Becoming a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a career path that many people are considering for various reasons. To begin with, a strong desire to assist children with special needs is a common motivation for many BCBAs to choose this career path. While there are many different ways to devote one’s career to helping marginalized populations, one area that is particularly relevant is applied behavior analysis (ABA).
This article provides a synopsis of the steps to take to become a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), including the certification process, the prerequisites, and professional advancement opportunities.
What is a BCBA?
A certification at the graduate level in behavior analysis is the “Board Certified Behavior Analyst,” as stated on the website of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). Independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services are those who have earned the BCBA credential.
Not only can you offer direct behavioral health services as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), but you can also oversee the work of other professionals who employ behavior-analytic interventions, such as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs).
A board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA) is an expert who analyzes and develops strategies to modify the actions of people with a wide range of mental health and social needs, including those who have had brain injuries, developmental impairments, or other forms of emotional or social distress.
How Long Does It Take to Become BCBA?
Depending on where you start and how quickly you finish your coursework and fieldwork, being a BCBA might take a few years. It takes around four years to get a bachelor’s degree in the appropriate field, as previously stated.
Following this, you will need to complete the graduate-level curriculum required by the BACB in behavior analysis or a closely related discipline. Completing the required fieldwork hours might add an extra two to three years to this stage. The number of hours you spend in the field might range from 1,500 to 2,000, depending on whether you choose to work in the field full-time or side jobs.
Passing the BCBA test is the last step after fulfilling the educational and fieldwork requirements. It usually takes six to eight years to complete the full procedure, which begins with a bachelor’s degree and ends with a BCBA certification. What You Need to Do to Become a BCBA?
It is not an exhaustive list, but this material should serve as a reference to the many stages involved in earning a BCBA. The path to obtaining a BCBA is fraught with uncertainty due to the ever-changing nature of industry standards and certification criteria.
Davis suggests that students study the BACB website to help them overcome this confusion. “Researching your options is the first stage in searching for a job. For this, it’s important to consult the BCBA manual.
Therefore, in order to become a BCBA, you must meet the following five criteria.
5 Requirements of Becoming a BCBA
- Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Becoming a BCBA requires the same bachelor’s degree as most psychology-related occupations. A background in psychology is preferred, but not necessary. A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a similar area is sufficient. For individuals whose academic interests lie outside of behavior analysis but who feel compelled to serve marginalized groups via the field, this bodes well.
- Enroll in the Right Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s Degree Program
A master’s degree and relevant courses in applied behavior analysis are prerequisites for board certification as behavior analysts. It is suggested that BCBAs receive their degree from a university that provides a validated course sequence (VCS) or an Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI)–recognized behavior analysis master’s program, however curricula can differ by school.
Once ABAI has confirmed that a curriculum meets certain coursework criteria, content hours, and faculty standards, it is called a VCS. If you want to take the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s BCBA or BCaBA test, you need to complete a degree program that provides a VCS, says the ABAI website.
In order to guarantee that all students at Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences are adequately prepared to take the BCBA test, the school follows a validated academic schedule. This implies that there are a minimum of 315 graduate-level credit hours that students must earn in a variety of specializations. There should be no change to the fundamental ideas, yet this figure may fluctuate over time:
- Standards of behavior in the workplace
- Fundamental ideas in behavior analysis
- Techniques used for behavior analysis research
- Behavior analysis in practice
When choosing a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, coursework isn’t the only consideration. Whatever works best for you and your requirements is the educational experience you should seek out, advises Davis. “But more crucially, it means identifying courses that will shape you into the kind of behavior analyst you want to be, so you can confidently take the BACB test.” What this implies is that you should look for a school that fits in with your ideals, how you study best, and how you live your life.
- Get Practical Experience
Before you can get your certification in any field, you need to have enough experience. That is why it is essential for BCBAs to have hands-on experience while being closely monitored. According to the BACB rules, these supervisors need to be competent to supervise.
On the other hand, this is often a major obstacle to obtaining the BCBA credential. Obtaining supervised fieldwork may be quite challenging, says Andrew Bonner, who heads Northeastern’s MS in Applied Behavior Analysis program in Charlotte. You need a supervisor to keep an eye on your development within that environment, and you also require 1,500 to 2,000 hours.
Experience hours can be challenging to acquire in an expeditious fashion due to the fact that supervisors are required to manage a variety of responsibilities. In response, instructors at Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences provide a practical course that incorporates these hours to help students with this process. Regardless of the school you choose, it is crucial to maintain a log of your hours and adhere to all regulations specified on the BACB website in order to get your certification.
- Take the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Exam
Candidates for the BCBA certification must submit an application to sit for the board test after they have fulfilled the academic and experience requirements. This includes proving your experience and holding up documents attesting to your graduate degree. In order to sit for the test after being approved, students must register and pay.
The purpose of the four-hour Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) exam is to assess your understanding of the fundamental ideas in behavior analysis. Prospective BCBAs often face this obstacle while trying to get their certification. Although this test is designed to be prepared for by a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, not all of these schools have a high passing rate. The Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University provides BACB-focused curriculum.
- Apply for Certification and Licensure
If your state calls for certification and licensure, you may apply for these once you pass the board test. This opens the door for BCBAs to work independently as field practitioners. Due to the fact that state boards may and do modify their standards for certification and licensure, it is essential that you check with your state’s board for specific information.
The certification and licensing of BCBAs must also be maintained, even if this phase is final. This includes complying with BACB ethical guidelines, completing and submitting a certification renewal application with the stated price, and obtaining continuing education on a continuous basis. Recertification is required every two years by the BACB in order to keep practicing, while various states have different criteria.