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BCBA®

BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST® HANDBOOK

ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK

This handbook describes the requirements for obtaining and maintaining BCBA certification, including the eligibility requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2022. Applicants and certificants must comply with the requirements outlined in this handbook. Failure to do so may result in the BACB taking summary action (e.g., suspension, revocation, invalidation) against your eligibility or certification and/or submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation to the BACB Ethics Department.

This handbook contains clickable images that link directly to BACB documents and web pages. To help with navigation, this handbook also includes PDF bookmarks and a clickable Table of Contents icon ( ) on the corner of each page. New versions of the BCBA Handbook will be published quarterly as needed. Applicants completing requirements in a future year should make note of upcoming implementation dates for revised requirements, as they must meet the requirements in place at the time they apply and take the version of the examination in effect when they schedule their examination appointment. Please refer to the BACB Newsletter and the Upcoming Changes web page for the most updated information on future certification requirements.

The BACB does not discriminate against any individual because of race, ethnicity, gender, age, creed, disability, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or national origin. Allegations of discrimination can be reported via our Administrative Appeal Request Form.

For a complete list of updates included in this version of the BCBA Handbook, please see page 69.

The BACB reserves the right to amend the procedures outlined in this handbook.

®The trademarks “Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, Inc.,” “BACB®,” “Board Certified Behavior Analyst®,” “BCBA®,” “Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst®,” “BCaBA®,” and “RBT®,” are owned by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. Unauthorized use or misrepresentation is strictly prohibited.

This document should be referenced as: Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2025). Board certified behavior analyst handbook.

Retrieved on Month, Day, Year, from https://www.bacb.com/bcba-handbook

https://www.bacb.com/newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/upcoming-changes/

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/

https://www.bacb.com/bcba-handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Overview ................................................................................................................ 1

About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board ............................................................................................................ 1 What Is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst? .................................................................................................................. 1 Overview of Becoming and Maintaining BCBA Certification ................................................................................... 2 Reasons for Becoming a BCBA ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Accreditation ............................................................................................................................................................................ 2

Eligibility Requirements ......................................................................................... 6 Eligibility Pathways .................................................................................................................................................................6 Supervised Fieldwork Requirements ..............................................................................................................................15

Applying for BCBA Certification .......................................................................... 27 Submit Your Application .....................................................................................................................................................27 Schedule Your Examination Appointment ................................................................................................................... 29 Fees ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 29

Examination ......................................................................................................... 30 Examination Development ................................................................................................................................................30 Preparation .............................................................................................................................................................................30 Examination Outline .............................................................................................................................................................30 Scheduling ..............................................................................................................................................................................32 Pearson VUE Examination Fees ......................................................................................................................................32 Examination Accommodations .........................................................................................................................................33 What to Expect on Examination Day ..............................................................................................................................33 General Rules for Taking the Examination ...................................................................................................................34 Examination Terms and Conditions ................................................................................................................................35 Examination Security ...........................................................................................................................................................36 Examination Appeals ...........................................................................................................................................................37 Examination Results .............................................................................................................................................................37 Examination Retakes ...........................................................................................................................................................37 Scoring Methodology ..........................................................................................................................................................37

What to Expect After Passing the Examination................................................... 38

Certification Maintenance Requirements ............................................................ 40 Continuing Education ..........................................................................................................................................................40 Ethics and Self-Reporting ...................................................................................................................................................42 Recertification ........................................................................................................................................................................46 Inactive Policy ........................................................................................................................................................................48

Supervision, Assessment, Training, and Oversight ............................................. 50 Attesting, Assessing, Training, and Supervising RBTs ...............................................................................................51 Supervising BCBA and BCaBA Trainees ......................................................................................................................53 Supervising BCaBAs ............................................................................................................................................................53

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) ......................................... 54 BCBA-D Eligibility Requirements .....................................................................................................................................54 Applying for the BCBA-D Designation .......................................................................................................................... 56 Maintaining the BCBA-D Designation ............................................................................................................................57

Click this icon to return to the Table of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Other Relevant Policies ....................................................................................... 58 Administrative Appeals ...................................................................................................................................................... 58 Name Change Policy .......................................................................................................................................................... 59 Acceptable Signatures Policy .......................................................................................................................................... 59 Documentation Policy ........................................................................................................................................................ 59 Submission of False, Forged, or Untrue Information to the BACB ...................................................................... 60 Timely Responding to the BACB .................................................................................................................................... 60

Documents and Resources ................................................................................. 61 Eligibility and Applying for Certification ..........................................................................................................................61 Coursework .............................................................................................................................................................................61 Supervised Fieldwork ..........................................................................................................................................................61 Examination .............................................................................................................................................................................61 Continuing Education ...........................................................................................................................................................61 Ethics and Self-Reporting ....................................................................................................................................................61 Voluntary Inactive Status .....................................................................................................................................................61 Supervising, Training, and Assessing ............................................................................................................................ 62 Administrative Appeals ...................................................................................................................................................... 62

Glossary .............................................................................................................. 63

Appendix ............................................................................................................. 67 Application Processing Agreement ................................................................................................................................67

Version History and Updates ............................................................................... 69 Version 11/1/2023 Updates ................................................................................................................................................ 69 Version 12/29/2023 Updates ........................................................................................................................................... 69 Version 5/1/2024 Updates ................................................................................................................................................ 69 Version 9/27/2024 Updates ............................................................................................................................................ 69 Version 1/2/2025 Updates ................................................................................................................................................ 69

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Overview About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.® (BACB®) has been the leader in behavior analyst certification for over two decades. The BACB is a nonprofit corporation that was established in 1998 to meet professional certification needs identified by behavior analysts, governments, and consumers of behavior-analytic services. The BACB’s mission is to protect consumers of behavior-analytic services by systematically establishing, promoting, and disseminating professional standards of practice.

In the profession of applied behavior analysis, the BACB’s primary role is to operate certification programs, which involves responsibilities similar to regulatory boards. In this role, the BACB establishes practice standards, administers examinations, and provides ethics requirements and a disciplinary system for each of its certification programs. To learn more about our role and limitations, read our blog post, The BACB: What it is, What it Does, and Why, and listen to Episode 11 of our podcast, Inside the BACB.

Jurisdiction

The BACB currently accepts certification applications from individuals who reside in the following countries:

Country Upcoming Changes United States (US) None Canada Ontario residents can no longer apply for RBT or BCaBA certification. Those holding RBT and BCaBA

certification in Ontario have had their certification placed on voluntary inactive status. RBTs and BCaBAs who relocate to Ontario should contact the BACB to be placed on voluntary inactive status. Ontario residents will no longer be able to apply for BCBA/BCBA-D certification as of June 30, 2026. Those holding BCBA/BCBA-D certification in Ontario will be able to maintain their certification.

United Kingdom (UK)

Residents of the UK will no longer be able to apply for BACB certification as of January 1, 2026. Those holding BACB certifications in the UK will be able to maintain their certification.

Australia Residents of Australia will no longer be able to apply for BACB certification as of January 1, 2027. Those holding BACB certifications in Australia will be able to maintain their certification.

What Is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?

The Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) is a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis. Professionals certified at the BCBA level are independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services.

BCBA certificants may supervise the work of Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst® (BCaBA®) certificants, Registered Behavior Technician® (RBT®) certificants, and other professionals who implement behavior-analytic services. They may also function in the role of a BCaBA or RBT. As of January 1, 2025, certificants may hold only one BACB certification at a time. Once a higher-level certification has been obtained, the lower-level certification will expire either in 90 days or at the expiration date of the lower-level certification, whichever occurs first.

Note: In the interest of consumer protection and to ensure that the BACB certification mark is only used to accurately represent certification status, the BACB may seek legal and other remedies to address any misrepresentation of BACB certification (and/ or any misuse of other BACB trademarks and logos) that constitutes trademark infringement. For more information about the use of BACB certification marks, see the September 2008, October 2013, and July 2021 BACB Newsletters.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst—Doctoral

BCBAs with doctoral training in behavior analysis may receive the designation of Board Certified Behavior Analyst- Doctoral® (BCBA-D®). The BCBA-D is not a separate certification, and it does not grant any privileges above or beyond BCBA certification. BCBA-Ds function in the same capacity as BCBAs (i.e., as independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services) and are required to meet all BCBA maintenance requirements.

https://www.bacb.com/the-bacb-what-it-is-what-it-does-and-why/

https://www.bacb.com/bacb-podcasts/

https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sep2008_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Oct2013_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Jul2021_Newsletter/

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Overview of Becoming and Maintaining BCBA Certification

Reasons for Becoming a BCBA

There are many benefits to obtaining BCBA certification, including: • BCBA certification is the leading behavior analyst credential and is required by many funders and licensure

boards. BCBA certification is offered by the first certifying entity in behavior analysis, the BACB, which has been certifying behavior analysts for over 20 years.

• BCBA certification shows that you have met certain requirements that are critical in providing and overseeing behavior-analytic services.

• BCBA certification provides increased consumer protection since you must meet certain eligibility and maintenance requirements to obtain and maintain certification.

• BCBA certification makes it easier for employers, funders, and consumers, among others, to verify that you have certain knowledge, skills, and abilities and are not under disciplinary sanctions.

Accreditation

The BCBA, BCaBA, and RBT certification programs are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). NCCA’s Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs were the first standards developed for professional certification programs to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. NCCA standards articulate the essential elements of a high-quality certification program. Consistent with these standards, the BACB’s certification requirements, examination content, and procedures undergo regular review by subject matter

experts in the discipline. To learn more about accreditation, see ICE’s video, Value of Accreditation: Why it Matters.

MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS* APPLY TAKE & PASS BCBA EXAM MAINTAIN

MEET CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

ADHERE TO ETHICS REQUIREMENTS

RECERTIFY EVERY TWO YEARSPATHWAY 4: POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE

PATHWAY 3: FACULTY TEACHING AND RESEARCH

PATHWAY 2: BEHAVIOR-ANALYTIC COURSEWORK

PATHWAY 1: ABAI- OR APBA-ACCREDITED DEGREE

http://www.credentialingexcellence.org/

https://www.credentialingexcellence.org/page/ncca

https://youtu.be/TujGLoB-cUM

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You Want to Pursue Certification… Now What?*

So, you are interested in pursuing BCBA certification. What should you do now? Although the BACB cannot instruct you on how to meet our requirements, the content in this section is intended to provide some guidance that might be helpful as you start this journey.

A Few Tips Before Getting Started

First. carefully review both the eligibility and maintenance requirements that are detailed in this handbook. Then, determine which eligibility pathway you plan to pursue. The majority of BCBA certificants apply under Pathway 1 or Pathway 2, so this section focuses primarily on those pathways. Once you have selected a pathway, determine when you might apply, as it may take a few years to meet all of the requirements, and the eligibility requirements may change.

Third, you will want to create a BACB account using these tips: • Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your government-issued identification. If it does not

match exactly, you will not be able to take the examination. Name changes require review by BACB staff, so a name change could delay your ability to take the examination.

• Use a personal email address and not a work or school email address. Important notifications and reminders are sent to this address, so if you change employers or lose access to your school email address, you will not receive reminders, correspondence, or password resets.

• Set up the profile yourself and do not share your account information with anyone else, including your employer. This is your certification—no one else should be managing it for you. The contact information you provide must include your current address and phone number. It is very important that you list your current address, as your residence must be under the BACB’s jurisdiction.

• Update your information in your BACB account as soon as changes occur (e.g., name change, address change, email address change).

• Do not create more than one account. If you are having trouble getting into your account, please use the Contact Us Form for assistance.

Creating a BACB account will give you a BACB account ID number, which you will need to add to documents as you work toward certification. Having a BACB account also means that you will receive important updates from the BACB.

Considerations When Exploring Training Options

You only receive your initial training once. If possible, don’t pick your training out of convenience, expense, or geography. We recommend thoroughly researching the trainings before committing to one. While we can’t provide guidance on where to receive your behavior-analytic coursework, here are some things to consider.

Ideally, you should obtain your education in behavior analysis from a behavior-analytic degree program. There are many benefits to this option. For instance, in most cases, you can meet all BCBA eligibility requirements in one place while also having engaging, non-classroom interactions with behavior-analytic faculty and students that will greatly enhance your education and begin to develop your behavior-analytic social networks. Even if you don’t receive all of your supervised fieldwork through the degree-granting program, your faculty will likely help you identify where you can accrue your hours in an immersive behavior-analytic environment. If completing your education in a behavior- analytic degree program is a possibility for you, here are a few things to consider as you research programs.

First, research the faculty members and determine whether the program’s interest(s) align with yours (see the ABA Subspecialty Resources on the About Behavior Analysis web page for some of the areas in which behavior analysis has been applied). Second, identify the program’s structure to determine how much time you will have with your faculty and fellow students. Third, confirm that the program has a pathway to meet the BACB’s coursework requirements.

* This is not a comprehensive resource for all activities you will need to or should complete as you prepare for certification.

https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

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You may obtain your behavior-analytic coursework in one of the following ways: • APBA-Accredited or ABAI-Accredited or Recognized Behavior Analysis Degree Program (Pathway 1):

Master’s degree (or higher) behavior analysis programs that have been accredited by APBA or accredited or recognized by ABAI (under ABAI Tiers 1, 2a, or 2b) have met quality standards for their curriculum, faculty, and supports, among others. If you receive a master’s degree or higher from one of these programs, both the coursework and degree eligibility requirements will be met. Accredited or recognized programs may be found on the APBA and ABAI websites.

• Verified Course Sequence (Pathway 2): The other option for completing behavior-analytic coursework is through a Verified Course Sequence. A Verified Course Sequence is a set of courses that have been verified by ABAI as having met the BACB’s behavior-analytic coursework requirements. Although some Verified Course Sequences are embedded in an ABAI-accredited graduate program, many are not. Verified Course Sequence status merely indicates that the content-hour requirements for certain behavior-analytic courses have been reviewed. Verified Course Sequences may be located using ABAI’s Verified Course Sequence Directory.

Finally, when determining where to obtain your coursework, you might also want to consider: • Program Focus: Do you have any existing areas of interest? If so, does the program align with your

professional goals? Is the program led by faculty with similar interests? Will the program help facilitate experience in areas that are meaningful to you?

• Program Size: Find out the size of each cohort and determine if the size is a good fit for you as a learner. This information can usually be found on the program’s website. Our university pass rate documents also give an idea of program size by looking at the number of candidates who took the examination from an institution each year (see the Sort by Volume section of the document).

• Program Structure: Courses are usually taught on campus, online, or in a combination of online and on-campus experiences (again, this information should be available on the program’s website). Consider what structure is the best fit for you as a learner. You might want to consider what has worked for you in the past. Were you successful in online courses? Did you need or value in-person experiences? In what setting did you learn the most and feel the most engaged?

• Number of Faculty: Determine how many part- and full-time faculty are on staff, especially in relation to the program size, to understand the student-to-faculty ratio.

• University Pass Rates: The BACB annually publishes examination pass rate data for universities with Verified Course Sequences. Passing the BCBA examination is not the most important part of your training, but, at a minimum, your training should prepare you to pass the examination.

Once you have identified where you will get your behavior-analytic coursework, your faculty mentor/advisor, program chair, and/or Verified Course Sequence Coordinator will be your resource(s) to help you meet the BACB’s requirements along the way.

Considerations When Identifying Practical Fieldwork Opportunities

Hold on! Remember that qualifying behavior-analytic coursework needs to begin before fieldwork, so make sure you get your coursework situation figured out beforehand. Once you have started your coursework, determine where you want to accrue your structured fieldwork hours and whether it will give you the applied experience that will prepare you to practice independently after you are certified. For instance, consider the population(s) and setting(s) where you want to ultimately provide behavior-analytic services. The BACB cannot provide this guidance, so you should reach out to your Verified Course Sequence Coordinator, advisor, or employer for guidance about where to accrue fieldwork in your chosen area.

https://www.apbahome.net

https://www.abainternational.org/welcome.aspx

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs/directory.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/university-pass-rates/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-Pass-Rates-Combined

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When identifying supervisor(s) to oversee your fieldwork hours, ensure that they are qualified to be your supervisor (see the Fieldwork Requirements section). In addition, you should focus on finding supervisors who have a successful track record of BACB supervision. You could do this in a number of ways, but here are a few ideas:

• Check on their certification status in the Certificant Registry to ensure that they are qualified to supervise and to see if they have any disciplinary sanctions.

• Look at how long they have been certified. We recommend identifying supervisors who have been certified for at least a year, if not longer. Note: BCBAs in their first year of certification who are supervising fieldwork must have a consulting supervisor.

• Gather information from the supervisor and past supervisees about the supervisor’s style to make sure they are a good fit for you.

• Ask about their time and document-management systems. Caution: If you can’t produce all of the necessary documents to support your fieldwork in the event of an audit, you might lose fieldwork hours, so you will want a very organized supervisor!

• Determine whether they are familiar with the BACB’s requirements. • Consider whether they could customize the fieldwork to your interests (while still meeting their ethical

obligations as a BCBA to stay within their area of competence). Once you have identified fieldwork site(s) and supervisor(s), complete the Fieldwork Checklist and Tip Sheet before you get started with each fieldwork site/supervisor. The BACB is not able to provide guidance beyond what is in our fieldwork requirements, as each situation is unique (e.g., whether a specific activity will qualify toward your fieldwork hours). Work together with your supervisor(s) to ensure that you are meeting the fieldwork requirements while also meeting your professional goals.

A Few Final Tips • Keep this handbook close by. We will update the handbook quarterly as needed, so always make sure

that you are reviewing the most current handbook to see what has changed since the last version. It is also important that you become familiar with all applicable licensure requirements in your area.

• Frequently check the BACB website for new resources, including videos, blogs, and podcasts. For example, the Tips for New Certificants blog shares valuable information for newly certified individuals, and The Professional Infrastructure of Applied Behavior Analysis video describes the various organizations within the ABA profession.

• Get involved and engaged with your behavior-analytic community! This might include joining or volunteering with your local, regional, or national professional associations and groups focused in your area(s) of interest. You will likely learn a lot and have an opportunity to contribute to behavior analysis and its consumers. Having professional support is helpful at every stage of your career, so create opportunities to identify trusted colleague(s), mentors, and/or groups now.

• As you pursue certification, ensure that you do not represent yourself as a BCBA trainee or applicant to prevent consumers from being confused about your qualifications. For more information about use of the BCBA certification mark, see the September 2008, October 2013, and July 2021 BACB Newsletters.

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervised-Fieldwork-Checklist-and-Tip-Sheet-2022

https://www.bacb.com/u-s-licensure-of-behavior-analysts/

https://www.bacb.com/

https://www.bacb.com/tips-for-new-certificants/

https://youtu.be/vHi3rfnXfPg

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sep2008_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Oct2013_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Jul2021_Newsletter/

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Eligibility Requirements Eligibility Pathways

You may apply for BCBA certification through one of the following pathways. Each pathway requires a degree, behavior-analytic content, supervised fieldwork, and passing the BCBA certification examination.

Overview of Eligibility Pathways Pathway 1:

Degree From APBA-Accredited

Program or ABAI-Accredited or Recognized

Program (ABAI Tier 1, 2a, or 2b)

Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic

Coursework

Pathway 3: Faculty Teaching and

Research

Pathway 4: Postdoctoral Experience

Degree Master’s degree or higher from an APBA-accredited program or an ABAI-accredited or recognized behavior analysis degree program (ABAI Tier 1, 2a, or 2b)

Master’s degree or higher

Master’s degree or higher Doctoral degree

Behavior-analytic content

Behavior-analytic coursework

Faculty teaching and research

Postdoctoral experience in applied behavior analysis

Fieldwork Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

The following pages provide further details for each eligibility pathway.

https://www.abainternational.org/higher-education/tiered-model-of-education.aspx

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Pathway 1: Degree From Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) Accredited Program or Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Accredited or Recognized Program

To apply for BCBA certification via this pathway, you must have a degree from an APBA- accredited program or an ABAI-accredited or recognized behavior analysis master’s or doctoral degree program (ABAI Tier 1, 2a, or 2b) and have completed supervised fieldwork.

Degree

You must have obtained: • a master’s degree while the program was accredited by APBA OR • a master’s or doctoral degree in 2015 or later, and the degree must have been obtained while the program

was accredited or recognized by ABAI under Tier 1, 2a, or 2b. For example, your degree would meet the degree requirement if you received your master’s or doctoral degree in 2018 from a program that was accredited from 2016 to 2022.

Supervised Fieldwork

You must complete supervised fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. You may accrue your fieldwork hours under one or more fieldwork types: Supervised Fieldwork or Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork. The following table provides a general overview of the requirements for fieldwork; however, your fieldwork must meet all of the requirements in the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section.

Overview of Fieldwork Requirements Supervised Fieldwork Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

Fieldwork hours required to qualify 2,000 1,500

Supervisor qualifications (see the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section for additional supervisor requirements)

Supervisors must be one of the following: • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for at least

one year and meets an ongoing supervision CEU requirement; • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for less than one

year and is receiving consultation on a monthly basis from a qualified consulting supervisor; • a licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology

in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis; OR • an authorized Verified Course Sequence instructor.

Supervision hours per supervisory period 5% of hours 10% of hours

Does the BACB use primary source verification of degrees and coursework?

Yes! Under every eligibility pathway, we rely on official transcripts to verify that an applicant’s degree and coursework meet our requirements.

