How To Become a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) in 2021
- Earn a bachelor’s degree
- Enroll in a graduate degree in applied behavioral analysis
- Complete required coursework
- Complete experience hours
- Take the BCBA exam
- Apply for licensure
The road to earning a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis (ABA) prepares you to make positive differences in the lives of people with behavioral and psychological disorders. People who specialize in ABA help individuals struggling with disorders and disabilities that hinder their ability to function in everyday life.
Autism is the most common disorder that behavior analysts treat. ABA professionals study the problems that people with autism face and develop plans to help them improve their quality of life in areas such as communication, reading comprehension and social skills.
Earn your master's in behavior analysis online in as few as 23 months from Simmons University. ABAI-verified; No GRE required.
You can earn a master's in applied behavior analysis online from University of Dayton in just two years. Bachelor's required.
Complete Pepperdine University's online master's in applied behavior analysis in less than two years. No GRE required.
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What Is BCBA and How To Get Certified
A board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) provides behavior-analytic services in a range of settings and with a variety of different types of clients. A BCBA offers thorough assessments and evaluations for each client and identifies appropriate plans to intervene and improve targeted behaviors.
Wondering how to become a behavior analyst? Let’s look at common pathways for how to become a BCBA.
According to the Board Analyst Certification Board (BACB), potential BCBA candidates must complete one of three pathways available through January 2022.
- Option 1: Coursework: This option entails obtaining a graduate degree from an accredited university with designated coursework and supervised practical experience.
- Option 2: Faculty Teaching And Research: This option entails having a graduate degree (in an acceptable discipline like psychology or education), a full-time behavior analysis faculty position and appropriate practical experience.
- Option 3: Postdoctoral Experience: This option entails having an acceptable doctoral degree conferred over 10 years ago with 10+ years of postdoctoral practical experience.
Learn more about the ABA certification and its various levels.
Steps to Become a BCBA
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or another field
Since a master’s degree is required to pursue a career as a BCBA, individuals must first earn a bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate studies in psychology and human behavior may be useful but are not a necessary requirement to apply for a master’s degree in applied behavioral analysis.
2. Enroll in a graduate degree in applied behavioral analysis
All professionals seeking a BCBA career must have a graduate degree. For individuals following Option 1, this is typically a master’s in applied behavior analysis. Students may earn these graduate degrees on traditional college campuses or online. The program length varies depending on the school.
That said, coursework must be completed from a qualifying institution, meet the requirements designated in the BACB’s Fourth Edition Task List and Course Content Allocation list. Additional coursework may also come from the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Verified Course Sequence (VCS).
All students must earn passing grades (“C” or better) to receive appropriate credit, as is the case with most graduate programs.
3. Complete required coursework
The BACB outlines that qualified candidates must complete designated coursework from an eligible institution. Applicants must successfully complete 270 classroom hours of graduate level classes in specified concentrations. Such coursework includes the following core concepts:
- Ethical and professional conduct
- Concepts and principles of behavior analysis
- Research methods in behavior analysis
- Applied behavior analysis
4. Complete experience hours
All applicants must complete relevant, supervised experience as part of their education and training.
Supervisors must have a BCBA/BCBA-D in good standing, work as a licensed or registered psychologist, or work as an authorized Verified Course Sequence (VCS) Instructor.
Trainees can start accruing experience hours after they start qualifying coursework and obtain a qualified supervisor. The BCBA can engage in three different experience types during training.
Supervised Independent Fieldwork: This option mandates that trainees receive relevant experience placement with appropriate supervision. Candidates need a minimum of 1,500 hours.
Practicum: Practicum allows professionals to complete their experience in fewer hours but with more supervision than those participating in supervised independent fieldwork. Experience is only available within a VCS. Candidates need a minimum of 1,000 hours.
Intensive Practicum: Intensive practicum provides fewer hours of coursework with the highest level of supervision. Like practicum, the experience is only available within a VCS. Candidates need a minimum of 750 hours.
Trainees can accrue hours in a single category, or they can combine any of the types to meet the baseline requirements. The trainee is responsible for documenting and saving records for all experience hours. In the event of an audit, trainees must be able to provide proof of such experience.
5. Take the BCBA Exam
The BCBA exam evaluates knowledge of the BCBA/BCaBA task list. The test consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and 10 ungraded, pilot questions. All candidates have four hours to complete the exam.
The exam focuses on the significant disciplines associated with BCBA including:
- Basic behavior analytic skills
- Specific behavior-change procedures
- Experimental design
- Measurement
- Assessment
Like most tests, there are several third-party materials and study guides available for BCBA exam prep. Using these tools can familiarize candidates with content material and reduce test anxiety. Some companies also provide mock exams to resemble the real exam.
