Best Conferences for Pediatric Clinicians and Special Educators in 2026

2026’s Must-Attend Conferences for BCBAs, SLPs, OTs, Psychologists and Child Development Specialists

When developing young minds, the best possible outcomes occur when our Hopebridge clinicians continue to develop their own skills, too.

For us, learning and growing includes everything from obtaining CEUs and participating in internal workshops, to gaining Fieldwork hours while on the job and leveling up within roles. 

As part of our commitment to encourage our team members to advance their education, we rounded up some of the best conferences around the country (and even some overseas!) in our field for the upcoming year. Covering autism, applied behavior analysis (ABA), psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and other areas of healthcare, there are a range of topics to meet your clinical needs. Many of these conferences offer exciting, in-person learning opportunities, while others allow interested attendees to participate at a fraction of the cost and travel time through virtual options.

These events are ideal for board certified behavior analysts (BCBA), psychologists, ABA fieldwork and fellowship students, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, child development physicians, therapy center leadership, registered behavior technicians (RBT), school administrators and/or special educators. Plus, many are open to parents and caregivers who wish to build upon their knowledge for their children. There is something for everyone with this wide range of conference options.

As a bonus, most of the events on our list offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for ABA professionals and psychologists who need to acquire more credits.

2026 Healthcare Conferences for ABA, Psychology and Child Development

ABAI 20th Annual Autism Conference
January 15-17, 2026
The Association for Behavior Analysis International is hosting its 20th Annual Autism Conference in New York, NY, along with virtual participation options. ABAI’s mission is to contribute to the well-being of society by supporting, developing and enhancing the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education and practice. The conference includes options for workshops, poster sessions, and CE packages for behavior analysts and psychologists. For more information, visit the conference website. 
Cost: Registration is $690, with additional options for workshops and CE packages. 

2026 ICASE Spring Conference
February 11-13, 2026
The Indiana Council for Administrators in Special Education is holding its annual spring conference in Plainfield, IN. This year’s conference theme is, “Game Plan: Indiana’s Playbook for Student Success.” Whether you are navigating the high stakes of IEP meetings or scouting for new AI-driven frameworks this conference offers support to help with state complaints, virtual engagement, building sustainable staffing teams, fostering belonging, de-escalating complex behavioral challenges, and bridging the gap from the classroom to a career. As part of the conference, Hopebridge Director of School Services Ashley Walke will present on “The Next Step: Building Effective Pathways from Clinics to Classrooms,” Thursday, Feb. 12 at 3:50pm. For more information, visit the ICASE conference website.
Cost: Registration ranges from $150-$449, depending on the level of participation.

INCEC Beyond Barriers: Educating Exceptional Children Convention
February 17, 2026
The Indiana Council for Exceptional Children Conference – Beyond Barriers: Educating Exceptional Children Convention – will be held in Bloomington, IN. Throughout the day, attendees will engage in learning aligned to key conference strands: Instruction and Curriculum Access; Behavior and Social-Emotional Support; Collaboration and Engagement; Multilingual Learners; High Ability; and Life Skills. For updates, visit the Indiana CEC website.
Cost: Free for early career educators and college members, with registration that ranges from $50-$225 for other participants.

NCABA 37th Annual Conference
February 18-20, 2026
The North Carolina Association for Behavior Analysis (NCABA) Annual Conference will be held in Winston-Salem, NC. The Annual Conference is held to disseminate the most advanced developments in the science and practice of behavior analysis across a wide array of topics. The conference program will include an exciting line up of speakers and events with pre and post-conference workshops available. For more information, visit the NCABA website.
Cost: Registration starts at $100 for students up to $250 for non-members.

1st ABAI Behavior Technician Conference 2026
February 20, 2026
The theme is Rooted in Science: Behavior Technician Skill Refinement. This conference is an exciting opportunity to celebrate and support the frontline professionals who make such a meaningful impact on the lives of clients and families every day. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to acquire practical skills, professional growth, and inspiration from experts in the field of behavior analysis. For more information, visit the conference website. 
Cost: Registration is $89. 

