Apparatus and methods are provided for balancing a load across access devices in a wireless network. A method comprises receiving an association request at a first access device of a plurality of access devices, and determining, in response to the association request, if the first access device is the least-loaded access device among the plurality of access devices. The method further comprises granting the association request if the first access device is the least-loaded access device. If the first access device is not the least-loaded access device, the method may further comprise denying the association request.