How to Become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

The path to becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) begins with earning a bachelor’s degree, followed by the completion a master’s degree program in applied behavior analysis (ABA). In addition, qualifying for board certification requires supervised fieldwork, after which candidates must pass the Board Certified Behavior Analyst exam administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). The BACB requires candidates for certification to have engaged in 2,000 supervised or 1,500 concentrated fieldwork hours that meet the board’s standards. In addition, some states require BCBAs to be licensed by a state board in order to practice professionally within the state.

What is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst is a behavioral health and education professional certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to practice behavior analysis and to supervise others who provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) services. BCBA is the highest-level certification offered by the BACB, which also administers the Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) paraprofessional credential, and the Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) credential, which is for professionals who have completed an undergraduate degree in ABA.

BCBAs practice independently and are qualified to offer ABA therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities; emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues; substance abuse problems; and diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). BCBAs are also qualified to supervise BCaBAs and RBTs.

How to Become a BCBA

Professional certification in applied behavior analysis is overseen by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), a nonprofit organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). To qualify for the BCBA credential, a candidate must complete a graduate degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA) at the master’s or doctoral level, engage in either 2,000 supervises fieldwork hours or 1,500 concentrated fieldwork hours, and pass a subject-matter exam administered by the BACB. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for admission to an ABA graduate degree program, and a high school diploma or equivalent is required to be eligible for an undergraduate degree program.

To meet the BACB’s academic training requirements for BCBA certification, candidates must either graduate from a master’s or doctoral program accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) or complete a graduate degree in an approved field or disciple plus the Verified Course Sequence (VCS) in ABA outlined by the ABAI. Individuals who hold a graduate degree and have taught or researched ABA at an accredited college or university may also qualify for certification by the BACB, as may doctoral program graduates who have a minimum of ten years of full-time experience practicing behavioral analysis.

By 2032, the only pathway to qualifying for BCBA credentialling will include graduating from an ABAI accredited master’s degree program.

In addition to board certification, many states require BCBAs to attain licensure. State licensing boards typically require BCBAs to pass a background check and may also require an ethics exam. Currently, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and West Virginia do not require BCBAs to seek state licensure.

Steps to Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution, ideally with a major in psychology, education, ABA, or a related field,
2. Earn a master’s degree in ABA through a program accredited by the ABAI or earn a master’s degree and complete the Verified Course Sequence (VCS) in ABA outlined by the ABAI,
3. Engage in 2,000 fieldwork hours or 1,500 concentrated fieldwork hours under the supervision of an approved BCBA practitioner,
4. Pass the 160-question BCBA exam administered by the BACB,
5. Apply for state licensure if intending to practice in a state that requires licensure.

BCBA Classroom and Field Hour Requirements

The Behavior Analyst Certification Board requires all graduate ABA students to complete at least 270 classroom hours of approved graduate-level classes. Additionally, The BACB requires the completion of 1,500 concentrated supervised field hours or 2,000 supervised field hours with specific durations, activities, locations, and age group requirements.

Additional State Licensure Requirements for BCBAs

In states that require BCBAs to be licensed, there may be additional requirements to those delineated by the BACB. However, most states that require licensure, align licensing qualifications for behavior analysts with BACB standards. It is nonetheless advisable to research licensing requirements carefully in order to ensure all requirements are met for a student’s state of residence.

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