6. Apply for Licensure
Once you obtain your BCBA certificate, some states may require you to apply for licensure to practice independently.
It is important to consult your state board for more information as licensure requirements are subject to change and may differ based on individual student backgrounds, including coursework taken outside the scope of the program.
Difference Between LBA and BCBA
Each state has its own licensure requirements; however, New York is the only state that requires a different certification other than a BCBA certification to be able to practice. While a BCBA certification may be helpful to have, New York state does not require it, and it does not make you eligible to practice in the state. A separate certification, the Licensed Behavioral Analyst (LBA) certification, is needed to practice in New York.. LBAs have a limited range of practice compared to BCBAs and provide behavioral health treatments for persons specifically with autism and autism spectrum disorders and related disorders.
Learn more about the difference between an LBA and a BCBA.
What Does a Behavior Analyst Do?
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all BCBA job description, there are a few specific tasks and duties required for most professionals.
Providing Individualized Treatment
A BCBA treats each client as an unique individual with distinct needs, interests and behaviors. Thus, the BCBA develops individualized treatment plans based on the client’s unique abilities. To develop this treatment plan, the BCBA often spends extensive time with the individual and his or her support group to observe behavior and patterns.
Supervision of Client's Care
Often, many professionals work together to provide wraparound care for clients. The BCBA may be responsible for supervising and overseeing the client’s care, according to Autism Speaks’ article on ABA. This may entail training, teaching and observing other analysts and therapists.
Training on Behalf of the Client
The BCBA may work with family members, teachers and medical professionals to implement training for the client. This training aims to ensure that everyone is “on the same page” when it comes to reinforcing and promoting client behavioral changes.
Regardless of the particular job, BCBAs need excellent communication and writing skills. They are usually responsible for maintaining detailed notes, creating curriculum, analyzing and editing reports, and discussing cases with other colleagues and service providers. Additionally, they are responsible for staying aware of recent trends and research in the industry.
Career Paths for BCBAs
There are various applied behavior analysis career options, and there are also many different work settings available for employment.
BCBA jobs may involve some form of counseling. Counseling can occur in a variety of settings including schools, private or public residential programs, hospitals and clinics. Moreover, counselors can work with individuals of all ages and demographics.
Psychological Assistants: These professionals support licensed psychologists with clinical tasks related to both counseling and research.
Special Education Assistants: These assistants work in schools and facilities and hospitals. They often work directly with teachers and families to provide effective care for the client. Some BCBA professionals obtain additional coursework to become a special education teacher.
Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA): OTAs support individuals with various conditions to restore independent living skills through exercise and behavior change techniques. They can be employed in a variety of sectors.
Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselors: These specific counselors work in a variety of settings that provide change for people challenged with substance use disorders. They may work in either inpatient or outpatient units providing both short-term or long-term care.
Certified Personal Trainers (CPT): CPTs support and motivate clients towards wellness and fitness intentions. As behavior analysts receive training in rewarding positive behavior, this can be an excellent choice for individuals who enjoy exercise and want to help others achieve their goals.
Where do Behavior Analysts Work?
Behavior analysts, typically classified as behavior disorder counselors, work in a variety of industries and settings. While many ABA professionals work with children, they also work with clients who are adults. ABA professionals work wherever there is a need, including schools, clinics and rehabilitation centers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the top industries for counselors such as Applied Behavior Analysis professionals, as of May 2019, are:
| Industry | Salary |
|---|---|
| Government | $44,800 |
| Individual and Family Services | $44,240 |
| Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation) | $58,600 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $53,080 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $54,360 |
Data verified: March 2021
BCBA Job Outlook and Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for counselors is $42,930 as of May 2019, although salaries range from $27,030 to over $77,590. The demand is highest in California, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, and Illinois.
ABA is one of the only evidence-based therapy treatments designed to help individuals on the spectrum. Thus, there will likely be an increased demand for professional service providers who can help clients and their families.
While the Board of Labor Statistics does not have a specific category examining Behavior Analysts, the job description appears mostly in line with occupational therapists.
Occupational therapists earn a median annual salary of $84,950, according to the BLS. Moreover, employment is expected to rise by 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
Information last updated March 2021
Earn your master's in behavior analysis online in as few as 23 months from Simmons University. ABAI-verified; No GRE required.
You can earn a master's in applied behavior analysis online from University of Dayton in just two years. Bachelor's required.
Complete Pepperdine University's online master's in applied behavior analysis in less than two years. No GRE required.
Sponsored