SDBP 2026 Virtual Winter Meeting 
February 20, 2026 
Join the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP) for a dynamic, interactive virtual event designed to inspire, educate, and connect professionals across disciplines. This year’s Winter Meeting brings together leading voices in developmental and behavioral pediatrics for a full day of plenaries, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities—all accessible from anywhere! For more information, visit the SDBP website. 
Cost: $150 for physicians/non-physician professionals, $125 for fellows and participants from lower income economies, and $10 for residents and students (medical, nursing, psychology, allied health). 

BWIBAAD Conference 2026
February 20-21, 2026 
The 3rd annual BWIBAAD Conference will be held virtually, hosted by Black Women in Behavior Analysis Appreciation Day. Themed “Unapologetically Necessary,” the event will feature inspiring speakers, interactive workshops, panel discussions and networking opportunities designed to uplift and unite the community. Hopebridge Quality Improvement Manager Nia Flowers will serve as a presenter for “Diversity in Real Life: From the Boardroom to the Living Room Floor,” For more details, visit the BWIBAAD conference page on BehaviorLive. 
Cost: Early Bird Premier Access Pass with CEUs is $119.

ABA Reimagined 
February 20-21, 2026 
ABA Reimagined is a unique applied behavior analysis conference about applying the science in innovative ways. The virtual event offers two different tracks, plus add-on workshops, and the opportunity for 20+ CEUs, including all required ethics and supervision CEUs. For more information, visit the ABA Reimagined BehaviorLive page. 
Cost: $85 for individual tracks or $100 for the full livestream with CEUs, plus options for workshops. 

National Head Start Conference and Expo
May 4-7, 2026
NHSA’s 52nd annual National Head Start Conference and Expo will be held in Minneapolis, MN. The largest national conference devoted to all things Head Start, this event offers more than 130 sessions, networking opportunities, keynote speakers and exhibitors. For more information, visit the NHSA website.
Cost: Ranges from $605 for early bird member rates to $1,015 for the regular non-member rate.

CalABA 44th Annual Western Regional Conference 
March 6-7, 2026
This year’s conference, CalABA Action, will be held in Sacramento, CA, with virtual attendance also available. The conference offers information, resources and professional development opportunities for board certified behavior analysts (BCBA), BCaBAs, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, general and special educators, students in related fields, and parents and other consumers of behavior analysis services. Participants can expect pre-conference workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, breakout sessions, a Behavior Bash, wellness activities and opportunities to obtain CEUs. Interested participants can visit the CalABA site for more information.
Cost: Options vary from $120-$760, depending upon level of participation. 

APBA 2026 Convention
March 12-14, 2026
The Association of Professional Behavior Analysts will host its annual convention in New Orleans, LA, with virtual options available. With the mission to promote and advance science-based practice of behavior analysis by advocating for public policies and informing, supporting and protecting practitioners and consumers. Participants can expect a welcome reception, workshops, speaker presentations, a poster session, APBA party and more. Hopebridge will participate in several presentations and panels, including:

• “Expanding Upon the Evidence from CASP White Paper: Multi-provider Evaluation of Treatment Intensity and Outcomes in Early Comprehensive ABA – Findings from Other ABA Organizations,” from Hopebridge Chief Clinical Officer Jana Sarno
• “Developing a Compass: Building Sustainable Systems for Ongoing Supervision and Mentorship,” from Hopebridge Clinical Training Director Meg Moore
• “Responding to Potential Suicidal and Homicidal Ideation of ABA Patients in a Pediatric Setting via Psychology Collaboration Referral System,” from Hopebridge Functional Assessment Director Taylor Thomas & Regional Director of Psychological Services Ruth Bernstein
• “From Competence to Confidence: Evaluating the Impact of Mentorship on Clinical Skill and Knowledge of the Practical Functional Assessment,” from Hopebridge Functional Assessment Director Taylor Thomas

For more information, visit the APBA website.
Cost: Costs vary from $63-$475, depending on level of participation. Early bird pricing ends Feb. 14.

OHABA’s Annual Conference
March 12-13, 2026 
The Ohio Association for Behavior Analysts 2026 conference will be held in Dublin, OH, with virtual participation available. For more information, visit the OHABA website.
Cost: Costs vary from $75-$450, depending on level of participation.