SUPERVISED FIELDWORK

DEGREE FROM APBA- ACCREDITED PROGRAM

OR ABAI-ACCREDITED OR RECOGNIZED PROGRAM (ABAI TIER 1, 2A, OR 2B)

PASS EXAMINATION

CERTIFICATION( ) Check out ABAI’s Accredited Programs web page for a directory of degree programs that meet this requirement, and visit APBA’s About Accreditation web page to learn more about their upcoming program.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting an official transcript with a conferral date for your qualifying degree.

https://www.apbahome.net/page/Accreditationstandards

https://accreditation.abainternational.org/welcome.aspx

https://www.abainternational.org/higher-education/tiered-model-of-education.aspx

https://www.apbahome.net/page/Accreditationstandards

https://accreditation.abainternational.org/welcome.aspx

https://www.abainternational.org/higher-education/tiered-model-of-education.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/external/behavioral-cognitive-psyc

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs/coordinators.aspx

https://accreditation.abainternational.org/accredited-programs.aspx

https://www.apbahome.net/page/AboutAccreditation

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic Coursework

To apply for BCBA certification via this pathway, you must have an acceptable graduate degree from a qualifying institution, have completed acceptable graduate coursework in behavior analysis, and have completed supervised fieldwork.

Degree

You must have a master’s degree or higher from a qualifying institution (see glossary for the definition of qualifying institution by country) in any field. The degree may have been earned at any time. Any degree earned outside of the United States, Canada, Australia, or United Kingdom must undergo a degree equivalency evaluation to demonstrate that it is equivalent to a US master’s degree or higher. The BACB only accepts degrees that have undergone the degree equivalency evaluation process that it oversees at its expense. As of September 2021, the BACB no longer allows applicants to refute its determinations using another degree evaluation service.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting your signed Final Fieldwork Verification Form(s) (F-FVF). Note: If your fieldwork is audited, you may need to submit an audit log and other documents, such as your supervision contract, Monthly Fieldwork Verification Forms (M-FVFs), and/or documentation system, to support the information entered in your audit log. All current fieldwork requirements must be met.

BEHAVIOR-ANALYTIC COURSEWORK

CERTIFICATION PASS

EXAMINATION SUPERVISED FIELDWORK

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting an official transcript with a conferral date for your qualifying degree.

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Behavior-Analytic Coursework

You must complete behavior-analytic coursework that meets the following requirements: • The coursework was graduate level (i.e., master’s or doctoral) and from the qualifying

institution at which you were enrolled. • The coursework was obtained within 10 years of the year the application was

submitted (e.g., to apply in 2024, only coursework completed in 2014 or later will be applied).

• You received academic credit for the coursework. • The coursework reflects that you received a passing grade (“C” or higher in a graded

course or “pass” in a pass/fail system) in each course. • The coursework covers all of the content areas and number of hours specified in this table:

Coursework Content Requirements Content Areas Hours*

BACB Ethics Code and Code-Enforcement System; Professionalism Note: The content must be taught in one or more freestanding courses, meaning that the BACB’s ethics code and code-enforcement system and professionalism must constitute the majority of each course’s content.

45 hrs

Philosophical Underpinnings; Concepts & Principles Note: 45 hours must be taught in one freestanding course, meaning that concepts and principles must constitute the majority of the course’s content.

90 hrs

Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation; Experimental Design Note: The content must be taught in one freestanding course, meaning that measurement, data display, and interpretation and experimental design must constitute the majority of the course’s content.

45 hrs

Behavior Assessment 45 hrs Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions 60 hrs Personnel Supervision and Management 30 hrs

Total 315 hrs * For the purpose of establishing instructional requirements that can be applied globally, 1 semester credit hour will

represent 15 hours of classroom instruction, and 1 quarter credit hour will represent 10 hours of classroom instruction. This conversion is based on US Federal Rule.

Check out the You Want to Pursue Certification... Now What? section for guidance on where to get your behavior- analytic training.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-10-29/pdf/2010-26531.pdf

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Supervised Fieldwork

You must complete supervised fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. You may accrue your fieldwork hours under one or more fieldwork types: Supervised Fieldwork or Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork. The following table provides a general overview. You should thoroughly review the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section to ensure that you meet all of the detailed requirements.

Overview of Fieldwork Requirements Supervised Fieldwork Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

Fieldwork hours required to qualify 2,000 1,500

Supervisor qualifications (see the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section for additional supervisor requirements)

Supervisors must be one of the following: • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for at

least one year and meets an ongoing supervision CEU requirement; • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for less than one

year and is receiving consultation on a monthly basis from a qualified consulting supervisor; • a licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional

Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis; OR

• an authorized Verified Course Sequence instructor. Supervision hours per supervisory period 5% of hours 10% of hours

How is my coursework evaluated? When applying for BCBA certification under Pathway 2, you can show that you meet the coursework requirements in one of two ways:

1. Verified Course Sequence (VCS) Coordinator Coursework Attestation: Your BCBA- certified VCS Coordinator reviews all of your course materials and, if all requirements have been met, completes the VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation.

2. Course-by-Course Review: ABAI works with institutions to identify and verify sequences of courses—known as Verified Course Sequences—that have been prescreened to meet BCBA coursework requirements. The ABAI Verified Course Sequence Directory includes all Verified Course Sequences, VCS Coordinators and content hours, and dates on which the courses were verified. Under this option, the BACB reviews each course you completed with the courses in ABAI’s VCS records to determine whether all requirements, including all content hour requirements, have been met. Note: This method for evaluating coursework will be discontinued as of January 1, 2026. If you completed qualifying coursework that was not part of a VCS, and we do not have the courses established in our records, you will be required to have your department chair complete a Nonverified Course Content Attestation. The BACB will then add the attestation to the course database for consideration during the course-by-course review for your BCBA Certification Application or your preliminary coursework evaluation. Note: As of January 1, 2026, nonverified coursework will no longer be accepted as part of a BCBA certification application.

Demonstrate that you meet the coursework requirements when you apply by submitting official transcript(s) for all qualifying behavior-analytic courses that you will use to meet the requirements. Please keep in mind that if you transferred schools while completing your coursework, you must submit a transcript from each institution. In addition, if your VCS Coordinator completes a VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation, they must email it directly to the BACB as stated in the form.

Not sure your coursework qualifies?

If you are uncertain whether your coursework qualifies, you can request a preliminary coursework evaluation online. This will include a $100 fee.

Note: Preliminary coursework evaluations will no longer be available as of December 31, 2025, due to the VCS system ending. Submit all required documentation to the BACB by October 1, 2025, to ensure a determination before the final application deadline.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/external/behavioral-cognitive-psyc

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs/coordinators.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba_vcs_course_content_attestation

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Course-Content-Attestation

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba_vcs_course_content_attestation

https://www.bacb.com/coursework-evaluation-application/

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Pathway 3: Faculty Teaching and Research

To apply for BCBA certification via this pathway, you must have an acceptable graduate degree from a qualifying institution, have held a full-time faculty position in behavior analysis that includes research and teaching, and have completed supervised fieldwork.

Degree

You must have a master’s degree or higher from a qualifying institution in any field. Any degree earned outside of the United States, Canada, Australia, or United Kingdom must undergo a degree equivalency evaluation to demonstrate that it is equivalent to a US master’s degree or higher. The BACB only accepts degrees that have undergone the degree equivalency evaluation process that it oversees at its expense. As of September 2021, the BACB no longer allows applicants to refute its determinations using another degree evaluation service.

Faculty Appointment

You must have at least three years (cumulative) of full-time work as a faculty member at a qualifying institution within a five-year period.

Teaching: Your faculty appointment must have included the following teaching characteristics: • You taught at least five sections/iterations of behavior-analytic coursework. • You taught at least two of the following behavior-analytic content areas in separate courses: concepts and

principles of behavior, single-subject research methods, applied behavior analysis, and ethics in behavior analysis. • Each course must have been exclusively or primarily devoted to behavior-analytic content. • You taught this coursework at the graduate level.

FACULTY APPOINTMENT

CERTIFICATION PASS

EXAMINATION SUPERVISED FIELDWORK

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting an official transcript with a conferral date for your qualifying degree.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting a letter from the department chair indicating that these requirements were met along with course syllabi.

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

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Research: You must have published one journal article with the following characteristics: • It was behavior analytic in nature. • It included at least one experimental evaluation. • It was published in a high-quality, peer-reviewed journal. • You were the first, second, or corresponding author. • It was published at any point in your career.

Supervised Fieldwork

You must complete supervised fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. After starting your faculty appointment, you may accrue your fieldwork hours under one or more fieldwork types: Supervised Fieldwork or Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork. Review the following table for a general overview and the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section to ensure you meet all the requirements.

Overview of Fieldwork Requirements Supervised Fieldwork Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

Fieldwork hours required to qualify 2,000 1,500

Supervisor qualifications (see the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section for additional supervisor requirements)

Supervisors must be one of the following: • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for at

least one year and meets an ongoing supervision CEU requirement; • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for

less than one year and is receiving consultation on a monthly basis from a qualified consulting supervisor;

• a licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis; OR

• an authorized Verified Course Sequence instructor. Supervision hours per supervisory period 5% of hours 10% of hours

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting a copy of your published article.

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/external/behavioral-cognitive-psyc

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs/coordinators.aspx

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Pathway 4: Postdoctoral Experience

To apply for BCBA certification via this pathway, you must have an acceptable doctoral degree from a qualifying institution that was conferred at least 10 years ago, have completed at least 10 years of postdoctoral practical experience, and have completed 500 hours of supervised fieldwork.

Doctoral Degree

You must have a doctoral degree from a qualifying institution. Any degree earned outside of the United States, Canada, Australia, or United Kingdom must undergo a degree equivalency evaluation to demonstrate that it is equivalent to a US doctoral degree. The BACB only accepts degrees that have undergone the degree equivalency evaluation process that it oversees at its expense. As of September 2021, the BACB no longer allows applicants to refute its determinations using another degree evaluation service.

Postdoctoral Experience

The postdoctoral experience must: • include 10 years of full-time, cumulative experience practicing behavior analysis (time spent teaching

behavior analysis does not count) AND • have occurred under a relevant state/provincial license or national professional credential. You may have

held different credentials at different times during the 10 years.

POSTDOCTORAL EXPERIENCE

CERTIFICATION PASS

EXAMINATION SUPERVISED FIELDWORK

DOCTORAL DEGREE( )+ + =

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting an official transcript with a conferral date for your qualifying degree.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting a curriculum vitae showing this experience, signed attestations describing the behavior-analytic practice from current or former employers, and proof of the applicable professional credential(s).

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Supervised Fieldwork

You must complete supervised fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. You may accrue your fieldwork hours under Supervised Fieldwork. This fieldwork must have started once you have completed 10 years of postdoctoral experience. The following table provides a general overview. You should thoroughly review the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section to ensure that you meet all of the detailed requirements.

Overview of Fieldwork Requirements Supervised Fieldwork

Fieldwork hours required to qualify 500

Supervisor qualifications (see the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section for additional supervisor requirements)

Supervisors must be one of the following: • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for at

least one year and meets an ongoing supervision CEU requirement; • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for less than one

year and is receiving consultation on a monthly basis from a qualified consulting supervisor; • a licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional

Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis; OR

• an authorized Verified Course Sequence instructor. Supervision hours per supervisory period 5% of hours

Qualification for Examination via Past Certification

If your BCBA certification expired within the last five years, you may be able to requalify as a BCBA by sitting for and passing the BCBA certification examination. Qualification via past certification applications are only accepted from individuals residing in countries in which the BACB accepts new certification applications.

To be eligible for this option, you must also meet the following continuing education requirements: • You obtained 16 continuing education units (CEUs) each year since the date your BCBA certification expired

(prorated to the month you submit a Qualify for Examination via Past Certification Application). • The CEUS you earned meet the BACB’s current CEU requirements and entered into your BACB account

prior to submitting the application. CEU documentation may use the previous certification number to connect to previous certification held for this purpose only.

If you become certified again via this option, you will receive a new certification number and recertification cycle. You must also adhere to the same requirements as a new certificant (e.g., 8-hour supervision training, consulting supervisor). Additional CEUs may be required if there is a delay in the application requirements (e.g., payment, documents received).

Applying via Past Certification

If you want to apply for BCBA certification via this option, you must complete and submit a Qualify for Examination via Past Certification Application after your reinstatement period has ended. If your application is approved and you are authorized to sit for the BCBA examination, you must pass the examination within a two-year authorization period (see the Examination section for more details).

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/external/behavioral-cognitive-psyc

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs/coordinators.aspx

http://bacb.com/wp-content/Qualification-via-Past-Certification-Application

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Supervised Fieldwork Requirements

Applicants must complete supervised fieldwork in applied behavior analysis. The following sections describe all of the requirements for supervised fieldwork (hereafter referred to as “fieldwork”). Regardless of when the hours were earned, applicants who apply for BCBA certification must meet all of these requirements.

Fieldwork Hour Requirements

Total Fieldwork Hours Required: Based on the type of fieldwork hours accrued (see the A Comparison of Fieldwork Types table), you will need to complete either 2,000 Supervised Fieldwork hours or 1,500 Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork hours to meet the fieldwork requirement. If you are mixing fieldwork types, please see the Combining Fieldwork Types section.

Onset of Fieldwork: Trainees may not start accumulating fieldwork hours until they have: • secured a qualified supervisor (see Supervisor Qualifications section), AND • developed and signed a supervision contract with each supervisor (see Supervision Contract section), AND • if applying under Pathway 1 or 2: started qualifying graduate-level behavior-analytic coursework*, OR • if applying under Pathway 4: completed 10 years of postdoctoral experience.

Accrual of Fieldwork: No fewer than 20 hours but no more than 130 hours of fieldwork requirements may be accrued per month. Fieldwork hours include independent hours (supervisor not present) and supervised hours (supervisor present).

Duration of Fieldwork: The time frame of the fieldwork may not exceed five continuous years (e.g., May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2025).

Clients: Any person (or group of people) for whom behavior-analytic services are appropriate may be a client. However, the trainee may not be related to the client, be the client’s primary caregiver, or be related to the client’s primary caregiver. Trainees must work with, be observed by, and receive feedback from their supervisor for multiple clients during the fieldwork. This requirement is applicable for the duration of the fieldwork (i.e., not per supervisory period).

Acceptable Activities: The trainee’s primary focus should be on acquiring the skills necessary to demonstrate competence in behavior analysis and the skills necessary to interact effectively with consumers, supervisors, families, and others. The supervisor will be responsible for determining whether activities qualify for accruing fieldwork hours and are consistent with the requirements in this document.

Trainees are strongly encouraged to have multiple experiences (e.g., different settings, populations) with multiple supervisors from each of these areas of activity:

• conducting assessments related to the need for behavioral intervention (e.g., stimulus preference assessment, functional assessment, staff performance assessment) or for evaluating behavioral interventions;

• designing, implementing, and systematically monitoring skill-acquisition and behavior- reduction programs;

• writing behavior plans, progress summaries, clinical notes, transition summaries, and professional correspondence;

• overseeing the implementation of behavior-analytic programs by others; • training others, designing behavioral systems, and performance management; • communicating and collaborating effectively with caregivers and other professionals; AND • other activities normally performed by a behavior analyst that are directly related to

behavior analysis, such as attending planning meetings regarding the behavior-analytic program and researching the literature that is relevant to a current client’s programming.

* They may begin accruing hours after attending the first class meeting. For fieldwork to be counted, a passing grade of “C” or higher in a graded course or “pass” in a pass/fail system must be earned in at least one qualifying behavior-analytic course.

Now is the time to explore! Find out what areas of interest you might have and what populations and settings you enjoy working in. Get different perspectives by working with different supervisors with various areas of expertise.

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Restricted Activities: There is a restriction on the overall amount of hours you may spend delivering therapeutic and instructional procedures during fieldwork. This restriction is designed to ensure that trainees have sufficient time to acquire the other skills necessary for practice as a BCBA. Restricted activities may comprise no more than 40% of the total fieldwork hours—this requirement does not need to be met during each supervisory period. Please note that this restriction does not necessarily refer to all time spent working with clients.

Unrestricted Activities: Activities that are unrestricted are those that are most likely to be performed by a BCBA. Unrestricted activities must comprise at least 60% (e.g., at least 1,200 hours of unrestricted activities) of the total fieldwork hours. This requirement does not need to be met during each supervisory period. Examples of unrestricted activities include:

• observation and data collection • training staff and caregivers on behavior-analytic programs or content • conducting assessments related to the need for behavioral intervention • meeting with clients about behavior-analytic programming and services • conducting behavior-analytic assessments (e.g., functional analyses, stimulus preference assessments) • data graphing and analysis • researching the literature relevant to a current client’s programming • writing and revising behavior-analytic programs

Unacceptable Activities: Only behavior-analytic activities may be counted toward fieldwork requirements. Nonbehavior-analytic activities, while valuable, may not be counted. Examples of activities that will not count as fieldwork include:

• attending meetings with little or no behavior-analytic content • providing interventions that are not based in behavior analysis • performing nonbehavioral administrative activities • nonbehavior-analytic trainings related to service delivery (e.g., crisis management, CPR, billing systems) • completing nonbehavioral assessments (e.g., diagnostic assessments, intellectual assessments), paperwork,

documentation, billing, or any other activities that are not directly related to behavior analysis • attending professional conferences, workshops, or university courses • didactic-course assignments (e.g., completing homework assignments, readings)

Why are unrestricted activities so important?

Following certification, most behavior analysts primarily perform unrestricted activities. It is important, therefore, to have experience with these activities before becoming certified.

Can the BACB tell me if an activity counts toward my fieldwork hours?

Unfortunately not. Since every trainee’s goals are unique—and we cannot possibly know or anticipate all of the situational variables, populations, and settings in which they may be working—we cannot provide guidance beyond our certification requirements. We rely on qualified supervisors to determine how to develop fieldwork that meets our requirements and best supports clients’ needs and trainees’ goals.

Before You Start Your Fieldwork

The BACB strongly encourages you (the trainee) to complete the Fieldwork Checklist and Tip Sheet and share it with the supervisor at each fieldwork setting.

Fieldwork Checklist and Tip Sheet

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervised-Fieldwork-Checklist-and-Tip-Sheet-2022

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Supervisor Requirements

Supervisor Qualifications: Supervisors must be one of the following: • an active BCBA without current disciplinary sanctions who has been certified for at

least one year and meets an ongoing supervision CEU requirement; • an active BCBA who has been certified for less than one year and is receiving

consultation on a monthly basis from a qualified consulting supervisor without current disciplinary sanctions;

• a licensed or registered psychologist certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology who was tested in applied behavior analysis (Note: This will no longer be a qualification method as of January 1, 2026. Fieldwork obtained before January 1, 2026, may be submitted with a certification application until January 1, 2032.); OR

• an authorized Verified Course Sequence instructor (Note: This will no longer be a qualification method as of January 1, 2026. Fieldwork obtained before January 1, 2026, under the supervision of a noncertified Verified Course Sequence instructor may be submitted with a certification application until January 1, 2032.).

Supervisor Training: Supervisors must complete an 8-hour supervision training before providing any supervision to those accruing fieldwork hours.

Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that they have completed the training (available in the Certificant Registry) and uploaded the certificate into their BACB account before signing a supervision contract. Trainees should confirm the date on which the supervisor completed the training before signing a supervision contract.

Supervisor/Trainee Relationship: The supervisor may not be related to, subordinate to, employed by, or in a multiple relationship with (e.g., personal or business relationship) the trainee during the fieldwork period. Employment does not include compensation paid to the supervisor by the trainee for supervision services.

Multiple Supervisors/Settings: Trainees are strongly encouraged to receive supervision from multiple supervisors and across various settings over the course of their fieldwork hours. This may occur as several individual supervisors, multiple supervisors at one organization, or a combination of these supervision structures.

Individual Supervisor: An individual supervisor must ensure that all of their trainees’ fieldwork requirements are being met during their supervision. In this situation:

• the supervision contract must clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for the trainee and supervisor (see the Supervision Contract section);

• all supervision must be related to specific client programming; • the supervisor must have written permission to receive client information and must be well aware of the

organization’s values, practices, and personnel; AND • the person signing the M-FVFs and F-FVF for Individual Supervisors must be able to agree to all of the

relevant attestations, including that all fieldwork requirements were met. Multiple Supervisors at One Organization: An organization may coordinate and oversee multiple supervisors who provide fieldwork to a trainee. For example, a service organization might have multiple supervisors providing supervision, or a university might coordinate all on- and off-campus activities under one system. The supervisors must work together to ensure that all of their trainees’ fieldwork requirements are met (e.g., all of the hours provided by the supervisors are used to calculate the supervision percentage). One supervisor must ensure that the activity is well organized and coordinated. In this situation:

Check the Certificant Registry to find actively certified supervisors who meet BACB requirements. You may do this by choosing to show certificants who are willing to supervise those pursuing BCBA and BCaBA certifications.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/external/behavioral-cognitive-psyc

https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

https://www.bacb.com/find-a-certificant/

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• the supervision contract must list all supervisors and clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of each supervisor and the trainee (see the Supervision Contract section);

• all supervisors must sign the contract; • all supervision must be related to specific client programming; • the supervisor(s) must have written permission to receive client information and must be well aware of the

organization’s values, practices, and personnel; AND • the person signing the M-FVFs and F-FVF for Multiple Supervisors at One Organization (i.e., the responsible

supervisor) must be able to agree to all of the relevant attestations, including that all fieldwork requirements were met.

