ABA therapy under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (also referred to as a BCBA). 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, 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.

For the parents who complete their 50-hour BT course, we will review your eligibility & benefits and path to joining Forta as a BT or RBT. We do not guarantee a position with us immediately following your training.

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

Following the 50-hour parent training course, some parents may need to  pass the RBT exam to finalize your certification, depending on their state and insurance requirements.

1. Pass and receive a signed  initial competency assessment conducted by the training team
2. Apply to the BACB for your RBT license with the support of Forta
3. Receive approval from the BACB and schedule your board exam
4. Take the official RBT exam at a Pearson Vue Testing Center or online depending on the requirements in your state. (90 minutes, 85 questions) 

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. 

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.

Becoming an RBT through the Forta Parent Training Course and certified with the BACB will make you eligible to earn wages for focused learning time with your child and give you the knowledge and ability to implement ABA therapy with your child on a daily basis.

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.

As a parent RBT 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.

As a BT or RBT at Forta you will be eligible for an hourly wage working with a Forta BCBA and your child. Parents must bill a minimum of 20-hours a week to retain employment with Forta. Depending on your state, your hourly wages may vary.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.