47th Annual National Conference on Pediatric Health Care 
March 18-21, 2026
TheNational Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Conference will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, with virtual participation available, as well. Nursing students, early career and seasoned practitioners in primary, acute or speciality care will find opportunities to enhance their knowledge and advance their career during more than 80 unique evidence-based educational sessions and poster presentations, plus networking events with fellow APRNs. Visit the NAPNAP conference website for more details.
Cost: $290-$795, depending on level of participation.

ILABA 2026
April 9-10, 2026
The Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis will hold its annual conference in Rosemont, IL and virtually through BehaviorLive. ILABA will include one day of workshops and one day of speaker presentations, plus poster submissions. The conference provides opportunities for CEUs. To register, visit the ILABA conference page.
Cost: Registration ranges from $50-$300, depending on level of participation.

41st Annual TxABA Conference
April 9-12, 2026
The Texas Applied Behavior Analysis conference will be held in a hybrid format with in-person participation in San Antonio, TX, as well as a virtual option via BehaviorLive. Participants can take part in a welcome reception, presentations, poster sessions, panels, networking events and in-person pre-conference workshops. BACB CEUs are available. For more information, visit the TxABA site.
Cost: $100+ for students and RBTs, $270+ for members, $390+ for nonmembers. Early bird registration ends Feb. 11, 2026.

Profund Autism Summit
April 16-17, 2026
The Profound Autism Summit, held in Boston, MA, is a conference that will bring together areas of research, medicine, treatment, advocacy and education to discuss the needs and support of those with Profound Autism across disciplines and throughout the lifespan. CEUs are available. Both professionals and caregivers or family are welcome. For more information, visit the Profound Autism Summit website.
Cost: Early bird registration is $225-$525, depending on level of participation.

AOTA INSPIRE 2026 Annual Conference & Expo
April 23-25, 2026 
The American Occupational Therapy Assocation’s annual conference will be held in a hybrid format with in-person participation in Anaheim, CA. AOTA INSPIRE 2026: Refreshed, Recharged, Inspired is the largest gathering of occupational therapy professionals in the world. Participants can expect to elevate their practice and connect with the OT community through speaker sessions, workshops, an expo and additional events. For more information, visit the AOTA conference website.
Cost: Registration varies from $201-$565 depending on level of participation, plus optional add-on events. Early bird pricing ends Feb. 23.

CoFABA 2026
April 24, 2026 
CoFABA celebrates 10 years with “Igniting Momentum: Innovation, Vision, and the Next Era of Behavior Analysis.” The one-day conference is open to FABA members and is held in Tampa, FL, with virtual options available, too. For more information, visit the FABA website.
Cost: Registration is $129 for students and parents (no CEUs), and $219 for RBTs, BCaBAs and BCBAs (includes 6 CEUs).

PAS 2026
April 24-27, 2026
The Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting will be held in Boston, MI. to share the research, education and advocacy efforts of the pediatric academic community. Partner societies include the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Society for Pediatric Research (SRP), American Pediatric Society (APS), and American Pediatric Association (APA). Participants can expect groundbreaking science through hundreds of oral presentations and thousands of posters with a curated lineup of top-quality educational and scientific programs covering a spectrum of topics. There will also be virtual on-demand opportunities. For more information, visit the PAS website.
Cost: Options range from $50 for family members to $950 for non-member clinicians, depending on level of participation. Early registration prices increase Mar. 17, 2026.

2026 CASP Conference
April 26-28, 2026 
The annual Council of Autism Service Providers Conference will be held in Las Vegas, NC in 2026. As the only conference focused on efficiently administering and operating autism service provider organizations while maintaining clinical excellence, the conference provides extraordinary educational and networking opportunities. There will be approximately 100 breakout sessions designed to facilitate collaboration in a small-group setting.