Requirements for Supervision of Fieldwork Hours

Nature of Supervision: The purpose of supervision is to improve and maintain the behavior-analytic, professional, and ethical repertoires of the trainee and facilitate the delivery of high-quality services to the trainee’s clients. Effective behavior-analytic supervision includes:

• monitoring the skills of the trainee throughout the supervised fieldwork • developing and communicating performance expectations to the trainee • conducting behavioral-skills training for the trainee • observing the trainee’s performance with clients and delivering feedback • modeling technical, professional, and ethical behavior • guiding the development of behavioral case conceptualization and problem-solving and decision-

making repertoires • reviewing the trainee’s written materials (e.g., behavior programs, data sheets, reports) and delivering related

feedback about the products • overseeing and evaluating the effects of the trainee’s behavior-analytic service delivery • evaluating the effects of supervision throughout the supervised fieldwork

Responsibilities of the Supervisor: When behavior analysts are functioning as supervisors, they must take full responsibility for all facets of this experience. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the trainee abides by all ethical and legal requirements.

Responsibilities of the supervisor include: • being fluent in, current in, and compliant with all BACB requirements relating to fieldwork • confirming that the trainee has met all requirements before the outset of supervised fieldwork • consistently demonstrating technical, professional, and ethical behavior for the trainee • ensuring that fieldwork activities are in the best interest of the client rather than strictly for the purpose of

meeting the fieldwork requirements • providing supervision only within their areas of defined competence • taking on only a volume of supervisory activity that is commensurate with their ability to be effective • delegating to their trainees only those responsibilities that trainees can reasonably be expected to perform

competently, ethically, and safely, or providing the conditions for the trainee to acquire those skills in an ethical and safe manner

• ensuring that supervision, fieldwork activities, and trainings are behavior analytic in content, are effectively and ethically designed, and meet the requirements for licensure, certification, or other defined goals

• providing a clear written description of the purpose, requirements, evaluation criteria, conditions, and terms of supervision before the onset of supervision (i.e., behavior analysts are responsible for the development and execution of the supervision contract). See the Supervision Contract section.

• designing and implementing feedback and reinforcement systems in a way that improves trainee performance

• providing documented, timely feedback regarding the trainee’s performance on an ongoing basis • designing systems for obtaining ongoing evaluation of their own supervision activities

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Structure of Supervision: Supervision contacts should ideally consist of individual (i.e., one-on-one) contacts between the supervisor and trainee; however, group supervision is permitted in certain circumstances.

• Group Supervision Restrictions: Groups are interactive meetings in which 2–10 trainees who share similar experiences participate in the supervision activities described earlier (see the Nature of Supervision section). The number of trainees in a group meeting may not exceed 10 at any time, regardless of the number of supervisors in the meeting. If nontrainees are present, their participation should be limited, and their presence must not inhibit discussion or interfere with participation by trainees. The amount of group supervision may not exceed the amount of individual supervision in a given supervisory period. In other words, supervision may be conducted in groups for no more than half of the total supervised hours in each supervisory period. Unless the trainee is receiving supervision at an organization with multiple supervisors, group supervision must be provided by the same supervisor who provides individual supervision.

• Observation-With-Client Requirements: The trainee must be observed working with a client in the natural environment during each supervisory period by at least one supervisor. In-person, on-site observation is preferred. However, the observation may be conducted using asynchronous (e.g., recorded video) or synchronous (e.g., live video conference) formats.

Please refer to the A Comparison of Fieldwork Types table for information about supervision contacts and observations with clients and how these differ across the fieldwork types.

Amount of Supervision: Based on the type of fieldwork hours accrued, you will need to have 5% (Supervised Fieldwork) or 10% (Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork) of your hours supervised by a qualified supervisor each supervisory period. The supervision percentage is calculated by dividing supervised hours by total fieldwork hours (i.e., independent and supervised hours).

Fieldwork Types: There are two supervised fieldwork types: Supervised Fieldwork and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork. Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork provides a pathway for individuals to complete their fieldwork in fewer hours and with more supervision than Supervised Fieldwork.

Can the observation with a client and supervisor-trainee contact requirements be met at the same time?

It depends. For the benefit of you and your clients, supervisor-trainee contacts must happen in real time. For example, if your supervisor watches an hour-long video of you delivering services but does not provide immediate, real-time feedback, that hour could count toward the observation with a client requirements but not the supervisor-trainee contact or total supervised hours requirement. If you and your supervisor watch the video together, pausing to discuss feedback and behavior- analytic principles, the hour could count toward all requirements at once.

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The following table illustrates the requirements for each fieldwork type.

A Comparison of Fieldwork Types

Supervised Fieldwork Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

Fieldwork hours required to qualify 2,000* 1,500 Supervisory period 1 calendar month Fieldwork hours per supervisory period min of 20 hours–max of 130 hours Number of contacts with supervisor per supervisory period 4 contacts 6 contacts

Observations with client per supervisory period 1 observation 1 observation

Supervision per supervisory period 5% of hours 10% of hours Individual supervision hours per supervisory period

At least 50% of supervised hours must be individual (i.e., group supervision may not exceed 50%).

Unrestricted activities At least 60% of overall supervised fieldwork must be spent engaged in unrestricted activities.

* Under Pathway 4, only 500 hours of Supervised Fieldwork are required.

Combining Fieldwork Types: Trainees may accrue hours through Supervised Fieldwork, Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork, or a combination (i.e., mix) of both. Each fieldwork type has different monthly requirements, so trainees and supervisors should consult the relevant section for specifics. Hours can only be accrued under one fieldwork type per month, per supervision structure, and all requirements of that fieldwork type must be satisfied for the hours to be eligible toward the fieldwork requirement.

If hours are mixed across fieldwork types, trainees can estimate how close they are to meeting the fieldwork total- hour requirement by following these steps:

1. Sum the total hours accrued under the Concentrated Fieldwork type; 2. Multiply the sum of the Concentrated Fieldwork hours by 1.33; THEN 3. Add the sum of the hours accrued under Supervised Fieldwork. 4. Ensure the combined total is at least 2,000 hours before applying for certification.

Note: • The 1.33 multiplier is only 1) applied to Concentrated Fieldwork hours, and 2) used to reach the minimum of

mixed hours (i.e., Concentrated Fieldwork + Supervised Fieldwork). • When documenting hours on the M-FVF and F-FVF, trainees should only record the actual hours accrued,

not the adjusted total with the multiplier. • In case of an audit, trainees must indicate in the Fieldwork Audit Log the hours that have been adjusted to

meet the requirements. Combination of Fieldwork Settings: Trainees may accrue hours in multiple settings to reach 2,000 total hours, but they must meet all of the relevant requirements for each organized fieldwork experience (i.e., for each M-FVF and F-FVF). For example, if a trainee is accruing some hours with an individual supervisor in one setting and some hours with multiple supervisors in another setting, the trainee must independently meet the requirements at both sites.

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Adjusting Fieldwork Hours When Monthly Requirements Are Not Met: After all of the fieldwork hours in a month have been documented, the trainee will determine whether they met the minimum requirements before they complete the Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form (M-FVF). If a trainee does not meet all of the monthly fieldwork requirements (e.g., not enough supervisor contacts, supervision percentage is too low), the trainee will work with their supervisor to determine whether they may adjust their hours to meet the requirements through a systematic reduction of hours. The following table describes each monthly fieldwork requirement and the associated adjustment if the requirement is not met within a month.

Requirement Not Met Adjustment to the Month’s Fieldwork Hours No observation of the trainee working with a client No hours are eligible for the month. Fewer than 20 total hours No hours are eligible for the month. More than 130 total hours Remove independent hours for the month until the total

equals 130 hours. Not enough supervisor-trainee contacts Take the total hours accrued in the month (up to 130) and

prorate the hours based on the percentage of contacts that met the requirement. For example, if 2 out of 4 required contacts occurred (i.e., 50% of the contacts were met) and there were 110 total hours accrued in the month, multiply 110 hours by .50 (i.e., 50%) to determine the total hours that can count (i.e., 55 eligible hours).

Group supervision is more than individual supervision Reduce the group supervision hours until they equal (or are less than) the individual supervision hours.

% of supervision did not meet the minimum requirement Decrease the independent hours for the month until the % of supervision meets (or exceeds) the minimum monthly requirement.

Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form (M-FVF) is not signed by the last day of the calendar month following the month of supervision

No hours are eligible for the month.

Once the hours have been adjusted, the trainee will record the adjusted hours on the M-FVF. Note: The fieldwork documentation system will still need to include all of the hours accrued for the month (i.e., the unadjusted hours).

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Documentation Requirements

Supervision Contract: Before supervision may start, the trainee and supervisor(s) must develop and sign a written contract at the outset of the supervisory relationship. The purpose of the contract is to protect all involved parties and align fieldwork activities with the purpose of supervision. The contract should include:

• the responsibilities of the supervisor(s) and trainee, including the completion of the 8-hour supervision training by the supervisor(s) and the adherence of all parties to the fieldwork requirements

• if there are multiple supervisors at one organization, there may be one contract, but that contract must outline each supervisor’s roles, responsibilities, and expectations, including how the documentation and forms will be completed

• a description of the appropriate activities and training objectives individualized to the trainee • the objective and measurable circumstances under which the supervisor(s) will not sign the trainee’s M-FVFs

and F-FVF • the consequences if the parties do not adhere to their responsibilities (including proper termination of

the relationship) • a statement requiring the trainee to obtain written permission from the trainee’s on-site

employer or manager when applicable • an attestation that all parties will adhere to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (Code) • a statement declaring that the trainee and supervisor(s) (a) will retain a copy of the

contract and supervision documentation for at least seven years from the date of the final supervision meeting and (b) will provide all documentation to the BACB if requested

Please note that supervision contracts may be amended throughout the supervisory relationship; however, each amendment must be signed and dated by all relevant parties.

Documenting Fieldwork: Because fieldwork varies across settings and practice areas, the BACB gives supervisors and trainees the flexibility to develop their own system for documenting ongoing supervision and fieldwork in a way that demonstrates adherence to all relevant requirements and the Code.

Documentation must include the following:

Independent Hours Supervised Hours Observations For each session, document: • date • start time • end time • fieldwork type • supervisor name • activity category: restricted

or unrestricted

For each supervision contact, document: • date • start time • end time • fieldwork type • supervision type: individual or group • activity category: restricted or unrestricted • summary of supervision activity (e.g.,

discussion of activities completed during independent hours, feedback provided, progress toward goals discussed)

For each observation, document: • date • start time • end time • fieldwork type • setting name • supervisor name • activity category: restricted

or unrestricted

Download our sample supervision contract for guidance in creating your own contract.

For more information on documenting fieldwork, check out the Documenting Fieldwork Hours video and the Documenting Fieldwork: Helpful Answers to Your FAQs blog.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sample-Supervision-Contract-for-BCBA-BCaBA-Trainees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz74Rqpa-_U

https://www.bacb.com/documenting-fieldwork-helpful-answers-to-your-faqs/

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

In addition to tracking data by session and supervision contact, the documentation system should be regularly reviewed to ensure that all relevant requirements are met each supervisory period and across all fieldwork hours:

• Each Supervisory Period: The trainee and supervisor should have documentation that shows they are meeting the quantitative requirements (e.g., minimum number of supervisory meetings and contacts) and qualitative requirements (e.g., summary of what happened during the supervision meeting).

• Across all Fieldwork Hours: The trainee should have documentation that shows they are accruing the minimum number of unrestricted hours and making progress toward completing the necessary requirements for obtaining certification.

Fieldwork Forms: Supervisors and trainees are required to use two forms to verify fieldwork: • Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form (M-FVF): must be provided to the BACB upon request • Final Fieldwork Verification Form (F-FVF): must be submitted in the certification application. Please keep in

mind that each F-FVF you submit must show that you met all fieldwork requirements during that organized fieldwork experience (e.g., fieldwork hours per supervisory period, supervision hours per supervisory period). Multiple F-FVFs can be submitted to demonstrate that the combined fieldwork experiences meet the total required fieldwork hours. A new F-FVF should be completed for each supervision experience. Taking a break from accruing fieldwork under the same supervision contract constitutes a new supervision experience.

Two versions of each form are available and should be selected based upon the supervisory structure (i.e., individual supervisor, multiple supervisors at one organization). Non-BACB forms will not be accepted.

Individual Supervisor Forms • Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form: Individual Supervisor • Final Fieldwork Verification Form: Individual Supervisor

Organization Forms • Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form: Multiple Supervisors at One Organization • Final Fieldwork Verification Form: Multiple Supervisors at One Organization

The M-FVF must be signed by the last day of the calendar month following the month of supervision, and we recommend that the F-FVF be signed at the end of a specific fieldwork experience. Both parties must retain a copy of the completed fieldwork forms for at least seven years. Note: Backdated or retroactively completed forms will not be accepted.

FINAL | FIELDWORK VERIFICATION FORM

INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISOR 2022 Fieldwork Requirements

Instructions: Please complete one form per supervisor, per fieldwork type.

Trainee Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID: _____________________ Start Date: _____________ End Date: _____________

Fieldwork Type (Select One):  Supervised Fieldwork  Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

State Where Fieldwork Occurred: ________________ Country Where Fieldwork Occurred: _______________

Fieldwork Hours A. Independent Hours (supervisor not present): __________ B. Supervised Hours (supervisor present): __________

 This fieldwork included prorated hours for partial months.

Supervisor and Trainee Attestation

Supervisor Name: _________________________________________________________________________ BACB Account ID#: _______________________________ Qualification: ____________________________

By signing below, we hereby attest that: ⊲ Information presented on this Final Fieldwork Verification Form and the corresponding Monthly Fieldwork

Verification Forms is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. ⊲ The trainee completed the fieldwork under my supervision in compliance with all relevant Fieldwork

Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA) including, but not limited to; the minimum number of contacts per month, required amounts of unrestricted activities, required observations each month with clients, and adherence to the BACB’s ethics requirements.

⊲ I am the supervisor designated in the signed supervision contract with this trainee.

Supervisor Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: ________________

This document must be signed in accordance with the Acceptable Signatures Policy. SUPERVISOR AND TRAINEE MUST EACH RETAIN A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS.

Total Fieldwork Hours _______________ (add A & B): Percent of Hours Supervised _________

(supervised/total):

Note: Please download this form and complete it on your computer’s desktop rather than in your web browser. This form contains dropdown menus. If you prefer to print and manually fill out the form, please write your answers over the dropdowns.

MONTHLY | FIELDWORK VERIFICATION FORM

INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISOR 2022 Fieldwork Requirements

Instructions: Please complete one form per supervisor, per fieldwork type.

Trainee Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID: ______________________ Month/Year: ____________________________________

Fieldwork Type (Select One):  Supervised Fieldwork  Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

State Where Fieldwork Occurred: ________________ Country Where Fieldwork Occurred: _______________

Supervisor Name: ________________________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID#: _______________________________ Qualification: ____________________________

Fieldwork Hours (this month only) A. Independent Hours (supervisor not present): __________ B. Supervised Hours (supervisor present): __________

Supervisor and Trainee Attestation

By signing below, we hereby attest that:

⊲ The information contained on this form is true and correct to the best of our knowledge; ⊲ The required number of supervisory contacts occurred during this month; ⊲ Observation of the trainee with a client occurred during this supervisory period with a frequency appropriate for

this fieldwork type; ⊲ The trainee was supervised for the required amount of time for this supervisory period; ⊲ We have read and understand the most recent version of the Fieldwork Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA) ⊲ We are only including appropriate behavior-analytic activities in our totals listed above; and ⊲ The fieldwork hours obtained during this supervisory period are otherwise compliant with the Fieldwork

Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA)

Supervisor Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________

Trainee Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________

This document must bear the signature (see the Acceptable Signatures Policy) of the responsible supervisor and trainee and must be signed by the last day of the calendar month following the month of supervision. SUPERVISOR AND TRAINEE MUST EACH RETAIN A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS.

Total Fieldwork Hours _______________ (add A & B): Percent of Hours Supervised _________

(supervised/total):

FINAL | FIELDWORK VERIFICATION FORM

MULTIPLE SUPERVISORS AT ONE ORGANIZATION 2022 Fieldwork Requirements

Instructions: Please complete one form per organization, per fieldwork type.

Trainee Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID: _____________________ Start Date: _____________ End Date: _____________

Fieldwork Type (Select One):  Supervised Fieldwork  Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

State Where Fieldwork Occurred: ________________ Country Where Fieldwork Occurred: _______________

Supervisors at the Organization Supervisor Name: ___________________________ Supervisor Name: ___________________________ BACB Account ID#: ______________ BACB Account ID#: ______________ Qualification: ___________________ Qualification: ___________________

Supervisor Name: ___________________________ Supervisor Name: ___________________________ BACB Account ID#: ______________ BACB Account ID#: ______________ Qualification: ___________________ Qualification: ___________________

Fieldwork Hours A. Independent Hours (supervisor not present): __________ B. Supervised Hours (supervisor present): __________

 This fieldwork included prorated hours for partial months.

Responsible Supervisor and Trainee Attestation

Supervisor Name: _________________________________________________________________________ BACB Account ID#: _______________________________ Qualification: ____________________________

By signing below, we hereby attest that: ⊲ Information presented on this Final Fieldwork Verification Form and the corresponding Monthly Fieldwork

Verification Forms is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. ⊲ The trainee completed the fieldwork in compliance with all relevant Fieldwork Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA)

including, but not limited to; the minimum number of contacts per month, required amounts of unrestricted activities, required observations each month with clients, and adherence to the BACB’s ethics requirements.

⊲ All supervisors, including the responsible supervisor, met BACB supervision requirements during these experience hours.

⊲ I am the responsible supervisor designated in the signed supervision contract with this trainee.

Supervisor Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: ________________

This document must be signed in accordance with the Acceptable Signatures Policy. SUPERVISOR AND TRAINEE MUST EACH RETAIN A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS.

Total Fieldwork Hours _______________ (add A & B):

Percent of Hours Supervised _________ (supervised/total):

MONTHLY | FIELDWORK VERIFICATION FORM

MULTIPLE SUPERVISORS AT ONE ORGANIZATION 2022 Fieldwork Requirements

Instructions: Please complete one form per organization, per fieldwork type.

Trainee Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID: ______________________ Month/Year: ____________________________________

Fieldwork Type (Select One):  Supervised Fieldwork  Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork

State Where Fieldwork Occurred: ________________ Country Where Fieldwork Occurred: _______________

Responsible Supervisor Name: _______________________________________________________________

BACB Account ID#: _______________________________ Qualification: ____________________________

Fieldwork Hours (this month only) A. Independent Hours (supervisor not present): __________ B. Supervised Hours (supervisor present): __________

Responsible Supervisor and Trainee Attestation

By signing below, we hereby attest that:

⊲ The information contained on this form is true and correct to the best of our knowledge; ⊲ All supervisors, including the responsible supervisor, met BACB supervision requirements during this month; ⊲ The required number of supervisory contacts occurred during this month; ⊲ Observation of the trainee with a client occurred during this supervisory period with a frequency appropriate for this

fieldwork type; ⊲ The trainee was supervised for the required amount of time for this supervisory period; ⊲ We have read and understand the most recent version of the Fieldwork Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA) ⊲ We are only including appropriate behavior-analytic activities in our totals listed above; and ⊲ The fieldwork hours obtained during this supervisory period are otherwise compliant with the Fieldwork

Requirements (BCBA/BCaBA)

Supervisor Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________

Trainee Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: ________________

Total Fieldwork Hours _______________ (add A & B): Percent of Hours Supervised _________

(supervised/total):

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Audits

The BACB can audit trainees and supervisors at any time to determine compliance with BACB requirements. See the following figure for an overview of the fieldwork audit process.

* A Notice of Alleged Violation may also be submitted against the trainee’s supervisor(s) if portions of the trainee's eldwork are not in compliance with the requirements.

AUDIT INITIATED The BACB may initiate a eldwork audit at any time for any reason. For instance, it might be initiated as part of a quality assurance check, contested eldwork, or ethics-related matter. Note: In the event that a certication application is audited for eldwork, application processing will be suspended until completion of the audit.

BACB REQUESTS AUDIT INFORMATION The BACB will contact the trainee and/or supervisor by email. The audit may require submission of the supervision contract, consulting supervisor meetings (if the supervisor was in their rst year of supervision), M-FVFs, the documentation system, and/or an audit log (or other supervisor-related documents as described in the Documentation Requirements section).

PARTIES SUBMIT AUDIT DOCUMENTS TO BACB All relevant parties will submit requested documents to the BACB as directed in the audit initiation email within the specied time frame, typically 14 days. Documents submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed or considered in the determination. Note: If the BACB does not receive a response in the specied time frame, the eldwork will be considered noncompliant, and a Notice of Alleged Violation will be submitted against the relevant parties (see the Code-Enforcement Procedures).

BACB REVIEWS INFORMATION BACB staff will review information submitted to evaluate compliance with the eldwork requirements and other applicable BACB requirements. If additional documents or information is required, relevant parties will be notied via email.

