registered behavior technician

board certified behavior analyst

behavior technician

childcare provider

operations assistant

Dogwood Autism Services

Working here is a great place to start off in ABA. They really seem to care, but about the kids only. They set you up for failure. Often times there are huge gaps in your schedule where you will just have to sit around until your next session. They offer the bare minimum for unrestricted hours if you are seeking hours for you BCBA certification. At times there will be clients without a BIP and they will criticize you for anything you're doing even though there's not plan to follow in the first place. There's no reinforcement. They will pay inexperienced people more than you. They will offer you time off but when you use your PTO or time off they will threaten to remove your benefits. They will plan activities or outings then cancel last minute. You don't get paid for holidays. If you talk to them about something they will barely make a change about it. The best part about the job is the kids, but they keep you with kids for so long that it becomes difficult for you. They don't give you breaks throughout the day but expect you to work 100% of the time you're there. They will nag you about any minute of downtime, even when you're eating lunch with your kiddo because again, no breaks!  

Pros- I enjoyed working with the clients. Their families are amazing. 

Cons- What started off with much hope ended very sour. This was the fools gold of ABA companies for me, leaving me with little hope for other companies out there. There appears to be many efforts made to save money such as cutting direct therapy hours for BCBA candidates in exchange for unrestricted hours. In a competitive market, free supervision hours is no longer the gold standard. I believe people should be paid for what they are giving the company. There are no breaks for 7 hour shifts and this is personally exhausting which can impact services. Not to mention, clients are missing out on other services like speech and OT while having someone constantly with them for 7 hours.  The structure for giving and receiving feedback is broken— I eventually gave up giving feedback because it was received with a smile but no action was taken. If action was taken, it never targeted the root of the issue but was more like a bandaid. Benefits are a joke when you can only accrue PTO when you actually get a client. There are no maternity leave benefits.  Overall, I’ve lost faith in this company and it appears some  management is in it for their gain. 

Dogwood changed a lot in the year I was there because of new clinics, new management, and the company growing as a whole. Some of the changes were not as ideal as I would have liked, mainly in how the more administrative side of the company handled things, but I enjoyed the more natural-teaching style their direct therapy is done in. Children were allowed to be CHILDREN and the structure of our day with group activities was good for them and the RBTs (as a break). I was given consistent supervision and learned a lot as an RBT but also a supervisee! They also just made a new BCBA candidate curriculum for those accruing hours, which seemed to be a helpful new tool!

My main warnings would be that we were not given full breaks even though most of us worked 9-4 M-F with just 1 client, and their handling of COVID-19 protocols was really inconsistent. All other stuff was mostly minor to me, plus the ethical and highly supervised nature of the clinics really made up for it.

Of all ABA companies, I wouldn’t choose Dogwood. They don’t support RBTs. BCBAs are seen as superior and RBTs get nothing. Communication is trash between everybody. Hours are never guaranteed. You don’t get any breaks unless your client naps & have to eat lunch with your client (which sometimes can be fine but not all kids can eat on their own so you have to help). You get a minimum $9 pay cut for doing notes(when other companies let you do it on the clock) or if your client is napping. If you’re off and don’t accept coverage, you’re judged and it’s put on your schedule as “denied coverage”. Not to mention starting pay is less than most companies and you only have a chance at 3 $1 raises which then maxes you out with no room for growth unless you become a BCBA. I’m hoping things have changed since I’ve left but let me tell you that leaving was the best thing I did. There were two BCBAs in the entire place that I genuinely loved and made you feel wanted and cared for. Also the cliques between RBTs is atrocious. It’s almost like we’re in high school again. 

Working at Dogwood Autism was a disappointing experience. Despite promises of growth and promotion, the company consistently failed to follow through. They were not transparent about supervision hours and often penalized staff for taking time off—even for important family events like graduations or award ceremonies for their own children. Promotions were made to seem attainable, but in reality, the criteria kept changing, and it felt like they wanted staff to stay at the same pay rate long-term.