Hopebridge will participate in several presentations and panels, including:

• Pre-Conference Workshop: “Measuring and Reporting Applied Behavior Analysis Treatment Outcomes,” from Hopebridge Chief Clinical Officer Jana Sarno
• “Expanding Upon the Evidence from CASP White Paper: Multi-provider Evaluation of Treatment Intensity and Outcomes in Early Comprehensive ABA – Findings from Other ABA Organizations,” from Hopebridge Chief Clinical Officer Jana Sarno
• “Developing a Compass: Building Sustainable Systems for Ongoing Supervision and Mentorship,” from Hopebridge Clinical Training Director Meg Moore
• “When to Refer: Decision-Making Frameworks for Ethics, Quality, and Risk Committees in ABA Organizations,” Hopebridge VP of Quality Melissa Chevalier & Quality Improvement Manager Nia Flowers
• “Empowering Leaders for Equitable Practice: Cultivating Cultural Humility and Ethical Leadership in Supervision,” from Hopebridge Quality Improvement Manager Nia Flowers

Interested participants can visit the CASP website for updates.
Cost: Options vary from $349.50-$999, depending on level of participation and membership. Early bird registration ends Jan. 30.

SPPAC 2026
April 30-May 2, 2026 
The Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference will be held in Las Vegas, NV with the theme of “Inquire, Inspire, Ignite” for 2026. It offers speaker presentations and workshops featuring various topics concerning professional development and wellbeing, clinical practice, research and dissemination, and policy, advocacy and community partnerships. CE credit hours are available. For more information, visit the SPPAC website.
Cost: Options vary from $220-$820, depending on level of participation, plus workshop options. Early registration pricing closes Mar. 4, 2026.

MassABA Annual Conference
May 8, 2026
The Massachusetts Association for Applied Behavior Analysis Annual Conference will be held in Marlborough, MA with a lineup of impressive speakers and unique exhibiting and networking opportunities. Interested participants should visit the MassABA site for updates.
Cost: TBA

Autism Investor Summit 2026
May 13-15, 2026
The Autism Investor Summit will be held in Scottsdale, AZ and provides a unique opportunity for service providers, investors and key stakeholders to meet and discuss autism service landscape, opportunities for investment and learn about best practices and innovation in all areas of autism services. For more information, visit the Autism Investor Summit website.
Cost: Visit the website for more information on pricing and registration.

AAPA 2026 
May 15-19, 2026
The American Academy of Physicians Assistants conference, the largest national PA conference, will be held in New Orleans, LA. PAs and PA students can expect more than 250 speakers, a wide range of therapeutic categories, hands-on workshops, small group interactive sessions, an expo featuring the frontier of medical products and technology, and opportunities for more than 200 CME sessions. Visit the AAPA conference website for more details.
Cost: Visit the website for registration and pricing.

ABAI 52nd Annual Convention
May 21-25, 2026 
The Association of Behavior Analysis will host its 51st Annual Convention in San Francisco, CA, as well as through virtual participation. The ABAI annual convention is the largest gathering of behavior analysts in the world. ABAI’s mission is to contribute to the well-being of society by supporting, developing and enhancing the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education and practice. The convention includes symposia, panels, business meetings, reunions, poster sessions and opportunities for continuing education credits (CEU) for behavior analysts and psychologists. For more information, visit the ABAI website.
Cost: Registration ranges from $1115-$1,095, depending on level of participation.

2026 WIBA Annual Conference
July 15-17, 2026 
The annual Women in Behavior Analysis conference will be in Chicago, IL, with live stream and on-demand options available. WIBA will be a three-day event, including a day of workshops followed by two days of sessions. The conference features prominent women in the field of behavior analysis while also addressing the importance of gender equality and diversity within the field. Presentations will highlight recent trends in the field of behavior analysis, the importance of mentorship, organizational behavior management and much more. Opportunities for CEUs and PDUs are available. For more information, visit the WIBA website.
Cost: Registration is $170 for students and $369 for professionals. Group pricing is also available.

 

Which conferences are you most interested in attending? Check out even more event options near you on the Hopebridge events calendar.

Want more access to CEUs and other continued learning opportunities while on the job? Check out the ABA job opportunities, psychology positions, and other pediatric therapy roles at one of our centers around the country. Hopebridge regularly offers free CE events and training from in-house thought leaders, in addition to a range of other professional development options.