BTs face same problems at PBS you'd find everywhere else in the industry
Pros
- The best company in the industry that I've worked for so far (sadly) - Higher hourly rate than the industry average - Pays for drive time between clients (which sadly is not industry-standard) - Broad pool of clients and BCBAs in your area to choose from, allowing you to reduce driving time - Quarterly bonus if you manage to work enough hours
Cons
- Poor hourly rate, despite being higher than the industry average, especially considering you get paid between $20-24/hour compared to the average payout from insurance for behavioral therapy of $45-60/hour - Long days, often with no breaks - You're often on your own, which can be difficult if you're just starting out in the field - No PTO to protect against burnout - No safety net for when clients cancel, which can happen at any time and for any reason - No opportunities for advancement unless you plan to go back to school or continue in the field - Infrequent communication from management; feedback doesn't result in any material changes to policy - Authorizations from insurance frequently get held up with little to no communication from billing as to why, meaning you cannot work with a client for an indeterminate amount of time, and are forced to scramble playing telephone tag to find someone who can fill that time slot or otherwise go without pay