BACB PROVIDES A DETERMINATION AND FEEDBACK The BACB will contact the trainee and supervisor with the results of the audit. If the BACB concludes that some or all of the eldwork was not in compliance with the eldwork requirements or any other applicable BACB requirements, some or all of the eldwork may be disqualied.*

Fieldwork Audit Process

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

Disputes About Fieldwork Verification Form Signatures

Disputes that occur during supervisory relationships should first be addressed directly between the supervisor and the trainee. If there is an ethics violation related to the experience, the trainee may report the matter to the BACB by filing a Notice of Alleged Violation. Note: A Notice of Alleged Violation may only be submitted against someone who has applied for BACB certification. Please review the Reporting to the Ethics Department for general guidance on considering an Ethics violation.

Tips to Avoid Disputes Between Supervisors and Trainees Before They Occur

A supervisor may feel justified in not signing a trainee’s F-FVF or M-FVF even though the trainee may believe that they are entitled to the signature. Although it is impossible to eliminate the likelihood of disputes about supervised fieldwork hours, there are ways to mitigate that risk. The following guidance might be helpful:

• Before the supervisory relationship begins, trainees and supervisors should review the supervision contract and BACB requirements together and clarify expectations. Specifically, supervisors should identify conditions under which they will and will not sign a trainee’s F-FVF or M-FVF, as well as situations that could end the supervisory relationship.

• Supervision should adhere to BACB ethics requirements as described in the Code. It should be behavior analytic and effectively and ethically designed to meet the requirements for certification; supervisors should communicate conditions with trainees before beginning supervision, including evaluation criteria and supervision terms; and supervisors should provide documented, timely feedback about trainee performance.

• Supervisors should be familiar with BACB supervision requirements and provide supervised fieldwork accordingly. This is an ethics requirement for all supervisors and will help ensure that trainees can count their hours when applying for certification.

• Before the end of the supervisory relationship, supervisors should take the steps necessary to avoid abandoning their trainees. This includes discussing relevant client services and transition needs with their trainees; organizing, gathering, and signing supervision documentation; and, if appropriate, helping to facilitate a timely transfer of responsibility to another supervisor.

Contesting Fieldwork: Is It Right for You?

If the supervision-contract terms have been met and the supervisor refuses or is unable to sign the F-FVF, trainees may submit a Contested Fieldwork Form. Submission of a Contested Fieldwork Form may involve a fieldwork audit. Disputes over signing M-FVFs should be handled between supervisors and trainees. In the event of a contractual dispute, issues may need to be addressed through an appropriate independent legal process.

Guidance in the Event of a Dispute

The BACB’s Contested Fieldwork Form was developed to help resolve supervisor/trainee disagreements about signing F-FVFs. Please note that disputes regarding M-FVFs must be handled between the supervisor and trainee. Based on past contested-fieldwork cases filed with the BACB, the following are the most common issues we have encountered—along with some guidance:

• Accuracy of Information on F-FVFs: Under the Code, a supervisor may not submit or allow the submission of false or misleading information and has an obligation to correct inaccurate information submitted to the BACB. As soon as the trainee identifies inaccurate information, the trainee must make an effort to resolve this discrepancy with their supervisor(s) by providing supporting documentation that clearly identifies how the information is inaccurate. If a resolution cannot be made specifically regarding the F-FVF inaccuracies, the trainee may review the Contested Fieldwork Form.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/

https://www.bacb.com/contested-experience-fieldwork-form

ELIgIBILITy rEqUIrEmENTS

• Questions About a Trainee’s Competence After Concluding Supervision: Under the Code, if a supervisor questions a trainee’s competence, they must provide the trainee with timely performance feedback along with training and retraining efforts throughout the fieldwork experience. If the supervisor continues questioning their competence, the supervisor should discuss with the trainee whether fieldwork supervision should continue. In other words, supervisors should not wait until the conclusion of the fieldwork experience to question competence. An F-FVF should only be withheld as outlined in the supervision contract, or a Code violation occurred..

• Business Disputes Over Supervision Service Payments: Should a trainee refuse to pay for supervision services, supervisors should seek enforcement of the supervision contract through the appropriate venue (e.g., lawsuit, arbitration, mediation). Supervisors should not withhold signatures on FVFs until they receive payment. If a trainee demonstrates that supervision occurred in accordance with BACB requirements, we will allow the hours to be counted.

• Potential Ethics Violations Discovered After Concluding Supervision: If potential ethics violations are discovered following the conclusion of supervision, report the alleged violation immediately through one of the BACB’s reporting options. If there is a serious risk of harm to a consumer, follow all applicable mandated-reporting requirements in addition to reporting to the BACB. Note: A Notice of Alleged Violation may only be submitted against someone who has applied for BACB certification.

• Potential Supervisor Ethics Violations Discovered: The trainee should review the Reporting Alleged Violations Against BCaBAs/BCBAs web page to determine whether submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation is appropriate (see the Considerations for Reporting an Alleged Violation Against a BCaBA/BCBA).

Supervisors contemplating not signing an FVF should determine if (a) not signing is appropriate (e.g., missed requirements in the supervisory period), (b) they delineated the conditions for not signing an FVF in the supervision contract, and (c) they have sufficient documentation to justify withholding their signature. Trainees who contest a signature denial must be prepared to demonstrate that the denial violates BACB requirements and that they have tried to resolve the situation with the supervisor first.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/reporting-alleged-violations-by-bcabas-bcbas/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCaBA_BCBA-Cosiderations-for-Reporting-an-Alleged-Violation

AppLyINg FOr BCBA CErTIFICATION

Applying for BCBA Certification To apply for BCBA certification, complete these steps:

Submit Your Application

1. Complete the BCBA Certification Application in Your BACB Account

Once you have met all of the current eligibility requirements, you may apply for BCBA certification at any time by completing an application in your BACB account under the Certification Application tab. Please note that you must select the pathway you are applying under in your application. If you are unsure of which pathway to choose, check with your training program before submitting your application. If you happen to identify the wrong pathway, you may need to submit and pay for a new application. You will be asked to provide specific information regarding your degree. If you select Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic coursework, you will need to know all the details of your coursework program(s) (e.g., VCS number(s)). Incomplete or inaccurate information will delay the processing of your application.

Please also make sure that the personal information in your BACB account, application, and application documentation matches and reflects your current official identification (e.g., first and last name). If the information in your application does not match your official identification, your application may be denied, or you may not be permitted to sit for the examination when you arrive at the testing center. If your name has changed since your application documentation was issued, you must complete a Name Change Request in your account by selecting Update Profile to notify of a former name for application documents.

When you submit your application, you will be asked to provide attestations in the Eligibility Affidavit section of the application and agree to the Application Processing Agreement. You will be asked to (a) affirm that you have read, are in compliance with, and will continue to comply with all BACB requirements, (b) report whether you have a physical or mental health condition or substance use disorder that could impair your ability to safely and competently work as a behavior analyst, and (c) report any relevant disciplinary or legal investigations or actions. Please read each question and answer truthfully. Answering “yes” to the second or third question will require that you also complete and submit an Ethics Self-Reporting Form. Your application will be placed on hold while your self-report is reviewed by BACB staff.

You will be asked if you are requesting an examination accommodation. Please see the Examination Accommodations section for more information.

Note: You may only have one active examination authorization at a time. If you already have an active examination authorization for the BCaBA examination, you will need to Contact Us to cancel your authorization before applying for BCBA certification.

2. Submit Your Payment

Once you complete your application, you can pay online with a credit card or mail a check to the BACB. You have 90 days from the time of payment to submit your supplemental documents. If you fail to submit your supplemental documents within the allotted 90 days, you will need to submit a new application, pay, and resubmit the application documents.

3. Submit Supplemental Documents

Submit all required supplemental documents, including any required documents that you submitted with a previous application. The BACB application system accepts PDF or JPEG format documents. Please keep a record of all documents submitted, as once they are sent, they become the property of the BACB and will not be released back to you (see Documentation Policy). Note: the BACB is unable to process any documentation until you have a paid application on file.

PASS EXAMINATION

COMPLETE BCBA CERTIFICATION APPLICATION

SUBMIT DOCUMENTS

PAY FEE

RECEIVE APPLICATION DETERMINATION (Allow 45 days for processing)

COMPLETE BCBA CERTIFICATION APPLICATION IN

YOUR BACB ACCOUNT

MEET CURRENT ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS

The BACB blog provides tips for a smoother application process.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

https://www.bacb.com/bacb-blog/

AppLyINg FOr BCBA CErTIFICATION

Note: Ensure that the information you submit is accurate and truthful. The BACB reserves the right to invalidate any certification (immediately making the certification null and void) and/or prohibit any individual from taking a BACB examination in the event that the individual submitted falsified, forged, or untrue information (see the Code-Enforcement Procedures for more details). Additionally, documentation submitted for prior applications will not be reviewed in current or future applications.

Pathways Requirements Documentation Submission Information

Pathway 1: Degree From APBA-Accredited Program or ABAI-Accredited or Recognized Program

Master’s degree or higher from an APBA-accredited program or an ABAI-accredited or recognized behavior analysis degree program (ABAI Tier 1, 2a, or 2b)

Official transcript(s)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy, Littleton, CO 80127 USA*

Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

Final Fieldwork Verification Form(s) Submit via the Contact Us form

Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic Coursework

Master’s degree or higher

Official transcript(s) and BCBA VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation (if relevant)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy, Littleton, CO 80127 USA* AND VCS Coordinator emails BCBA VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation to [email protected]

Behavior-analytic coursework

Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

Final Fieldwork Verification Form(s) Submit via the Contact Us form

Pathway 3: Faculty Teaching and Research

Master’s degree or higher Official transcript(s)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy, Littleton, CO 80127 USA*

Faculty teaching and research Letter from department chair and course syllabi

Submit via the Contact Us formCopy of published article Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

Final Fieldwork Verification Form(s)

Pathway 4: Postdoctoral Experience

Doctoral degree Official transcript(s)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy, Littleton, CO 80127 USA*

Postdoctoral experience in applied behavior analysis

Curriculum vitae, signed attestations from current or former employers, and proof of professional credentials

Submit via the Contact Us form

Practical fieldwork in applied behavior analysis

Final Fieldwork Verification Form(s)

* The BACB cannot accept packages that require a signature for delivery.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB_CodeEnforcement_Procedures

https://www.abainternational.org/higher-education/tiered-model-of-education.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBADocuments

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBADocuments

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBADocuments

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBADocuments

AppLyINg FOr BCBA CErTIFICATION

4. BACB Staff Will Review Your Application and Issue a Determination

You will receive an email once the BACB receives your supplemental documents. It may take up to 45 days for staff to review your application and issue a determination from the date your payment and all documents have been received. If missing or updated documentation is submitted, it will require additional time for processing. Applications are processed in the order they are received. For current application processing timelines, please visit the Application Processing Updates web page.

Note: During the application-review process, your fieldwork hours might be audited. If so, additional documentation will be requested (see the Fieldwork Audit Process).

If your application is: • Approved: You will receive instructions via email for scheduling your BCBA examination. • Not approved: You will receive feedback and guidance for next steps via email. If you do not meet the

requirements within 90 days of submitting your application, you must submit a new BCBA Certification Application, including paying another certification application processing fee.

Note: If you believe the decision was made in error, you will need to review the Administrative Appeals Policy and, if appropriate, submit an appeal within 30 days of the determination.

Schedule Your Examination Appointment

Within 24–48 hours of your application being approved, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule your BCBA certification examination with Pearson VUE. The examination is continuously available, and results are provided on site immediately upon completion. Except for candidates residing outside of the US, Canada,† Australia, and the United Kingdom, you have two years from the date your application is approved to pass the BCBA examination. Your BACB account will include your specific testing deadlines. During this time, you may take the examination up to 8 times with at least 30 days between each appointment.

Fees*

Application Fees Certification Application $245 Examination Retake Application** $140 Examination Appointment (paid to Pearson VUE)*** $125 Preliminary Coursework Evaluation (optional) $100

* BACB fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The BACB only accepts US currency. Please do not send cash. ** Each examination retake will require a new retake application and new examination appointment fees. *** Veterans who qualify for the GI Bill can receive reimbursement for BACB certification examination fees from the Department of

Veterans Affairs, regardless of whether they pass the examination. Learn more about this benefit on the GI Bill website.

https://www.bacb.com/application-processing-updates/

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue

https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/test-fees/

ExAmINATION

Examination Once you meet all applicable eligibility requirements, submit your application, and receive an approved determination, you must take and pass the BCBA certification examination. This examination assesses your knowledge of the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.) at a level consistent with that of an entry-level behavior analyst.

Note: Candidates permitted to take the BCBA examination will test under the current edition of the task list. If a new edition goes into effect while a candidate’s authorization period is active, they must test under the new edition. Exceptions will not be granted.

Examination Development

Job task analysis (JTA) is the predominant method for developing high-stakes examinations for professions, and it has been used in the development of all BACB examinations. The JTA process involves the development of the following: a draft task list, a content-validation survey of the profession that active BACB certificants are invited to participate in, and a new examination blueprint (also known as a task list or test content outline). The BCBA examination is currently based on the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.).

Preparation

The BACB recommends that you prepare for the BCBA examination by reviewing the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.), the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, and the materials gathered from your training. The BACB cannot endorse specific study guides or other preparation materials, and the purchase of any study materials does not guarantee that you will pass the examination.

Examination Outline

The BCBA examination comprises 185 multiple-choice questions, 10 of which are unscored. Each question has 4 possible answers and only 1 correct answer. Candidates have 4 hours to complete the examination.

Content Area Number of Questions

Percentage of Examination

A. Behaviorism and Philosophical Foundations 8 5% B. Concepts and Principles 24 14% C. Measurement, Data Display, and Interpretation 21 12% D. Experimental Design 13 7% E. Ethical and Professional Issues 22 13% F. Behavior Assessment 23 13% G. Behavior-Change Procedures 25 14% H. Selecting and Implementing Interventions 20 11% I. Personnel Supervision and Management 19 11% Total 175 100%

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba-outline-6thEd/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

ExAmINATION

Sample Examination Questions

The following retired questions appeared on previous administrations of the BCBA examination and represent content areas that are currently on the examination. These questions are provided to offer candidates insight into the format of the BCBA examination.

1. An employee is having difficulty staying on task at his job. His supervisor wants to graph the employee’s time on task. Based on these data, what would be the appropriate labels for the vertical and horizontal axes?

Day Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Minutes on Task 45 45 42 35 28 Number of Minutes Observed 60 65 60 45 55

a. Number of minutes on task; number of minutes observed b. Number of minutes on task; time of day observed c. Percentage of minutes on task; day observed d. Percentage of minutes on task; number of minutes observed

2. Delivering a potential reinforcer one-half hour after the occurrence of a response to be strengthened is: a. Generally effective for low response-effort behaviors b. Effective, provided the individual understands the contingency c. Most effective with high-frequency behaviors d. Inconsistent with best practices in applied behavior analysis

3. If Terry puts his dishes in the sink after dinner, he earns computer time, which he enjoys. However, Terry does not consistently put the dishes in the sink. Near the end of the dinner, his dad says, “Remember, you only get to use the computer if you put your dishes in the sink.” Terry finishes dinner and puts his dishes in the sink. Dad’s reminder is an example of which of the following? a. Motivating operation b. Verbal prompt c. Positive reinforcer d. Negative reinforcer

4. Injections reliably cause Johnny to cry and scream. Originally, Johnny liked the doctor, but because of frequent pairings of the doctor with painful injections, the sight of the doctor walking into the examination room came to elicit crying and screaming. In the respondent paradigm, the crying and screaming elicited by the sight of the doctor would be called a(n): a. Conditioned response b. Discriminative stimulus c. Generalized fear response d. Unconditioned response

5. Randy is rarely aggressive. However, when he is, his behaviors are extreme in their intensity. Emergency procedures have been developed to ensure the safety of Randy and others. One essential component of addressing the problem behavior should be to: a. Make a referral to a psychiatrist to access PRN medication b. Immediately implement a behavior-reduction program c. Perform a functional assessment to determine antecedents and consequences to the target behavior d. Perform social validation to establish the staff’s tolerance and willingness to continue the procedure

ExAmINATION

Scheduling

The BACB contracts with Pearson VUE to deliver BACB examinations in person at authorized Pearson VUE testing sites and US military bases that meet the security requirements necessary for the administration of high-stakes examinations. The BACB authorizes the use of testing sites in:

• The United States • Australia (until January 1, 2027) • Canada (except for Quebec, and in Ontario until July 1, 2026) • United Kingdom (until January 1, 2026)

The BACB routinely evaluates the addition of new sites and by requests made through Pearson VUE’s website.

You can schedule a BCBA examination using your BACB Candidate ID in your Pearson VUE account or by contacting Pearson VUE’s customer service center. If you plan to retake the examination after an unsuccessful attempt, you must wait 30 days following your previous attempt. Please note that if you request examination accommodations, you will receive a separate email from the Accommodations Review Team with details on how to schedule your examination.

Pearson VUE Examination Fees

Pearson VUE charges $125 for every BCBA examination appointment. This fee is in addition to BACB application fees, and Pearson VUE will collect it at the time of scheduling. You may be required to pay applicable sales tax, value-added tax, GST, or similar tax required by law in the country or locality in which you are testing. If taxes are applicable, Pearson VUE will collect them at the time of scheduling.

Any appointment canceled or rescheduled within 30 days of the examination date will be subject to a fee. If you are within 48 hours of your appointment, you will be unable to cancel or reschedule your appointment, and a refund will not be issued. Please note that all fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Cancelation and rescheduling fees are as follows:

Cancelation/Rescheduling Time Period Cancelation/Rescheduling Fee 30 days—5 days before examination appointment $59

5 days—48 hours before examination appointment $69

https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/test-centers.html

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue#contact

ExAmINATION

Examination Accommodations

Examination accommodations are available for individuals with a current disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or a comparable human rights law in their country. Accommodation requests must include the BACB Examination Accommodation Request Form and documentation from a qualified professional (e.g., physician, school official, licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist).

Appropriate documentation must identify the disability and state the need for the requested accommodation(s). Examples of appropriate documentation include official letters, reports of test results, and documentation of past accommodation(s) received, including accommodation(s) received for standardized testing (e.g., previous Individualized Education Plan [IEP], documentation from another organization similar to the BACB).

All documentation must be compiled into a single PDF file and submitted through the Submit Accommodations Documentation web page. Once the accommodation request and supporting documentation are received, the BACB will conduct a review, which typically takes 10–14 days. The BACB may require additional documentation, which can result in longer processing times.

Individuals should not attempt to schedule their examination until they receive an email about the status of their accommodation request and how to schedule their examination. Please note that certification applications and accommodation requests are reviewed separately, and the approval of a certification application does not equal the approval of an accommodation request.

What to Expect on Examination Day

At all Pearson VUE testing centers, the BCBA examination is administered using a computer-based testing (CBT) format. For additional information, visit Pearson VUE’s BACB Certification Testing web page, which offers the following:

• a tutorial to help you become familiar with the CBT format, • details about what to expect at a Pearson VUE testing center, and • testing center locations.

https://www.ada.gov/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Request-for-Examination-Accommodations

https://www.bacb.com/accommodations-documentation/

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue

ExAmINATION

General Rules for Taking the Examination • You are advised to arrive at the testing center approximately 30 minutes before your examination

appointment to allow sufficient time for the check-in process. This process includes security measures, such as photographing, palm vein scanning, and obtaining an electronic signature from each candidate. Once an examination has been underway for 30 minutes, no candidates will be admitted to the examination area.

• You must provide TWO forms of valid identification to be admitted into the examination area. Both pieces of identification must show your first and last name exactly as they appear on your BACB account. Any name discrepancies will prevent admission to the examination (e.g., providing a nickname on your BACB account, identification that shows a different last name due to marriage). Pearson VUE does not make exceptions to name discrepancies based on marriage certificates.

• Both pieces of identification must have your signature and be current (i.e., not expired). The primary identification must be government issued and include both a photo and signature (e.g., a driver’s license or state/national ID). The secondary identification must include a signature but need not include a photo (e.g., a signed credit card with a signature that matches the government-issued identification).

• Failure to present two fully valid pieces of identification will prevent your admission to the testing center. If this happens, you will be marked absent and will forfeit the entire examination fee.

• No cameras, phones, recording devices, watches, beepers or electronic transmitting devices, notes or reference materials, books, briefcases, backpacks, portfolios, purses, etc. may be taken into the examination area. Personal items may be stored in lockers available at all testing centers.

• Scratch paper, calculators, rulers, textbooks, reference materials, and notes are NOT permitted in the examination area, and you are not allowed to remove any examination materials from the administration room. A dry-erase board will be provided at each workstation.

• Earplugs are available upon request at all testing centers, some of which also provide noise-canceling headphones upon request.

• No food or beverage items are permitted in the examination area. • No visitors are permitted in the examination area. • If you leave the examination area to use the restroom, you will go through palm vein scanning when you

leave and again before you reenter. During breaks, you are prohibited from accessing phones, electronic devices, and notes, among other items stored in lockers. However, you are permitted to access food, drink, or medication during breaks.

• Smoking areas are not provided at the testing centers. • No questions concerning the examination’s content may be asked during the examination period. Please

listen carefully to instructions from testing-center staff and read all directions thoroughly. • BACB examinations are delivered via the Internet and, occasionally, Internet connectivity at Pearson VUE

testing centers may result in technical problems (e.g., slow screen-load times, screen freezes), which may require rebooting the computer. Answers and examination times (time allotted and time used) are not affected by these technical issues, even in the case of a computer restart.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Proper-Examination-Identification

ExAmINATION

Examination Terms and Conditions

Before the commencement of a BACB examination, the candidate must read and agree to the following examination Terms and Conditions. Failure to agree to these Terms and Conditions will result in immediate dismissal from the examination. Please note that the time spent reviewing these Terms and Conditions is part of the examination time.

Confidentiality

• BACB examinations are copyright protected and highly confidential trade secrets. Any disclosure or reconstruction of test questions or content is a violation of BACB rules and is subject to damages, including, but not limited to:

• BACB investigation fees, court costs, and legal fees; • the cost of replacing the compromised question(s); AND • the cost of reconstructing the examination at the discretion of the BACB.

• CANDIDATES ARE PERMANENTLY PROHIBITED FROM EVER DISCLOSING THE CONTENT OF BACB EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. Candidates may not communicate with other examinees or other individuals during the examination. The BACB considers unauthorized sharing of examination content with others a violation of BACB copyright and a form of cheating on the examination. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, verbal, written, and/or electronic (e.g., email, social media, other Internet or electronic medium) disclosure.

Test Security

• BACB examinations may only be taken by individuals wishing to apply for BACB certification and for no other purpose.

• Proctors continuously monitor candidates by video and audio during the examination. The candidate recognizes that they have no right to privacy during examination delivery and that they waive all claims asserting a right to privacy. The candidate also acknowledges and consents to audio and video recording of their face, voice, the physical room in which they are seated when they check in, and their location during examination delivery.

• ANY use of electronic devices while an examination is in progress is prohibited and is grounds for termination of the examination and invalidation of the examination results. No materials, documents, or notes of any sort may enter or leave an on-site testing center or be in the proximity of the remote examination area. Additionally, any item visible or items worn by the candidate before or during an examination, including, but not limited to, cell phones, watches, electronic devices, bags, purses, briefcases, and jewelry, may be investigated at the discretion of the examination proctor.

• Proctors are authorized to maintain a secure and proper examination administration and assist with operational issues but will not provide comments or recommendations regarding examination questions. Tampering with Pearson VUE’s software or equipment, cheating, or permitting cheating (e.g., letting someone copy answers, letting someone provide answers, providing information on the content of examination questions to others) is cause for termination of the examination and invalidation of the examination results. At the sole discretion of the BACB and/or Pearson VUE, irregular, disruptive, inappropriate, or suspected cheating behavior by the candidate may result in any combination of the following:

• relocation or removal from the examination site; • immediate termination of examination delivery; • invalidation of examination results; • inactivation of certification pending investigation of the irregularity; • a required retest to validate a candidate’s examination results; • a permanent restriction on sitting for any future BACB examination; • another disciplinary action related to eligibility or certification status; • forfeiture of all application and examination fees paid by the candidate; AND • any other remedy necessary to protect BACB examination content and security.

ExAmINATION

• The BACB reserves the right to report examination content theft to applicable law enforcement authorities, and the candidate authorizes the BACB to release the candidate’s name, examination performance data, audio and video files from the examination administration, and any other pertinent information necessary to demonstrate the basis for finding that the candidate participated in or benefited from theft of BACB examination content.

Breaks

• Candidates taking the examination at a testing center may take breaks, including using the restroom, but must first raise their hand to inform the proctor. The proctor will secure the workstation while the candidate takes a break. The examination time will not stop during breaks. Candidates CANNOT leave their seat at any time unless the proctor has secured the workstation and WILL NOT be permitted to access or use a cell phone or electronic device. If at any time the candidate leaves their computer without the permission of the proctor, the candidate will be unable to continue testing.

Examination Security

The BACB and Pearson VUE take examination security seriously because the value of your certification and our credibility depend on it. BCBA certification examination content is confidential; it is never appropriate to share, discuss, post, or upload examination content. In addition, candidates are required to adhere to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, which includes the following requirement: “Behavior analysts are truthful and arrange the professional environment to promote truthful behavior in others.”

Unauthorized possession, reproduction, publication, or disclosure of any BACB examination materials—including storing or disclosing examination questions to any person or entity by any means before, during, or after the examination—is prohibited. Individuals violating these terms will not be permitted to retest or take any BACB examination until the matter has been resolved and the BACB has determined whether the candidate can have access to BACB examinations. Examples of violations and misconduct include:

• submitting false, inconsistent, or misleading statements or omitting information the BACB requests • attempting to take the examination for someone else or having someone else take the examination for you • copying or sharing information or any other form of cheating • obtaining advanced access to examination materials • stealing examination materials • bringing prohibited items into the examination room • failing to follow directions from testing-center staff • violating Pearson VUE scheduling or testing-center rules and regulations

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

ExAmINATION

Examination Appeals

The BACB is committed to reporting valid examination results; however, certain circumstances may cause results to be invalidated. The BACB reserves the right to invalidate examination results and certification status due to suspected or documented misconduct during testing or violation of the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. The Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts requires certificants, candidates, and applicants to immediately report any confirmed or suspected examination misconduct by others to the BACB.

Additionally, invalidation may also occur due to situations beyond your control—or that of the BACB’s—at the testing site. If you experience examination condition irregularities (e.g., poor lighting or disruptive noises at the testing site, long screen-load times) during your examination, you may file an examination appeal with the BACB. Pearson VUE delivers BACB examinations via a web browser, so minor Internet bandwidth variances are to be expected.

BACB standards, requirements, deadlines, procedures, fees, examination content, examination delivery modality, examination results, examination edition, and examination-specific questions/answers may not be appealed.

How to appeal: You must file a request for appeal within 7 days of your examination appointment by completing the Administrative Appeal Request Form.

Examination Results

You will be notified of your results at the testing site as soon as you complete the examination. The BACB will confirm your results via email, and they will appear in your BACB account within approximately 24 hours. The Certificant Registry will be updated to include those who passed the examination approximately 2 weeks after Pearson VUE releases the examination results.

Examination Retakes

You may retake the BCBA examination for a maximum of 8 total attempts within a 2-year period following your initial examination approval. An Examination Retake Application will be available in your BACB account within 48 hours of each failed examination attempt. You will receive an examination authorization email within 48 hours of submitting the Examination Retake Application, which will provide further instructions on how to schedule a new examination appointment. You must pay a $140 retake application fee and a $125 examination appointment fee each time you retake the examination. You must wait 30 days to retake the examination following your previous attempt.

Note: If you do not pass the examination after 8 attempts and you still have time in your 2-year authorization period, you must wait until your 2-year authorization period is over to reapply for BCBA certification.

Scoring Methodology

The BACB uses the modified Angoff method to establish the BCBA examination’s passing score. This method is criterion-referenced, meaning that the passing score is determined by a panel of BACB-certified subject matter experts and then approved by the BACB Board of Directors. Your performance on the examination is solely dependent on your understanding of entry-level behavior analyst knowledge.

A new passing score is established when a significant change to the industry or examination content occurs (e.g., introduction of a new task list).

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/#AdministrativeAppealRequestForm

https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

wHAT TO ExpECT AFTEr pASSINg THE ExAmINATION

What to Expect After Passing the Examination What happens after I leave the testing center? In most instances, you will receive a pass/fail report at the testing center. If you passed the examination, your BCBA certification number will be generated and available in your BACB account within 24 hours of passing the examination. You will receive your BCBA certificate in the mail within 4–6 weeks (so make sure that your mailing address is correct in your BACB account).

When can I start using my BCBA certification? You may start using your BCBA certification as soon as you have passed the examination. However, please contact your state, regional, or national behavior-analytic professional associations to learn about any additional requirements for practice as a behavior analyst in your region and to access valuable support in the profession. If you reside in a US state where behavior analysts are licensed, you should immediately contact your state licensure board to determine whether or how you should submit an application for licensure before practicing with your new BACB certification. Please note that, starting January 1, 2025, once you pass the BCBA examination, any other BACB certification you hold will expire after 90 days or on its expiration date, whichever comes first. See the September 2023 BACB Newsletter for more information.

How can employers and funders, among others, verify my certification? Newly certified BCBAs appear in the Certificant Registry within 48 hours of passing the examination. The Certificant Registry shows the status of your certification and recertification date, and if your certification becomes inactive for any reason, this will be indicated on the registry.

Anyone may request a written verification of their current certification status from the BACB for a $25 fee per verification. The verification letter is delivered as an emailed PDF document or state-issued verification form and contains the information shown on the registry.

Would you like to give others the opportunity to contact you through the Certificant Registry? Log into your BACB account, select Email Preferences, and indicate that you can be contacted.

What does it mean now that I am certified? Becoming certified means you have demonstrated that you have the knowledge and skills of an entry-level practicing behavior analyst. That said, consider what you are proficient in, what you know a little about (but need more experience and mentorship in), and what you do not know to ensure that you do not overstate your expertise to the public. Consider your scope of competence (e.g., populations or behavior- analytic techniques you are capable of serving or using) because you have an ethical obligation to refrain from practicing outside of your scope of competence (see the Code).

When can I start supervising?

RBTs and BCaBAs: You may start providing ongoing supervision to RBTs and BCaBAs as soon as you are certified and have met all other relevant supervision requirements (e.g., supervisor training). See the Ongoing Supervision sections in the RBT and BCaBA Handbooks for details.

BCBA Certificate Sample

What steps should I take to begin my career as a professional?

The BACB cannot provide guidance on this outside of the requirements to maintain your certification, so the first step might be to identify a mentor who can help you develop a professional- development plan. That plan might include determining your scope of competence; recognizing skill sets that you need support with (e.g., billing) to move toward your goals; identifying ways to stay in contact with the literature (as a certificant, you have free access to recent issues of major behavior-analytic journals in your BACB account); and identifying ways to stay or get involved with the professional community, such as joining professional associations. A mentor might also be able to help you determine how to assess job opportunities to make sure they fit within your scope of competence and career goals; whether you are ready and qualified to serve as a supervisor, assessor, or trainer (see the Supervision, Assessment, Training and Oversight section); and whether a service organization has an environment that is set up to promote ethical behavior.

http://bacb.com/u-s-licensure-of-behavior-analysts

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/sep2023_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

https://www.bacb.com/verify-certification/

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://www.bacb.com/BCaBA-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx

wHAT TO ExpECT AFTEr pASSINg THE ExAmINATION

Tips for Protecting Your BACB Information

The BACB works to ensure the security of our certificants’ information. Despite our efforts, however, you are still at risk of someone misusing your credential, most commonly for billing fraud. Given the prevalence of open electronic access and digital identity theft, here are a few ways that you can take a proactive approach to maximizing the security of your professional credentials.

• Check your BACB account regularly. Put a reminder in your calendar to log in and check the accuracy of the information in your BACB account every six months or more frequently if you have been—or suspect you may be—the target of identity theft. It is critical that you log in to ensure that your information is accurate and review how your information is publicly displayed in the Certificant Registry. In addition to your personal information, review the information specific to supervisees or supervisors to make sure it is correct. If you find any inconsistencies or inaccuracies, use the Contact Us form to immediately inform us of the potential issue.

• Protect your BACB certificate. While your certification number is publicly available in the Certificant Registry, you should protect your BACB certificate from being copied and/or modified. Think twice before posting photos of your certificate on social media platforms, and be sure to keep your private BACB account ID number protected. This number is not published in the Certificant Registry and is generally only needed by your supervisees/trainees, the BACB, and certain funding sources.

• If you suspect misuse of your information, contact a specialist (e.g., attorney/advisor) in identity theft to help you determine your options. While BACB staff cannot provide legal advice, we are sympathetic to the frustrations you may experience if your information is misused. Finally, if you suspect the misuse or misappropriation of another certificant’s credential (or the creation of false credentials), please immediately report your evidence to the appropriate authorities (e.g., law enforcement, funders) and to the BACB using the Reporting Infringement or Misuse Form.

For additional guidance, please refer to the August 2019 newsletter on our Newsletters web page.

Trainees accruing fieldwork hours: You may start providing supervision to trainees accruing fieldwork as soon as you are certified and have met all other relevant supervision requirements (e.g., supervisor training). Please note that during your first year of certification, you must meet with a consulting supervisor each month that you provide supervision to trainees accruing fieldwork. See the Consulting Supervisor Requirements for New BCBAs Supervising Fieldwork document for more information.

How should I maintain my certification moving forward? • Review the Certification Maintenance Requirements section and develop a plan to meet them, including

accruing continuing education and complying with ethics requirements (e.g., ensure that you accept clients within the boundaries of your competence, have appropriate service contracts, provide appropriate services, follow procedures to ensure continuity of care and appropriate client transitions).

• Be sure to keep an eye out for helpful resources, like BACB videos, blogs, and podcasts. For example, the Tips for New Certificants blog shares valuable information for newly certified individuals, and The Professional Infrastructure of Applied Behavior Analysis video describes the various organizations in ABA.

• Keep your contact information up to date in your BACB account to ensure that you receive important updates about certification requirements, and periodically review bacb.com to stay informed of changes. This is especially important because if the BACB tries to contact you and receives no response after reasonable attempts are made, the BACB may take summary action (e.g., suspension) against your certification (see the Timely Responding to the BACB section).

• Report critical events to the BACB Ethics Department (see the Self-Reporting web page). • Stay up to date with licensure requirements in your area. • If your certification status changes (e.g., your certification becomes inactive), ensure that you accurately

reflect your certification status to the public. For more information about the correct use of the BCBA certification mark, see the September 2008, October 2013, and July 2021 BACB Newsletters.

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

https://www.bacb.com/falsified-credentials/

https://www.bacb.com/newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/bacb-videos/

https://www.bacb.com/bacb-blog/

https://www.bacb.com/bacb-podcasts/

http://bacb.com

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

https://www.bacb.com/u-s-licensure-of-behavior-analysts/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sep2008_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Oct2013_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Jul2021_Newsletter/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Certification Maintenance Requirements To maintain your BCBA certification, you must obtain ongoing continuing education, adhere to the BACB’s ethics requirements and self-reporting requirements, and submit a completed recertification application and associated fees every two years before your recertification date.

Continuing Education

Initial BCBA certification indicates that an individual has met entry-level standards of practice as a behavior analyst. The purpose of the BACB’s continuing education (CE) requirement is to ensure that BCBA certificants engage in activities that will expand their behavior-analytic skills beyond the requirements for initial certification and help them stay up to date on developments in the profession.

CEU Requirements

As a BCBA, you are required to obtain 32 continuing education units (CEUs) within each 2-year recertification cycle, including 4 CEUs in ethics and 3 CEUs in supervision (for supervisors).

All CEUs must occur within the recertification cycle to which they are applied. For example, if you submit your recertification application on September 27, 2021, and your recertification date is September 30, 2021, you may only count CEUs accrued from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2023, toward your next recertification application.

Note: It is not permitted to make up missed CEUs after your recertification date (i.e., reinstatement period). CEUs exceeding the required amount cannot be applied to the next cycle.

Recertify

Original Certification / Recertification Date

Overview

Last chance to meet CEU requirements.

Recertify once you have entered all of

your CEUs (no sooner than 45 days

before your recertification date).

Failure to meet the requirements or to

apply by the end of this period results in

certification expiration.

Complete 32 CEUs (4 in Ethics, 3 in Supervision, if applicable)

Abide by BACB Ethics and Self-Reporting Requirements 2 Year Cycle

Remember to keep your information up to date in your BACB account, and please ensure that bacb.com is in your email contacts and list of safe senders.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement by entering your CEUs into your BACB account as soon as you have supporting documentation. Use the following table to identify which type of CEU was earned. Depending on the type of CE selected, you will need to enter specific information about the activity and upload supporting documentation.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/ethics-codes/

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

CEU Types

You can earn CEUs via three activity types, as illustrated in the following table. There are no restrictions or limitations on the number of non-repeating CEUs you can earn through each activity type.

Continuing Education By: Documentation CEU Values

Learning

Attending behavior-analytic learning events offered by Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) Providers (see ACE Provider Directory)

Certificate from the ACE Provider 25 minutes of learning = .5 CEU (i.e., 50 minutes of learning = 1 CEU)

Completing didactic behavior-analytic graduate courses with a passing grade (“C” or higher in a graded course or “pass” in a pass/fail system)*

Syllabi and transcripts from university courses

Participating in certain BACB certification activities

No documentation is needed for BACB events (these are issued directly into BACB accounts)

Teaching

Teaching ACE events Documentation from the ACE Provider demonstrating that the certificant taught an ACE event

25 minutes of instruction = .5 CEU (i.e., 50 minutes of instruction = 1 CEU)

Teaching university courses in behavior analysis at an accredited, degree-granting university*

Letter from a department chair indicating that the certificant taught a university course

Scholarship

Publishing an article on behavior analysis in a peer-reviewed journal A PDF of the final published article 1 publication =

8 CEUs

Writing a review or decision letter for an article on behavior analysis submitted to a peer-reviewed journal

Confirmation from the journal (e.g., confirmation email, snapshot of the portal), associate editor, or editor. Note: Please redact title and author information.

1 review/ decision letter = 1 CEU

* For the purpose of establishing instructional requirements that can be applied globally, 1 semester credit hour will represent 15 hours of classroom instruction, and 1 quarter credit hour will represent 10 hours of classroom instruction. This conversion is based on US Federal Rule.

CEU Content

Continuing education may address any aspect of behavior analysis: practice, science, methodology, theory, or the profession. CEUs must cover material that goes beyond the current BCBA/BCaBA Task List and coursework required to sit for the certification examinations.

Ethics CEUs

Acceptable ethics content must cover ethical issues in behavior-analytic practice or research. Ethics content should relate to the BACB’s ethics requirements. Sample ethics topics include the (in)appropriateness of implementing nonbehavioral therapies, strategies for avoiding/ managing dual relationships, creating a culture of ethics in an organization, and ethical implications of media and technology, among many others.

Supervision CEUs

BCBAs who have supervised the ongoing practice of RBTs or BCaBAs on record or trainees pursuing BCBA or BCaBA certification at any point during their recertification cycle must obtain and enter 3 supervision CEUs to recertify. Supervision is behavior analytic in nature and covers effective supervision as described in the BACB Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline (2.0) and the Nature of Supervision section.

There are a lot of options for continuing education in terms of format, content, and providers, among others. Consider obtaining CEUs that will help with your professional- development plan. And remember that the intent is for ongoing development, so we highly recommend accruing continuing education throughout your recertification cycle.

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=100157

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-10-29/pdf/2010-26531.pdf

https://www.bacb.com/ethics/

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervision-Training-Curriculum-Outline-2.0

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Ethics/Supervision CEU Overlap

A CEU may be counted as either an ethics CEU or a supervision CEU, but not both. CEUs acquired from the 8-hour supervision training may count as supervision CEUs only.

Repeating CE Activities

Repeating CE activities of any CEU type does not provide new or expanded knowledge or skills and, therefore, does not meet BACB certification requirements.

Ethics and Self-Reporting

You must adhere to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts and self- reporting requirements. The BACB is prohibited from providing any legal advice and from interpreting any ethics requirements.

Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (Code): The Code contains six sections outlining candidates’ and certificants’ responsibilities related to professional conduct, clients and service provisions, supervision, and colleagues. Certificants are required to remain knowledgeable about the Code. Those supervising others (i.e., trainees, RBTs, BCaBAs) must ensure that they review and address the Code (and the RBT Ethics Code [2.0] where applicable) with their supervisees or trainees. Certificants should also endeavor to address potential violations directly with the relevant individual if appropriate. When considering whether submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation is appropriate, certificants should consult the Considerations for Reporting an Alleged Violation Against a BCaBA/BCBA or the Considerations for Reporting an Alleged Violation Against an RBT document.

Self-Reporting

Per the BACB’s ethics requirements, applicants and certificants must self-report to the BACB any personal or professional conduct, condition, or event that may pose a risk to others or reasonably impact their ability to safely or competently practice. These events may relate to their roles as service providers, supervisors, educators, trainers, or business owners or managers of any organization or company that provides behavior-analytic services, supervision, education, and/or training. Please see the following sections for details on the three main types of information that must be self-reported to the BACB.

For further guidance on when to self-report, please review the information on the Self- Reporting web page.

Changes to Personal Information

You are required to keep the personal information in your BACB account up to date, including your address, email address, and legal name. Please change or correct any outdated information within 30 days of the change or of becoming aware of the outdated information. Please note that name changes will require the submission of government-issued documentation reflecting your previous and current name, and address changes may require the submission of documentation that verifies your residence.

Noncompliance With BACB-Required Supervision

BCaBAs, BCaBA Supervisors, RBTs, RBT Supervisors, and RBT Requirements Coordinators, among others, are required to self-report any supervision noncompliance to the BACB in a timely manner.

Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts

Code-Enforcement Procedures

Visit the Ethics web page for information about code-enforcement procedures, ethics resources, and more.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/rbt-compliance-code-future/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCaBA-BCBA-Considerations-for-Reporting-NAV/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Considerations-for-Reporting-an-Alleged-Violation

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

https://gateway.bacb.com/Account/Login.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB_CodeEnforcement_Procedures

https://www.bacb.com/ethics/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Critical Events

The following events must be self-reported to the BACB in a timely manner. This guidance does not constitute ethics or legal advice. If it is not required that you self-report your situation to the BACB, but you are still unsure, the best course of action is to self-report. Please note that for the purposes of self-reporting, funder refers to any entity (e.g., healthcare organization, state or federally funded service, commercial payer, managed care organization, educational institution, other payment entity) that you have contracted with to provide behavior-analytic, educational, or health- care services.

Violations of Ethics Standards: You must self-report any violation of one or more standards in the applicable BACB ethics code (i.e., Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts for BCBAs and BCaBAs, RBT Ethics Code [2.0] for RBTs). This includes, but is not limited to, the following events:

• leaving a position without ensuring continuity of services or in a manner that fails to appropriately transition or discontinue services

• engaging in a multiple relationship with a client or supervisee • failing to maintain appropriate client records (including documentation for billing purposes)

Physical and Mental Health Conditions and Substance Use Disorders: You must self-report the following events related to physical and mental health conditions and substance use disorders:

• You currently have, or within the past 3 years have had, a physical or mental health condition or substance use disorder that directly impacts your ability to provide services safely and competently, and:

• you do not have an active, effective care plan in place; • you have an active, effective care plan in place, and your care provider recommends that you self-report

to the BACB; OR • you have an active care plan in place, but it is no longer effective.

• Within the past 3 years, you have been voluntarily or involuntarily hospitalized or placed in a treatment facility (e.g., in-patient, intensive out-patient) because of a physical or mental health condition or substance use disorder for which you do not or did not have a care plan in place, and your ability to provide services safely and competently is or was directly impacted.

• Within the past 3 years, you have participated in a diversion plan or treatment plan related to a physical or mental health condition or substance use disorder in accordance with a license or credential held by you in any profession.

• Within the past 3 years, you have participated in a diversion plan or treatment plan in accordance with a court of law following criminal charges against you for which a physical or mental health condition or substance use disorder lessened the offense that resulted in the diverted or deferred outcome.

You do not need to self-report the following events: • a new or existing diagnosis of a physical or mental health condition or substance use

disorder that is unlikely to impact the competent and safe delivery of services • a new or existing diagnosis of a physical or mental health condition or substance use

disorder for which you have an active, effective care plan, and you and your care provider have determined that it will not likely impact the competent and safe delivery of services

• unless advised otherwise, an event that has already been self-reported and that the BACB has dismissed or cleared

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/rbt-compliance-code-future/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Investigations: You must self-report any investigation naming you, a company that you own, or a company in which you hold a primary role related to the matter under investigation (e.g., billing, clinical quality control) within 30 days of becoming aware of the investigation. Do not wait until the conclusion of the investigation to self-report. This includes, but is not limited to, the following events:

• any investigation conducted by an employer in response to an alleged violation of any BACB ethics standard • any investigation or audit conducted by a state or federal entity (e.g., funder, licensure or regulatory board),

professional association, or educational institution that was triggered by a complaint or irregularity identified by the entity

• any investigation or audit triggered by a self-identified irregularity • any billing or quality control audit (e.g., random or scheduled audit that was not triggered by a complaint or

concern) conducted by a funder, governmental insurance provider, licensure or regulatory board, or other entity (e.g., department of health, fire department) that resulted in an order to repay money due to overbilling and a penalty that exceeded $2,500 (USD or equivalent)

Agreements and Actions: You must self-report certain agreements and actions within 30 days of (a) receiving an order from the court, civil or criminal charges, a final determination, or a disposition or (b) signing an agreement or consent order that relates to any of the following events:

• termination by an employer in response to a violation of any BACB ethics standard • requirement to report a situation or action that posed a risk of harm to others and occurred during the

delivery of behavior-analytic, health-care, or educational services to a licensure or regulatory board, professional liability insurance company (i.e., if the event triggered malpractice coverage), or other governmental agency (i.e., if the event warranted mandated reporting to a welfare or protective agency)

• denial of a professional licensure application for conduct or competence reasons, such as eligibility requirements deficits, that would not otherwise constitute ethics code violations (e.g., unmet education, training, experience, application, and/or documentation requirements; unpaid fees)

• an arbitration decision or a settlement or consent agreement/order between yourself and any funder, licensure board, or certification entity

• required actions (e.g., repayment, compliance or remediation plan, participation restrictions, probation or suspension, voluntary surrender or relinquishment of license or certification, revocation or suspension, practice restrictions or inclusions, mandatory mentorship or continuing education) assigned to you by a state or federal entity (e.g., licensure or regulatory board), professional association, court or tribunal, arbitrator, funder, or educational institution in response to a complaint, audit, or investigation related to the delivery of behavior-analytic services or a behavior-analytic service company that you own or manage

• public health and safety tickets, citations, or fines greater than $750 (USD or equivalent) or of any amount if the situation (a) led to an arrest warrant, jail time, or other incarceration or (b) involved or occurred in the presence of a client

• criminal or civil suits naming you that are directly or indirectly related to the delivery of behavior-analytic services or involve assault, battery, or abuse of a person or animal (this must be reported within 30 days of becoming aware of the criminal or civil suit)

• criminal or civil suits in which you have been found guilty, have entered a plea of no contest, or have otherwise been sanctioned related to a misdemeanor or felony involving public health and safety or the delivery of behavior-analytic, health-care, educational, or other human services (this must be reported within 30 days of becoming aware of the criminal or civil suit)

You do not need to self-report the following events: • any billing or quality control audit (e.g., random or scheduled audit that was not triggered

by a complaint or concern) conducted by a funder, governmental insurance provider, licensure or regulatory board, or other entity (e.g., department of health, fire department) that did not result in any corrective actions, improvement plans, fines, or repayments exceeding $2,500 (USD or equivalent)

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

• official expungement of court records that meet BACB self-reporting requirements if the action occurred during the delivery of behavior-analytic, health-care, or educational services or involved the assault, battery, or abuse of a person or animal

• probation, parole, pretrial diversion agreements, settlement agreements, or consent orders assigned to you • current detainment (e.g., you are being held in custody in a jail, prison, other correctional facility, court-

mandated treatment facility, or under house arrest) • any conviction of a felony that carried a maximum sentence of more than 5 years imprisonment and that has

not been expunged

You do not need to self-report the following events: • credit or tax hearing • personal bankruptcy • fines related to tax, revenue, or wage garnishment • parking tickets or tickets generated by traffic cameras • traffic tickets not exceeding $750 (USD or equivalent) • family court proceedings (e.g., divorces, custody hearings) • employer layoffs and actions that do not involve a violation of a BACB ethics standard • a DUI or DWI charge or conviction that is a first-time offense, did not result in injury to any

party, did not occur with clients in the vehicle or during work hours, and is not related to a substance use disorder that must be otherwise reported

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Recertification

As a BCBA, you are required to submit a recertification application (including payment) every two years. Recertification applications are available in your BACB account within 45 days of your recertification date AND as soon as you have entered your required CEUs. You must complete your recertification application on or before your recertification date to avoid lapses in your certification and late fees.

Recertifying

1. Throughout your certification cycle, enter your CEUs into your portal. All CEUs must be completed and entered into your BACB account before your recertification date. If you supervised the ongoing practice of one or more RBTs or BCaBAs on record at any point during your recertification cycle, you must have obtained and entered 3 supervision CEUs to recertify. Note: All CEUs must include CEU documentation to support each entry. Entries used to fulfill a CE category must clearly indicate the number of CEUs for that specific category (i.e., general, supervision, ethics) in the documentation. Copies of CEU documentation will not be provided to the certificant. Please see the Documentation Policy for more information.

2. As soon as all of your CEUs are entered AND you are within 45 days of your recertification date, a recertification application will appear in your BACB account under the Recertification tab. This tab will not be visible until these two elements are met.

3. Complete the application and pay the fee. Make sure that you are reviewing your information closely in your recertification application to ensure that it is accurate, including your contact information and mailing address. Note: At the time of application, you will be asked to attest to questions in the Eligibility Affidavit section of the application and agree to the Application Processing Agreement. You will be asked to (a) affirm that you have read, are in compliance with, and will continue to comply with all BACB requirements; (b) report whether you have a physical/mental condition or substance addiction that could impair your service delivery; and (c) report about any disciplinary or legal investigations or actions. Please read each question carefully and answer truthfully. Answering “yes” to the second or third questions will require that you also complete and submit an Ethics Self-Reporting Form. Your application will be placed on hold while your self-report is reviewed by BACB staff.

4. If your CEU entries are selected for audit, we might reach out for additional action via email. If we do not receive the appropriate documentation (e.g., incorrect and/or duplicate documentation, lack of ethics or supervision documentation), to indicate that you met the CE requirements, your certification will expire.

If your application has been approved: • Your certification dates will update with a new expiration date that is two years from your last

recertification date. • After your new recertification date, you may start accruing CEUs for your next recertification cycle. Even

if you complete the recertification application before your recertification date, you can only count CEUs for your next cycle once that new cycle starts.

• You will receive a new certificate in the mail at the address on record within 4–6 weeks. If you do not recertify:

• By your recertification date: Your certification status will become inactive, and you will not be permitted to bill, practice, supervise, or represent yourself as a BCBA. If you complete all of your CE requirements but fail to recertify before your recertification date, you will have 30 days from your recertification date to reinstate your certification and pay the late fee. Additional CEUs may not be accrued during the reinstatement period. After this reinstatement period, you will lose your certification and will need to reapply and meet the eligibility requirements applicable at that time.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

• By the end of your reinstatement period: Your certification will expire, and you will not be permitted to bill, practice, supervise, or represent yourself as a BCBA. You will need to reapply and meet the eligibility requirements applicable at that time to become a BCBA (see the following graphic).

Fees**

Recertification Fees BCBA BCBA-D Recertification Application $215 $290 Late Fee $50 $50 Insufficient Funds/Returned Check $45 $45 Certificate Replacement $35 $35

* Starting January 1, 2024, BCBAs will have 30 days from their recertification date to reinstate their certification and pay the late fee.

** BACB fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The BACB only accepts US currency. Please do not send cash.

COMPLETE AN APPLICATION TO QUALIFY FOR AN

EXAMINATION VIA PAST CERTIFICATION

YES

REVIEW CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AND

COMPLETE A NEW APPLICATION FOR

CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATION INACTIVE You must stop using your BCBA

certication immediately.

YES

THE RECERTIFICATION APPLICATION

YES

MISSED MY DATE I missed my recertication date.

What should I do?

Did you complete all of

your CEUs by your

recertication date?

Has it been 5 years or

less since your

certication expired?

Has it been 30* days or

less since your

recertication date?

GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THEIR RECERTIFICATION DATE AND WISH TO REMAIN CERTIFIED

https://www.bacb.com/certificate-replacement-request/

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Inactive Policy

BCBAs may become inactive because: • they placed their certification on voluntary inactive status or active duty/reserve status, • they did not recertify by their recertification date, or • they have sanctions against their certification.

Voluntary Inactive Status

BCBAs who need a break from maintaining their certification for a period—and who are within their recertification cycle and have completed continuing education for their recertification cycle (prorated to the month)—may request inactive status. As an inactive BCBA, you are not permitted to practice, bill, supervise, or represent yourself as an active BCBA, and you will be listed as inactive on the Certificant Registry. Once granted voluntary inactive status, you may remain inactive for up to four years. There are no certification maintenance requirements (e.g., recertification fees) during the period of inactivity.

Applying for Voluntary Inactive Status

If you wish to request voluntary inactive status, you must complete the BCBA Application for Voluntary Inactive Status and pay a one-time, inactive-request fee of $50. You may not apply for voluntary inactive status while you are in your reinstatement period.

Applying for Return From Voluntary Inactive Status

If you are on voluntary inactive status for less than 4 years and wish to reactivate your certification, you must submit a BCBA/BCaBA Request to Return from Voluntary Inactive Status Application. If you are on voluntary inactive status for 2 to 4 years, please note that you must obtain and submit documentation of 8 CEUs along with the application. These CEUs will not count toward your recertification cycle. Once your certification has been reactivated, your recertification cycle will resume. You may not apply for voluntary inactive status again until your next recertification cycle.

If you do not apply for reactivation within 4 years, your certification will expire as of the date you placed your certification on voluntary inactive status, and you must reapply for certification if you wish to become certified again. Please note that new BACB certifications will not be available to individuals who reside outside of the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom as of January 1, 2023, including those who qualify via the past certification option.

BCBAs with an inactive certification may not bill, practice, supervise, or represent themselves as active BCBAs.

Example of how your recertification cycle is paused while on voluntary inactive status:

If you go on inactive status 18 months into your recertification cycle, you will have needed to complete 24 CEUs. When you return, you will need to accrue the remaining CEUs for the next 6 months of your cycle before your next recertification date. Your next recertification date will be 6 months from the date that you return from inactive status.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-Application-for-Voluntary-Inactive-Status

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-BCaBA--Application-for-Return-from-Inactive-Status

CErTIFICATION mAINTENANCE rEqUIrEmENTS

Active Duty/Reserve Status

If you are called to active military duty in the armed forces and are actively certified, you may apply for a temporary pause of your recertification cycle to cover the time frame for which you are called (not to exceed two years). While on reserve inactive status, you are prohibited from representing yourself as an active BCBA. This policy only applies to service members just joining the military or those being deployed. If a spouse of a service member wishes to go on inactive status, they must apply for voluntary inactive status.

If you are called to active military duty in the armed forces and have an active examination authorization, please see the Compassionate Appeals criteria.

Applying for Active Duty/Reserve Status

Upon being called to active duty, notify the BACB via the Contact Us web page and provide a copy of your official call-up notice. The BACB will place your certification on inactive status during your active duty period. Following completion of your active duty or two years, whichever is earlier, you must contact the BACB to update your certification status. When your certification becomes active again, your recertification cycle will resume.

Fees*

Inactive Status Fees BCBA Application for Voluntary Inactive Status $50 BCBA/BCaBA Request to Return from Voluntary Inactive Status Application (0–2 years inactive) $0

BCBA/BCaBA Request to Return from Voluntary Inactive Status Application (2–4 years inactive) $50

Active Duty/Reserve Status $0

* BACB fees are nonrefundable and nontransferable. The BACB only accepts US currency. Please do not send cash.

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

SUpErvISION, ASSESSmENT, TrAININg, AND OvErSIgHT

Supervision, Assessment, Training, and Oversight As a BCBA, you may serve in the important role of overseeing the work, training, or assessment of others who are providing behavior-analytic services or working toward BACB certification. This oversight may occur in three primary roles:

• Supervisor: As a supervisor, you will oversee those who are providing behavior- analytic services (i.e., RBTs, BCaBAs) and/or those who are accruing fieldwork hours toward becoming certified (i.e., trainees). Note: In overseeing RBTs, you may also be an RBT Requirements Coordinator who is responsible for ensuring that multiple supervisors in an organization are providing appropriate supervision to RBTs (see the Ongoing Supervision section of the RBT Handbook for more details).

• Assessor: As an assessor, you will be responsible for directly conducting or overseeing assessments of those pursuing RBT certification or those who are maintaining their RBT certification to determine whether they are competent in specific tasks commonly conducted by behavior technicians (i.e., Initial Competency Assessment or Renewal Competency Assessment).

• Trainer: As a trainer, you will develop and/or provide the RBT 40-hour training and/or oversee individuals who are providing the RBT 40-hour training.

Because of the obvious importance of these roles, failure to comply with BACB requirements and ethics standards constitutes a violation of the Code and may result in a Notice of Alleged Violation being filed against you and subsequent action being taken by the Ethics Department.

This section of the handbook provides an overview of each role; however, you will need to carefully review the linked requirements specified in each section. It is the responsibility of every candidate, certificant, and supervisor to ensure that any supervision provided or received is consistent with current BACB requirements, any applicable state regulatory requirements (e.g., licensure), and relevant third-party payer requirements.

Overview of Additional Requirements by Role: Although holding BCBA certification is the primary qualification, additional requirements are indicated in the following table.

Additional Requirements by Role

Role 8-Hour

Supervision Training*

Ongoing CEUs in Supervision

May Not Be Related to, Subordinate to, or Employed by the

Trainee, Supervisee, Certificant

Consulting Supervisor

Assessing RBTs (competency assessments)

✓ × ✓ ×

Training RBTs (RBT 40-hour training) × × ✓ ×

Supervising RBTs ✓ ✓ ✓ × Supervising BCBA and BCaBA trainees in your first year of certification

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Supervising BCBA and BCaBA trainees after your first year of certification

✓ ✓ ✓ ×

Supervising BCaBAs ✓ ✓ ✓ ×

* You can find a list of ACE Providers who may offer 8-hour supervision training on the ACE Provider Directory.

How are eligible supervisors identified

BCBAs who meet supervision requirements are identified in the Certificant Registry with the statement “Completed supervision training on DATE.” The date shown is the date the certificant became eligible to provide supervision.

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook#OngoingSupervision

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=100157

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

SUpErvISION, ASSESSmENT, TrAININg, AND OvErSIgHT

Attesting, Assessing, Training, and Supervising RBTs

Attesting RBTs (Age, Education, Background, and Abuse Registry Check)

As of January 2, 2025, the RBT Certification Application Attestation form is used to confirm that the Age, Education, Background, and Abuse Registry Check eligibility requirements have been met. A qualified attestor confirms that these eligibility requirements have been met. Please note that if you are attesting based on the information the organization’s Human Resources provides, then it is your responsibility to be familiar with the organization’s policies, procedures, and processes when vetting applicants for the RBT certification.

Assessing RBTs (Competency Assessments)

One of the primary eligibility and maintenance requirements for RBT certification is demonstrating competence in the tasks on the Initial/Renewal Competency Assessment. A qualified assessor conducts these assessments and, in some cases, may also involve and oversee assistant assessors.

Requirements: The Initial Competency Assessment and the Renewal Competency Assessment include the requirements for administering the assessments.

Training RBTs (RBT 40-Hour Training)

As one of the requirements to obtain certification, RBT applicants must complete a 40-hour training based on the RBT Task List (2nd ed.). A qualified trainer conducts the training and, in some cases, may also involve and oversee assistant trainers.

Requirements: The RBT 40-Hour Training Packet outlines the requirements for conducting the RBT 40-hour training.

Supervising RBTs

RBTs practice under the close, ongoing supervision of an RBT Supervisor and/or an RBT Requirements Coordinator who is responsible for the RBT’s work (see the Ongoing Supervision section of the RBT Handbook for a full description of each role’s requirements).

Requirements: The Ongoing Supervision section of the RBT Handbook helps RBT Supervisors, RBT Requirements Coordinators, and RBTs ensure that the appropriate ongoing supervision is provided in order to maintain active certification.

Initial Competency Assessment

Renewal Competency Assessment

RBT 40-Hour Training Packet

RBT Handbook

Managing Alleged Ethics Violations by RBTs

As an RBT Supervisor, you are responsible for the actions of all RBTs under your supervision, so it’s important to be aware of the special considerations for submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation against an RBT. You can learn more about these considerations by visiting the Reporting Alleged Violations Against RBTs web page and by reviewing the Considerations for Reporting an Alleged Violation Against an RBT document. Supervisors are often best positioned to immediately and directly address some ethics violations by an RBT. Therefore, in an instance where an RBT Requirements Coordinator or RBT Supervisor becomes aware of a potential ethics violation by an RBT, they must take steps to investigate and document the alleged violation. If they determine that a violation did occur, they should decide if the matter should be addressed internally or by submitting a Notice of Alleged Violation to the BACB.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Initial-Competency-Assessment-2019

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/rbt-renewal-competency

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-40-hr-Training-Packet

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook#OngoingSupervision

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Initial-Competency-Assessment-2019

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Renewal-Competency-Assessment%202019

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-40-hr-Training-Packet

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/reporting-alleged-violations-by-rbts/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Considerations-for-Reporting-a-NAV/

SUpErvISION, ASSESSmENT, TrAININg, AND OvErSIgHT

Submit a Notice of Alleged Violation against the RBT if the alleged violation: • involves abuse or neglect of a client; • results in the RBT being charged with or convicted of a violation of the law; • is a violation of standard 1.03, 1.05, 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04, or 3.05 of the RBT Ethics Code (2.0); OR • has occurred repeatedly despite reasonable attempts to address the problem with the RBT.

If none of these situations apply, the RBT Requirements Coordinator and/or RBT Supervisor should develop and implement an individualized corrective-action plan for the RBT and document the outcome. The BACB reserves the right to audit the RBT Requirements Coordinator or RBT Supervisor for documentation of the complaint, investigation, and resolution.

Tips for Supervising Trainees, RBTs, or BCaBAs

Being a supervisor is an important responsibility in both shaping future behavior analysts and helping to facilitate quality services being provided to clients. With that in mind, here are a few tips for those who supervise.

• Know the relevant supervision requirements. This might be obvious by now, but supervisors should know the relevant requirements for supervision and stay up to date about requirements changes by reading the BACB Newsletter and periodically reviewing the BACB website and BCBA Handbook. It’s also vital to remember that the BACB reserves the right to contact you to share or request information regarding individuals for whom you are or were the supervisor on record. For example, if your RBT or BCaBA supervisee is named in a Notice of Alleged Violation, they must immediately notify you, share all documentation they received from the BACB, and review it with you.

• Become intimately familiar with the BACB’s ethics Codes. Supervisors should know the Code and, if relevant, the RBT Ethics Code (2.0). In addition to following the Code in your practice and supervision, you must be an ethical resource and guide for your supervisees/trainees (see the A Summary of Ethics Violations and Code-Enforcement Activities document for the most recent ethics data). It is important to review the Responsibility to Supervisees and Trainees section of the Code carefully and take those standards into account when determining how you will provide supervision. For instance, when determining how many supervisees you can supervise, consider the number of clients on your caseload, how many hours each supervisee currently works, the amount of time required for their supervision, the clients’ needs, and the program settings, among others. Please note that planning for transitions when discontinuing supervision is crucial, as abruptly ending supervision—particularly for ongoing cases involving RBTs and BCaBAs—can negatively impact services. Ensure you have transition plans in place to minimize these impacts. It’s also vital to remember that the BACB reserves the right to contact you to share or request information regarding individuals for whom you are or were the supervisor on record. For example, if your RBT supervisee is named in a Notice of Alleged Violation, they must immediately notify you, share all documentation they received from the BACB, and review it with you. If applicable, you will also receive the Notice of Alleged Violation and the Disciplinary Determination and Appeal Determination.

• Consider whether you are ready to be a supervisor. We highly recommend waiting until after you have ample experiences of your own before you supervise others. In addition, consider whether supervision activities will be within your area of defined competence and whether you have the time and ability to supervise trainees. As a reminder, if you are a first-year BCBA who provides supervision to BCBA and BCaBA trainees accruing fieldwork, you must meet with a consulting supervisor each month in which you provide supervision for the remainder of your first year.

• Determine whether your trainee is pursuing or maintaining more than one credential. If so, you will need to ensure that all requirements are being met and separately documented for each credential that you are overseeing.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/rbt-compliance-code-future/

http://www.bacb.com/wp-content/ethics-violations-and-code-enforcement-activities

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

SUpErvISION, ASSESSmENT, TrAININg, AND OvErSIgHT

• Develop your time management and organizational systems. Have these systems in place before you start supervision to ensure that you are meeting all relevant requirements. For example, you will need a system for keeping your RBT and BCaBA supervisee accounts up to date with the BACB, documenting feedback, and evaluating the effects of your supervision, among other areas. In the event of an audit, it is your responsibility to produce the requested documentation. For additional guidance, use these optional supervision checklists:

• Evaluate fit before agreeing to supervise. Identify your work and supervision style before taking on a supervisee/ trainee to determine whether their style is a good fit. Both you and the trainee/supervisee have a history of experiences coming into the relationship, so it is helpful to know a little about them before agreeing to be their supervisor. If your styles don’t fit, determine whether you are open to adjusting your supervision style.

• Set clear expectations. Although a supervision contract is only required for supervising trainees and BCaBAs— not RBTs—setting clear expectations at the beginning of supervision is valuable in all supervisory relationships.

• Aim to provide high-quality, individualized, and effective supervision. Don’t just focus on doing enough to meet the BACB’s requirements. These were established as minimum requirements that allow flexibility for variations in each setting. Think about what your past supervisors have done well (and maybe not so well) so that you can identify how you can provide high-quality supervision. For instance, you may want to develop a supervision curriculum for the trainee/supervisee that includes behavior-analytic topics, specific skills that are important in practice (e.g., problem solving, interpersonal skills), and skills that they will need when they become a supervisor (see the Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline [2.0]).

• Continue your professional development as a supervisor and seek out a trusted mentor. These tips are only a starting point. There is growing literature on supervision, as well as continuing education events and resources on the topic, so make continued growth and learning part of your regular schedule.

Supervision Checklist for RBTs

Supervision Checklist for RBT Supervisors and RBT Requirements Coordinators

Supervising BCBA and BCaBA Trainees

To obtain BCBA and BCaBA certification, individuals must complete a defined practical experience in applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.

Requirements: Supervisors must provide supervision in accordance with the BCBA or BCaBA fieldwork requirements.

Supervising BCaBAs

BCaBA certificants may not practice independently, so they must practice under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.

Requirements: The Ongoing Supervision section of the BCaBA Handbook helps both supervisors and BCaBAs ensure that the appropriate ongoing supervision is provided in order to maintain certification.

BCaBA Handbook

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervision-Training-Curriculum-Outline-2.0

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervisor-RBT-Requirements-Coordinator-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervisor-RBT-Requirements-Coordinator-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/BCaBA-Handbook#Supervised%20Fieldwork%20Requirements

https://www.bacb.com/BCaBA-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://www.bacb.com/BCaBA-Handbook

BOArD CErTIFIED BEHAvIOr ANALyST-DOCTOrAL

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D) BCBAs with doctoral training in behavior analysis may apply for the designation of Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D). The BCBA-D is not a separate certification and does not grant any privileges beyond the BCBA certification. If you hold the BCBA-D designation, you function in the same capacity as a BCBA (i.e., as an independent practitioner who provides behavior-analytic services) and are required to meet all BCBA maintenance requirements.

BCBA-D Eligibility Requirements

If you wish to become a BCBA-D, you must be actively certified as a BCBA and meet one of the following options.

Option A: Accredited Doctoral Program

Doctoral Degree From an ABAI-Accredited Program: You hold a doctoral degree from a doctoral program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International.

Option B: Nonaccredited Doctoral Program

Doctoral Degree With a Behavior-Analytic Dissertation: You hold a doctoral degree from a qualifying institution, conducted a behavior-analytic dissertation, AND meet ONE of the following requirements:

• Doctoral Coursework: You passed at least four behavior-analytic courses as part of your doctoral program of study. OR

• Mentorship: You received formal mentorship from a faculty member who, at the time of your mentorship, held the BCBA credential and met the supervisor qualifications in place at that time. OR

• Publications: You authored two published peer-reviewed journal articles that are behavior analytic in nature. These articles may have been published before, during, or after conferral of your doctoral degree. These publications do not need to be experimental in nature, and first authorship is not required

BCBA-DDOCTORAL DEGREE FROM ABAI- ACCREDITED PROGRAM

ACTIVE BCBA CERTIFICATION + =

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting an official transcript listing a doctoral degree that was conferred by an ABAI-accredited doctoral program.

BCBA-D

DOCTORAL DEGREE WITH BEHAVIOR-

ANALYTIC DISSERTATION

ACTIVE BCBA CERTIFICATION + =+

DOCTORAL COURSEWORK

MENTORSHIP

PUBLICATIONS

https://accreditation.abainternational.org/accredited-programs.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

BOArD CErTIFIED BEHAvIOr ANALyST-DOCTOrAL

Option C: Postdoctoral Respecialization

Doctoral Degree: You hold a doctoral degree from a qualifying institution.

AND

Postdoctoral Experience: You accumulated a minimum of 1,800 hours (beyond the experience hours used to qualify for BCBA certification) in applied behavior analysis during a postdoctoral fellowship or postdoctoral employment experience, which included explicit, ongoing education in behavior analysis conducted under the supervision of a BCBA who met the supervision requirements in place at that time.

AND

Publications: You authored two peer-reviewed journal articles that (a) are behavior analytic in nature and (b) were completed as a product of the training experience described earlier. These publications do not need to be experimental in nature, and first authorship is not required.

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting: • a copy of an official transcript from the institution showing a conferred doctoral degree; • a copy of the published (e.g., in ProQuest) dissertation abstract; AND • one of the following:

• if applying with doctoral coursework: a copy of the official doctoral program of study showing all courses and syllabi from the courses to demonstrate that they were entirely behavior analytic in nature;

• if applying with mentorship: a letter on university letterhead that attests to the formal mentorship relationship from the faculty member who held a BCBA certification; OR

• if applying with publications: copies of the journal articles.

BCBA-DDOCTORAL DEGREE

ACTIVE BCBA CERTIFICATION + =+ POSTDOCTORAL

EXPERIENCE PUBLICATIONS+

Demonstrate that you meet this requirement when you apply by submitting a copy of an official transcript showing a conferred doctoral degree, a letter of attestation from the BCBA who supervised the 1,800 hours of postdoctoral experience/fellowship, and copies of your publications. The supervising BCBA may determine how the ongoing experience is documented.

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

BOArD CErTIFIED BEHAvIOr ANALyST-DOCTOrAL

Applying for the BCBA-D Designation

If you are currently a BCBA, an application is required to apply for the BCBA-D designation. The application requires supplemental documentation and a fee. Applications are accepted on a continual basis.

1. Complete the BCBA-D Designation Application online. 2. Submit all required supplemental documentation as described in the following table:

Please note that all application documents in a non-English language must be submitted with an English translation. This application expires after 90 days of payment. If all documentation has not be received and/or approved, you will need to submit a new application, documentation, and payment.

Options Requirements Documentation How to Submit Documentation

Option A: ABAI-Accredited Doctoral Program

Doctoral degree from a doctoral program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International

Official university transcript(s)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy Littleton, CO 80127 USA**

Option B: Nonaccredited Doctoral Program

Doctoral degree and behavior-analytic dissertation AND

Official university transcript(s) or a diploma from the institution

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy Littleton, CO 80127 USA**

Copy of the published dissertation abstract showing that it meets the behavior- analytic dissertation* requirement

File is uploaded in the BCBA-D Designation Application

Doctoral coursework OR

Copy of the official doctoral program of study showing all courses and syllabi from the courses to demonstrate that they were entirely behavior analytic in nature

Mentorship OR

A letter on university letterhead that attests to the formal mentorship relationship from the faculty member who held a BCBA credential

Publications Copies of the two peer- reviewed journal articles that are behavior analytic in nature

* The BACB reserves the right to request a copy of the complete dissertation. ** The BACB cannot accept packages that require a signature for delivery.

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBAD

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

BOArD CErTIFIED BEHAvIOr ANALyST-DOCTOrAL

Options Requirements Documentation How to Submit Documentation

Option C: Postdoctoral Respecialization

Doctoral degree Official university transcript(s)

Institution sends electronic transcript(s) to [email protected] OR Institution or applicant mails sealed transcript(s) to BACB–Applications 7950 Shaffer Pkwy Littleton, CO 80127 USA*

Postdoctoral experience

A letter of attestation from the BCBA who supervised the 1,800 hours of postdoctoral experience or fellowship File is uploaded in the BCBA-D

Designation Application

Publications

Copies of the two peer- reviewed journal articles that are behavior analytic in nature

* The BACB cannot accept packages that require a signature for delivery.

3. Submit your payment: Pay the $105 processing fee by either: • including a check with your application documentation (The BACB only accepts US currency. Please do

not send cash.) OR • having BACB staff add a $105 invoice to your BACB account for online payment (credit card) after

submitting your application. 4. Allow up to two weeks from the date the BACB receives your complete application and payment for your

application to be reviewed. 5. If your application is:

• Approved: You will be notified via email. Your certification will be updated in your BACB account, and you will receive a new certificate in the mail within four to six weeks. Your certification number and recertification date will stay the same.

• Not approved: You will receive feedback and guidance on next steps via email. Note: If you believe the decision was made in error, you will need to review the Administrative Appeals Policy, and, if appropriate, submit an appeal within 30 days of the determination.

Maintaining the BCBA-D Designation

As a BCBA-D, you are required to meet all BCBA maintenance requirements. The BCBA-D recertification fee is $290 every 2 years. Please note that you may choose to discontinue your BCBA-D designation and retain your original BCBA certification at the time of your recertification by contacting the BACB.

The BCBA-D designation is not a distinct certification. It is merely an addition to the BCBA certification, indicating that the BCBA has earned a doctoral or postdoctoral education in behavior analysis.

https://www.bacb.com/bcba/#BCBAD

https://www.bacb.com/about-behavior-analysis/

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us/

OTHEr rELEvANT pOLICIES

Other Relevant Policies Administrative Appeals

Application Appeals

Adverse BACB decisions including, but not limited to, the denial of a certification, renewal, recertification, or other applications submitted to the BACB may be appealed if (a) you have sufficient evidence to support that you properly completed and submitted all of the required documentation to the BACB by the deadline, (b) you were given incorrect feedback or guidance from the BACB, or (c) you experienced a technical issue with your BACB account that prevented you from meeting the deadline. This type of appeal applies to all trainees, applicants, certificants, and Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) Providers.

The following may not be appealed: • BACB standards, • requirements, • deadlines, • procedures, • fees, • examination content, • examination edition, • examination delivery modality, • examination results, and • specific questions/answers

Do not submit an appeal in order to request information about a denied application; you will receive detailed information (i.e., reasons for the application denial, steps that must be taken to correct any deficiencies) at the time of the denial. To request information about a denied application, please use the Contact Us Form. If you have an active application and must submit additional or corrected documentation, please follow the instructions in your application determination.

How to appeal: You must file a written request for an appeal within 30 days of the determination by completing the Administrative Appeal Request Form. You must include evidence with your submission to support your appeal request.

Examination Appeals

If you experience examination condition irregularities (e.g., poor lighting, disruptive noises, long screen-load times) during your examination, you may file an appeal with the BACB. Note: Pearson VUE sites deliver BACB examinations via a web browser, so minor Internet bandwidth variances are to be expected. BACB standards, requirements, deadlines, procedures, fees, examination content, examination delivery modality, examination results, and specific questions/answers may not be appealed.

How to appeal: You must file a written request for appeal within 7 days of your examination appointment by completing the Administrative Appeal Request Form.

https://www.bacb.com/contact-us

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/#AdministrativeAppealRequestForm

OTHEr rELEvANT pOLICIES

Compassionate Appeals

If you have experienced a qualifying unforeseen life event or extenuating circumstance that warrants relief (e.g., hospitalization, act of nature) within 1 year before the determination that you wish to appeal (e.g., the day that your certification expires), you may submit an appeal request. This type of appeal applies to all trainees, applicants, candidates, certificants, and ACE Providers who have supporting evidence that a qualifying life event occurred.

BACB staff will evaluate the appeal based on the date of the event, its potential impact on your ability to obtain or maintain BACB certification, the amount of time you had to meet the applicable requirements (e.g., whether you are using the 2 years between recertification to accrue continuing education), and whether you could have taken preventative actions (e.g., applied for voluntary inactive status).

How to appeal: You must file a written request for an appeal within 6 months of the determination by completing the Administrative Appeal Request Form. This appeal request requires documentation that verifies the event or circumstance in question.

Name Change Policy

Depending on where you are in the certification process, submitting a Name Change Request may be necessary for any of the following reasons:

• Your name has changed since creating a BACB account. • Your name does not match your ID. • You are notifying of a former name for application documents.

To submit a Name Change Request, log into your BACB account, select Update Profile, select the option that best applies to your circumstances, and follow the instructions the will be sent to you via email, including submitting official documentation verifying your name change.

Acceptable Signatures Policy

The BACB accepts electronic signatures* for applications and forms, whether submitted electronically or by mail. Although it is preferred that documents are digitally signed using a third-party electronic signature service (e.g., Adobe Sign, DocuSign, HelloSign), the BACB will accept any type of electronic signature (e.g., Adobe Fill & Sign, JPEG of a signature), provided the document is signed by the appropriate party with the intent of signing the document.

The BACB also accepts handwritten signatures on scanned documents, unless the document states that an original signed copy is needed. Alterations on documents (e.g., white-outs, strikethroughs) must be initialed by all relevant parties.

Documentation Policy

All documentation submitted to the BACB, for any reason, becomes the property of the BACB. Documents submitted to the BACB will be retained and/or safely discarded at the discretion of the BACB. For this reason, candidates should retain a copy of their certification application and all supporting documentation for their personal records and to be prepared for future applications. The BACB will not return documentation to applicants or certificants.

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/#AdministrativeAppealRequestForm

https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/sign.html

https://www.docusign.com/

https://www.hellosign.com/

OTHEr rELEvANT pOLICIES

Submission of False, Forged, or Untrue Information to the BACB

The BACB reserves the right to invalidate any certification (immediately making the certification null and void) and/or prohibit any individual from taking a BACB examination if the individual submitted false, forged, or untrue information.

Examples of false, forged, or untrue information include: • submitting false, inconsistent, or misleading statements or omitting information the BACB requests • submitting an altered or inauthentic transcript • submitting an application containing false, inconsistent, or misleading information • submitting documentation that misrepresents your current address and/or country of residence to become

eligible for certification • attempting to take the examination for someone else or having someone else take the examination for you • copying or sharing information or any other form of cheating • obtaining advanced access to certification or examination material • stealing examination materials • bringing prohibited items into the examination room • failing to follow directions from testing-center staff • violating Pearson VUE scheduling or testing-center rules and regulations

Timely Responding to the BACB

If an individual fails to respond to the BACB after reasonable contact attempts are made, or if an individual fails to comply with a request from the BACB, the BACB may take summary action (e.g., suspension) against their eligibility or certification. See the Code-Enforcement Procedures document for more information.

* An electronic signature is “an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record” (15 U.S.C. § 7006 (2000)). Simply stated, an electronic signature is an electronic expression indicating a signee’s intent to sign a document. By contrast, a digital signature is a specific kind of electronic signature, which requires authentication of a signee’s identity.

http://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB_CodeEnforcement_Procedures

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=&req=%28title%3A+section%3A7006+edition%3Aprelim%29+OR+%28granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title-section7006%29&f=treesort&fq=&num=0&hl=false&edition=prelim

DOCUmENTS AND rESOUrCES

Documents and Resources Eligibility and Applying for Certification

• Qualify for Examination via Past Certification: Application

Coursework • Nonverified Course Content Attestation • Preliminary Coursework Evaluation Application • VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation

Supervised Fieldwork

Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms

• Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form: Individual Supervisor • Final Fieldwork Verification Form: Individual Supervisor • Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form: Multiple Supervisors at One Organization • Final Fieldwork Verification Form: Multiple Supervisors at One Organization

Optional Resources

• Fieldwork Checklist and Tip Sheet • Sample Supervision Contract for BCBA/BCaBA Trainees • Documenting Fieldwork Hours Video • Documenting Fieldwork: Helpful Answers to Your FAQs Blog • Contested Fieldwork Form

Consulting Supervisor

• Consulting Supervisor Requirements for New BCBAs Supervising Fieldwork

Examination • BCBA Task List (5th ed.) • Pearson VUE Website • Accommodation Request Form

Continuing Education • ACE Provider Directory • Supervisor Training Curriculum Outline (2.0)

Ethics and Self-Reporting • Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts • Code-Enforcement Procedures • Ethics Web Page • Self-Reporting Web Page

Voluntary Inactive Status • BCBA Application for Voluntary Inactive Status • BCBA/BCaBA Request to Return from Voluntary Inactive Status Application

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Qualification-via-Past-Certification-Application

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Course-Content-Attestation

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/preliminary-coursework-evaluation

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba_vcs_course_content_attestation

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Individual-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Monthly-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB-Final-Fieldwork-Verification-Form-Organization-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervised-Fieldwork-Checklist-and-Tip-Sheet-2022

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sample-Supervision-Contract-for-BCBA-BCaBA-Trainees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz74Rqpa-_U

https://www.bacb.com/documenting-fieldwork-helpful-answers-to-your-faqs/

https://www.bacb.com/contested-experience-fieldwork-form/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/consulting-supervisor-requirements/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bcba-task-list-5th-ed

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Request-for-Examination-Accommodations

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=100157

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Supervision-Training-Curriculum-Outline-2.0

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb-compliance-code-future

http://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BACB_CodeEnforcement_Procedures

https://www.bacb.com/ethics/

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/reporting-to-ethics-department/self-reporting/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-Application-for-Voluntary-Inactive-Status

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-BCaBA--Application-for-Return-from-Inactive-Status

DOCUmENTS AND rESOUrCES

Supervising, Training, and Assessing

Assessing RBTs

• RBT Initial Competency Assessment Packet • RBT Renewal Competency Assessment Packet • Sample RBT Assessor Evaluation and Log

Training RBTs

• RBT 40-Hour Training Packet • RBT Trainer Evaluation and Log

Supervising RBTs

• RBT Handbook (Ongoing Supervision section) • Process for Adding or Removing Supervisees • Supervision Checklist for RBTs • Supervision Checklist for RBT Supervisors and RBT Requirements Coordinators

Supervising BCaBAs

• BCaBA Handbook (Ongoing Supervision section) • BCaBA Supervision Contract Specifications

Administrative Appeals • Administrative Appeal Request Form

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Initial-Competency-Assessment-2019

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/rbt-renewal-competency

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sample-RBT-Assessor-Evaluation-and-Log

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-40-hr-Training-Packet-2019

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Sample-RBT-Trainer-Evaluation-and-Log

https://www.bacb.com/RBT-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Process-for-Adding-or-Removing-Supervisees

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/RBT-Supervisor-RBT-Requirements-Coordinator-Supervision-Checklist

https://www.bacb.com/BCaBA-Handbook#Ongoing%20Supervision

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/161221-BCaBA-supervision-contract-specifications.pdf

https://www.bacb.com/appeals/administrative-appeals/#AdministrativeAppealRequestForm

gLOSSAry

Glossary Applicant: An individual who is pursuing certification.

BCBA-Doctoral: BCBAs with doctoral training in behavior analysis may receive the designation of Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral® (BCBA-D®). The BCBA-D is not a separate certification and it does not grant any privileges above or beyond the BCBA certification. If you are certified at the BCBA-D level, you function in the same capacity as a BCBA (i.e., as an independent practitioner who provides behavior-analytic services) and are required to meet all BCBA maintenance requirements. Information that pertains to BCBAs also pertains to BCBA-Ds (e.g., supervisor qualifications).

Behavior-Analytic Dissertation: The dissertation must include at least one experimental manipulation. The independent variable must be explicitly operant or respondent in nature, the dependent variable must be sufficiently operationalized, and the problem must be framed using an operant/respondent conceptualization. The experimental criterion may be met with either single-subject or group-design methods. The dissertation must have been published in a public database (e.g., ProQuest).

Candidate: An individual who has submitted a certification application.

Certification Application: An application to apply for certification after eligibility requirements have been met.

Client: The direct recipient of behavior-analytic services. Other individuals impacted by behavior-analytic services (e.g., parent, caregiver, relative, legally authorized representative, employer) may meet the definition of client when they receive direct training or consultation. In some contexts, the client might be a group of individuals (e.g., with organizational behavior management services).

Conferral Date: The official date on which your degree was awarded by the institution.

Continuing Education: Initial BCBA certification indicates that an individual has met entry-level standards of practice as a behavior analyst. The purpose of the BACB’s continuing education requirement is to ensure that BCBA certificants engage in activities that will expand their behavior-analytic skills beyond the requirements for initial certification and help them stay up to date on developments in the profession.

Degree Equivalency Evaluation: This evaluation will be performed as part of your certification application. When we receive your transcript, we will notify you if an evaluation is required. If so, we will provide instructions on how to submit the following documentation:

• an original-source verification (e.g., transcript[s], official statement with course/module grades/marks issued directly by the academic institution) in the original language;

• an English translation of the original-source verification; • an official copy of your diploma (i.e., official documentation attesting completion of program and award of

degree) from your university in the original language; AND • an English translation of your official diploma.

Note: If you received your degree from a university in Cuba, official, signed transcript(s) must be submitted directly from Consultoría Jurídica Internacional (CJI) or Bufete de Servicios Especializados (BES).

In response to differences among members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) in evaluations, the BACB has decided to use one vendor for all degree equivalency evaluations outside of the US. Currently, that vendor is the Foundation for International Services (FIS).

https://www.fis-web.com/services/credential-evaluations

gLOSSAry

Didactic Course: A course that includes synchronous or asynchronous instruction by an instructor.

Documentation System: A documentation system that tracks all ongoing supervision and fieldwork in a way that demonstrates adherence to all relevant requirements and the Code.

Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts: The document that describes ethics obligations for BCBAs, BCaBAs, applicants, and trainees. All BCBAs, BCaBAs, applicants, and trainees agree to abide by this Code.

Fieldwork Verification Forms: The forms used by the supervisor and trainee to document fieldwork hours each month (Monthly Fieldwork Verification Form) and at the end of the fieldwork (Final Fieldwork Verification Form). Versions of the forms are provided for individual supervisors as well as organizations with multiple supervisors.

Group Supervision: An interactive supervision meeting that includes no fewer than 2 and no more than 10 trainees. The number of trainees in a group meeting may not exceed 10 at any time, regardless of the number of supervisors in the meeting.

Inactive Status: BCBAs may be inactive for the following reasons: • They are on voluntary inactive or reserve status (i.e., they put a pause on maintaining their certification). To

qualify for these options, BCBAs must complete a BCBA Application for Voluntary Inactive Status or request reserve active duty.

• They did not recertify their BCBA certification and are within their reinstatement period. • They have disciplinary sanctions against their certification.

BCBAs with an inactive certification may not bill, practice, supervise, or represent themselves as active BCBAs.

Independent Hours: Fieldwork hours that are accrued when a supervisor is not present.

Individual Supervisor: An individual supervisor must ensure that all of their trainees’ fieldwork requirements are being met during their supervision. In this situation:

• the supervision contract should clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations for the trainee and supervisor (see the Supervision Contract section);

• all supervision must be related to specific client programming; • the supervisor must have written permission to receive client information and must be well aware of the

organization’s values, practices, and personnel; AND • the person signing the M-FVFs and F-FVF for Individual Supervisors must be able to agree to all of the

• the supervision contract should list all supervisors and clearly outline the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of each supervisor and the trainee (see the Supervision Contract section);

• all supervision must be related to specific client programming; • the supervisor(s) must have written permission to receive client information and must be well aware of the

organization’s values, practices, and personnel; AND • the person signing the M-FVFs and F-FVF for Multiple Supervisors at One Organization (i.e., the responsible

supervisor) must be able to agree to all of the relevant attestations, including that all fieldwork requirements were met.

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/BCBA-Application-for-Voluntary-Inactive-Status

gLOSSAry

Nonverified Coursework: Coursework completed in anything other than an ABAI Verified Course Sequence and evaluated via course-by-course review is considered nonverified. You must have your department chair complete a Nonverified Course Content Attestation and submit it with your BCBA Certification Application or your preliminary coursework evaluation.

Observation With a Client: The trainee must be observed working with a client in the natural environment during each supervisory period by at least one supervisor. In-person, on-site observation is preferred. However, the observation may be conducted using asynchronous (e.g., recorded video) or synchronous (e.g., live video conference) formats.

Official Transcripts: Transcripts that are either: • electronically sent directly by the institution to the BACB • mailed in the original sealed and unopened envelope

Please note that official transcripts become unofficial if the applicant forwards an electronic transcript to the BACB or if the original envelope has been opened. Unofficial transcripts will not be considered in the processing of a certification application.

Ongoing Supervision: Supervision of the services provided by an RBT or BCaBA as one of their requirements to maintain their certification.

Preliminary Coursework Evaluation: A preliminary review of coursework (i.e., a review that occurs before the submission of a certification application) by the BACB to determine whether it meets the Pathway 2 coursework requirements.

Qualifying Coursework: Coursework that must come from a qualifying institution and cover the required content. Only graduate (i.e., master’s or doctoral) courses where the applicant was formally enrolled and earned a passing grade (“C” or higher in a graded course or “pass” in a pass/fail system) are acceptable.

Qualifying Institution: • United States: An institution in the US that is listed in the Council for Higher Education Accreditation database. • Canada: An educational institution in Canada that is recognized, authorized, registered, or licensed by the

Canadian government. • Australia: A university in Australia that is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. • United Kingdom: A college or university in the UK that is recognized as a degree-awarding body by the

UK government. Recertification Application: The online application that is submitted through a BCBA’s BACB account to renew their BCBA certification on a biennial basis before its expiration date.

Recertification Date: The date on which a BCBA’s certification lapses (the day the BCBA first became certified). BCBAs may locate this date in their BACB account, in the Certificant Registry, and on their certificate.

Reinstatement Period: If you complete all of your CE requirements but fail to recertify before your recertification date, you will have 30 days from your recertification date to reinstate your certification. After this grace period, you will lose your certification and will need to reapply and meet the eligibility requirements applicable at that time.

Responsible Supervisor: A supervisor who signs a Fieldwork Verification Form on behalf of an organization where multiple supervisors are providing supervision for one trainee accruing fieldwork hours and who meets supervisor requirements for the entirety of the fieldwork.

Restricted Activities: The delivery of therapeutic or instructional procedures to a client for those accruing fieldwork hours. Note: Not all time spent working with a client is considered restricted. For example, a number of unrestricted activities may involve the trainee working directly with a client (see Unrestricted Activities).

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/Course-Content-Attestation

https://www.chea.org/

https://www.cicic.ca/868/search_the_directory_of_educational_institutions_in_canada.canada

https://www.teqsa.gov.au/national-register

https://www.gov.uk/check-university-award-degree/recognised-bodies

https://www.bacb.com/services/o.php?page=101135

gLOSSAry

Supervised Fieldwork: The experiential activities in which one engages as part of the eligibility requirements for obtaining BCBA (or BCaBA) certification. There are two types of supervised fieldwork: Supervised Fieldwork and Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork. For detailed fieldwork requirements, visit the Supervised Fieldwork Requirements section.

Supervised Hours: Hours accrued when a supervisor is present. These may include restricted or unrestricted activities observed by a supervisor or individual or group meetings with the supervisor.

Supervisee: For the purpose of BACB requirements, this includes RBTs and BCaBAs who are receiving supervision from a qualified supervisor (see Trainee).

Supervisor: A supervisor might supervise trainees who are pursuing BCBA or BCaBA certification (i.e., fieldwork), RBTs who require ongoing supervision, or BCaBAs who require ongoing supervision. BCBAs who are serving as a supervisor must complete an 8-hour supervision training before providing any supervision and may not be related to, subordinate to, or employed by the trainee during the supervisory period. In addition, first-year BCBAs who provide supervision to BCBA or BCaBA trainees accruing fieldwork hours must meet with a consulting supervisor each month in which they provide supervision for the remainder of their first year.

Supervisor-Trainee Contact: A real-time interaction between the supervisor and trainee that takes place in an individual or group format.

Trainee: Any individual accruing fieldwork toward fulfilling eligibility requirements for BCBA or BCaBA certification.

Unrestricted Activities: Activities under the fieldwork requirements that are most likely to be performed by a BCBA or BCaBA, including conducting assessments, staff training, and developing behavior plans, among others.

VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation: This form may be completed by a current, BCBA-certified VCS Coordinator to attest that an applicant has met all of the current coursework requirements for BCBA certification.

Verified Course Sequence (Verified Coursework): ABAI works with institutions to identify and verify sequences of courses—known as Verified Course Sequences—that meet the BACB’s coursework requirements. The ABAI Verified Course Sequence Directory includes all Verified Course Sequences, Verified Course Sequence Coordinators, content hours, and dates for which the courses were verified. The BACB also publishes examination pass rates for Verified Course Sequences.

https://www.bacb.com/supervision-and-training/

https://www.abainternational.org/vcs.aspx

https://www.bacb.com/university-pass-rates/

AppENDIx

Appendix Application Processing Agreement

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) agrees to process this application subject to your agreement to the following terms and conditions:

1. You have read and agree to be bound by and comply with all BACB rules and requirements (which may be revised) as specified in the applicable BACB certification handbook(s) and on the BACB website relating to:

• your application for initial certification, • your compliance with the relevant ethics code and code-enforcement procedures, • the maintenance of your certification, and • your application for renewal or recertification.

2. You will only convey truthful and accurate information to the BACB. 3. You must complete all requirements related to the BACB certification you are seeking or currently hold,

including, but not limited to: • paying applicable fees (which are nonrefundable) • demonstrating that you have met requirements for initial certification, maintaining certification, and

renewal or recertification, as may be applicable • complying with applicable BACB ethics requirements • complying with all BACB documentation and reporting requirements • reviewing and complying with any revised requirements. You will receive notice of revisions in at least

one of the following mediums: • the BACB Newsletter, • the BACB website, • an email from the BACB, or • a notice published in your BACB account.

4. You must check the email account you have on record with the BACB, review the BACB website, and review your BACB account on a monthly basis, as the BACB typically provides at least thirty (30) days’ advance notice of updated requirements.

5. You authorize the BACB to publish or otherwise release the following information to governmental licensure boards or agencies, funders, professional associations, supervisors, mentors, and employers. You also authorize the BACB to publish the following information on the BACB website:

• certificant name • certification status (e.g., active, inactive, expired, suspended, revoked, practice restrictions, ineligible

for certification) • certificant geographic location • certification dates • qualifications and willingness to supervise others • violations of ethics requirements, including, but not limited to:

• your name on a matter resulting in revocation of certification or eligibility, suspension of certification or eligibility, invalidation of certification, mandatory supervision, or other practice restrictions

• geographic region where the matter occurred • code standard(s) violated • year of disciplinary action(s) • interim or final action(s) imposed

Unless you choose to opt out, you may be contacted through the Certificant Registry and/or through the BACB mass email service.

https://www.bacb.com/ethics-information/ethics-codes/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/bacb_codeEnforcement_procedures

AppENDIx

Except as otherwise provided herein, it is the policy of the BACB not to release information provided in BACB applications (initial, renewal, and recertification) or contained in certificant records unless such information relates to a pending or final disciplinary, educational/coaching, or supervision matter; is requested by a governmental licensure board or agency, other governmental agency, or court of law; is necessary to conduct a disciplinary investigation or criminal background check; is necessary to provide feedback to a supervisor; or is otherwise properly subpoenaed. It is the policy of the BACB to comply with all applicable privacy and publication laws. If you become aware that this agreement contravenes laws where you reside, you agree to immediately provide the BACB with written notice of the conflict. Once your information has been published on the BACB website or released outside of the BACB, the BACB is unable to assure removal or retrieval of the information.

6. You agree to hold the BACB harmless and to waive, release, and exonerate the BACB, its officers, directors, employees, committee members, and agents (referred to collectively as BACB personnel) from any claims that you may have against the BACB arising out of the BACB’s review of this application or any future applications relating to eligibility for certification, recertification or renewal, reinstatement, conduct of the examination, disciplinary processing, issuance of a disciplinary decision, publication, or third-party disclosure in accordance with Clause 5 of this Agreement. Except as may be found to contravene the law, you waive any right to assert a claim against the BACB where you are a representative or member of a class or representative action; further, should you be permitted by law or court of law to proceed with a class or representative action, you shall not be entitled to recover attorneys’ fees. Additionally, you agree to refrain from subpoenaing the BACB and BACB personnel in any legal proceeding.

7. Your communications with BACB personnel must be professional. You agree to use BACB-approved contact forms and processes for contacting BACB personnel. Communication from you or your representatives regarding a BACB-related matter or decision may not be made outside of the BACB-approved contact forms or processes, including, but not limited to, contacting personnel at their home, in their community, or at their place of employment (if employed outside of the BACB). You also agree that you will not engage in threatening, vexatious, harassing, and/or profane communications with BACB personnel. If you are sent a cease-and-desist notice from the BACB for any reason (e.g., engaging in harassing communication or unauthorized contact, misrepresentation of BACB-owned intellectual property), you agree to immediately comply with that cease-and-desist notice.

8. You acknowledge that this certification, if granted, indicates that you have met the BACB’s requirements but does not warrant or guarantee your competence to provide professional services. You also indemnify the BACB from and against any liability that may arise from the BACB’s issuance of your certification as it relates to your professional practice.

9. You agree to abide by all BACB ethics requirements, Examination Terms and Conditions, and any other testing-related requirements identified by the BACB and/or the BACB’s testing vendor.

10. You agree that your address of record with the BACB will, at all times, accurately reflect your lawful residence (state/province and country). You understand that initial certification applications are only available to candidates who reside in authorized geographic locations, and that the BACB reserves the right to modify or discontinue offering initial certification applications and/or recertification applications in certain geographic locations in the discretion of the BACB.

The terms of this agreement include and incorporate by reference the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy published on the BACB website. This agreement survives expiration of your certification application and certification. This agreement is governed by the laws of the state of Colorado. In the BACB’s sole discretion, any disputes between you and the BACB must be resolved by binding, individual arbitration in Colorado with an arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties, except as may be necessary for the BACB to obtain injunctive or other relief to protect the BACB’s intellectual property rights. Arbitration, if applicable, will be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and not by any state law concerning arbitration. In the event of a judgment against the BACB in a matter filed by or on behalf of you, you agree that damages or compensation awarded, payable, or due to you by the BACB may not exceed any fees you have paid to the BACB in association with submitting this application.

Do you agree to be bound by all the terms of this Application Processing Agreement?

https://www.bacb.com/examination-information/#ExaminationDocuments

https://www.bacb.com/examination-information/

https://BACB.com/pearsonvue

https://www.bacb.com/international-development/

https://www.bacb.com/terms-of-use/

https://www.bacb.com/terms-of-use/privacy-policy/

vErSION HISTOry AND UpDATES

Version History and Updates Version 11/1/2023 Updates

• Added the update that BACB examinations are no longer delivered in Quebec as of November 1, 2023, and BCBA examinations will no longer be delivered in Ontario beginning July 1, 2026 (pp. 29 & 32).

Version 12/29/2023 Updates

In addition to minor edits to enhance clarity, the following changes were made: • Made minor updates to the Eligibility Requirements section (p. 6); Examination section (p. 30),

including the Examination Terms and Conditions (p. 35); and Application Processing Agreement (p. 67). • Incoporated the requirement that coursework must be obtained within 10 years of the year the application is

submitted as announced in the March 2022 BACB Newsletter (p. 9). • Added a note that nonverified coursework will no longer be accepted as part of a BCBA certification

application as of January 1, 2026 (p. 10). • Further clarified the expectations for certificants who use the Qualify for Examination via Past Certification

option (p. 14). • Updated the reinstatement period to 30 days per the September 2023 BACB Newsletter announcement (p. 46). • Clarified the supervision CEU requirements for certificants who have supervised the ongoing practice

of RBTs or BCaBAs on record or trainees pursuing BCBA or BCaBA certification at any point during their recertification cycle (p. 41).

• Added a note about changes to supervisor qualifications beginning January 1, 2026, as a result of ABAI’s Verified Course Sequence system being discontinued (p. 17).

• Provided clarification on the Name Change Policy (p. 59).

Version 5/1/2024 Updates

In addition to minor edits to enhance clarity, the following changes were made: • Noted that the preliminary coursework evaluation service will no longer be provided as of January 1, 2026

(p. 10). • Provided clarification on mixed fieldwork types (p. 20). • Noted that the BACB cannot accept packages that require a signature for delivery (p. 28). • Provided clarification on administrative appeals (p. 58).

Version 9/27/2024 Updates

In addition to minor edits to enhance clarity, the following changes were made: • Added a note about changes to no longer being able to hold mulitple BACB certifications at the same time

effective January 1, 2025 (p. 1). • Added a note that Preliminary Coursework Evaluations will be a service the BACB no longer provides as of

January 1, 2026 as a result of the ABAI’s Verified Course Sequence system being discontinued (p. 10).

Version 1/2/2025 Updates

In addition to minor edits to enhance clarity, the following changes were made: • Updated the jurisdiction section for clarity (p. 1). • Provided clarification and guidance on fieldwork documentation per supervisory period (p. 20). • Clarified how to address disputes around fieldwork (p. 25). • Added the expectation of Attesting Certificants for RBT certification applications (p. 51).

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/mar2022_Newsletter/

https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/sep2023_Newsletter/

Overview

About the Behavior Analyst Certification Board

Jurisdiction

What Is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?

Board Certified Behavior Analyst—Doctoral

Overview of Becoming and Maintaining BCBA Certification
Reasons for Becoming a BCBA
Accreditation
You Want to Pursue Certification… Now What?*

A Few Tips Before Getting Started
Considerations When Exploring Training Options
Considerations When Identifying Practical Fieldwork Opportunities
A Few Final Tips

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Pathways

Pathway 1: Degree From Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) Accredited Program or Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Accredited or Recognized Program
Pathway 2: Behavior-Analytic Coursework
Pathway 3: Faculty Teaching and Research
Pathway 4: Postdoctoral Experience
Qualification for Examination via Past Certification

Supervised Fieldwork Requirements

Fieldwork Hour Requirements

Before You Start Your Fieldwork

Supervisor Requirements
Requirements for Supervision of Fieldwork Hours
Documentation Requirements
Audits

Disputes About Fieldwork Verification Form Signatures

Tips to Avoid Disputes Between Supervisors and Trainees Before They Occur
Contesting Fieldwork: Is It Right for You?
Guidance in the Event of a Dispute

Applying for BCBA Certification

Submit Your Application

1. Complete the BCBA Certification Application in Your BACB Account
2. Submit Your Payment
3. Submit Supplemental Documents
4. BACB Staff Will Review Your Application and Issue a Determination

Schedule Your Examination Appointment
Fees*

Examination

Examination Development
Preparation
Examination Outline
Sample Examination Questions
Scheduling
Pearson VUE Examination Fees
Examination Accommodations
What to Expect on Examination Day
General Rules for Taking the Examination
Examination Terms and Conditions

Confidentiality
Test Security
Breaks

Examination Security
Examination Appeals
Examination Results
Examination Retakes
Scoring Methodology

What to Expect After Passing the Examination

Tips for Protecting Your BACB Information

Certification Maintenance Requirements

Continuing Education

CEU Requirements
CEU Types
CEU Content

Ethics and Self-Reporting

Self-Reporting

Recertification

Recertifying
Fees**

Inactive Policy

Voluntary Inactive Status
Active Duty/Reserve Status
Fees*

Supervision, Assessment, Training, and Oversight

Attesting, Assessing, Training, and Supervising RBTs

Attesting RBTs (Age, Education, Background, and Abuse Registry Check)
Assessing RBTs (Competency Assessments)
Training RBTs (RBT 40-Hour Training)
Supervising RBTs

Managing Alleged Ethics Violations by RBTs
Tips for Supervising Trainees, RBTs, or BCaBAs
Supervising BCBA and BCaBA Trainees
Supervising BCaBAs

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral (BCBA-D)

BCBA-D Eligibility Requirements

Option A: Accredited Doctoral Program
Option B: Nonaccredited Doctoral Program
Option C: Postdoctoral Respecialization

Applying for the BCBA-D Designation
Maintaining the BCBA-D Designation

Other Relevant Policies

Administrative Appeals

Application Appeals
Examination Appeals
Compassionate Appeals

Name Change Policy
Acceptable Signatures Policy
Documentation Policy
Submission of False, Forged, or Untrue Information to the BACB
Timely Responding to the BACB

Documents and Resources

Eligibility and Applying for Certification
Coursework
Supervised Fieldwork

Monthly and Final Fieldwork Verification Forms
Optional Resources
Consulting Supervisor

Examination
Continuing Education
Ethics and Self-Reporting
Voluntary Inactive Status
Supervising, Training, and Assessing

Assessing RBTs
Training RBTs
Supervising RBTs
Supervising BCaBAs

Administrative Appeals

Glossary
Appendix

Application Processing Agreement

Version History and Updates

Version 11/1/2023 Updates
Version 12/29/2023 Updates
Version 5/1/2024 Updates
Version 9/27/2024 Updates
Version 1/2/2025 Updates