After giving a professional two-week notice, I was terminated immediately, which only confirmed the lack of support and respect for employees. Additionally, concerns raised by therapists about clients were often dismissed by BCBAs due to internal power dynamics. Overall, the environment did not support professional development or compassionate care. I wouldn’t recommend working here if you’re looking for transparency, support, or a healthy work culture.


Dogwood takes care of their clients, but not their RBTs. The attendance policy is a nightmare you only get six personal days a year, and if you’re sick without a doctor’s note, you’re basically punished for it. Breaks don’t exist; lunch only happens if your client allows it. And if you’re assigned a kid with high behaviors? The BCBA will leave you to figure it out on your own most of the time. Promotions hinge not only on attendance but also on skill though that really depends on which BCBA you have and how harshly they grade you on their checklist. While the Woodstock crew is mostly supportive, a few people bring cliquey, one-upping sorority vibes. If you value balance, breaks, or real support, this is not the place for you. 

The clinical director was great, and although we had some tough conversations, I understood it was part of her job and I truly respected that. With that said, there is one BCBA in particular who, in my opinion, could benefit from showing more humility and remembering what it was like to be in the role of an RBT.

I had a positive experience working in this role. The work environment was professional, supportive, and encouraged teamwork. Management was approachable and provided clear expectations, which made it easier to stay productive and meet goals. I appreciated the opportunities to learn new skills and take on additional responsibilities that helped me grow professionally.
The company maintained a good work-life balance and offered flexibility when needed. My coworkers were friendly, knowledgeable, and always willing to help when challenges arose. Communication across teams was generally effective, and employees were recognized for their contributions.
Like any workplace, there were occasional busy periods and areas that could be improved, but overall the experience was rewarding. I gained valuable experience, strengthened my skills, and built positive relationships during my time there. I would recommend this position to anyone looking for a workplace that values collaboration, growth, and employee development.

Dogwood can be a life changing experience for you, you can meet some of the most amazing individuals that will enrich your life. Unfortunately due to the policies from the owners of Dogwood, the pay is relatively low compared to others in the area, the insurance is not the best, they’ll fire you for attendance even if you are great at your job, the amount of days you get seem like a lot but it goes by fast especially if you have children, and also you don’t truly get paid for holidays. With how the Holiday pay and PTO are set up, you will never be able to get paid for all the holidays or off days there are. It’s been brought to Brooke multiple times but it appears the owners don’t value their workers well being.

Only 6 personal (unplanned) absences per YEAR. This includes getting sick and having to call out. 6 days out of 365 days is unreasonable. If you want it to not count against you, you have to obtain a doctor’s note. Even if it’s a minor cold or headache. Medical absences have a limit too though.

Example: I was penalized (lost personal days) for being told to stay home by HR after a child gave me (and many others) ring worm. I had no reason to spend money on a doctor’s visit because it was a clinic wide issue that was identified… yet my personal days were taken.  Even if I got a note, it would still count towards my attendance. Why?

RUN. There are plenty of other companies out there that are willing to offer competitive pay, benefits, and support. This company’s mission statement should be “Chasing a dollar any chance we get”. The individuals in “management” are condescending and rude. The covid/sick policies are outrageous and only applied at their discretion. COVID was hush hush for a long time and client’s families were not informed of exposures that occurred. All of a sudden, they began to crack down and act as if they cared. Yet, cleanliness and protective measures were inexistent. No sanitization took place during my time here. Spray bottles of sanitizer were only used to clean the tables. I hope that one day they are able to turn this place around. Until then, I suggest you find a different company. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Registered behavior technician 50 salaries reported	$22.24 per hour
Board certified behavior analyst 40 salaries reported	$86,388 per year
Behavior technician 6 salaries reported	$20.33 per hour
Childcare provider 8 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Operations assistant 4 salaries reported	$18.00 per hour

Working at Dogwood Autism Services: Company Overview and Reviews

Dogwood Autism Services

Dogwood Autism Services Ratings

Popular jobs at Dogwood Autism Services

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected