What Are the BCBA Certification Pathways?

Candidates can qualify for BCBA certification by meeting education and supervised experience requirements through one of three pathways:

  • Graduate Degree + Experience: A graduate degree in behavior analysis or a related field, plus supervised fieldwork.
  • Full-Time Faculty Position in ABA: Faculty members teaching ABA may qualify based on their role and experience.
  • Doctoral Degree: A doctoral degree in behavior analysis or a related field, along with specific supervised experience.

What Does the BCBA Exam Cover? (6th Edition)

The exam has 175 multiple-choice questions (150 scored, 10 unscored) based on the 6th Edition.

It Includes:

  • Behaviorism & Philosophical Foundations – 5%
  • Concepts & Principles – 14%
  • Measurement & Data Interpretation – 12%
  • Experimental Design – 7%
  • Ethics & Professional Issues – 13%
  • Behavior Assessment – 13%
  • Behavior-Change Procedures – 14%
  • Intervention Selection & Implementation – 11%
  • Personnel Supervision & Management – 11%

How to Pass and Maintain Your BCBA Certification?

To pass the BCBA exam, candidates need a scaled score of 400 out of 500. This scoring system ensures consistency across different versions of the exam. While preliminary results are provided immediately after the test, official scores are made available on the BACB portal within a few weeks.

To maintain BCBA certification, professionals must:
  • Complete continuing education every two years.
  • Adhere to ethics compliance standards.
  • Undergo recertification to ensure skills and knowledge remain current.
For effective preparation, consider the following resources:
  • BCBA Study Guide: Review topics from the 6th Edition Task List.
  • Flashcards: Reinforce key terms and concepts.
  • Practice Exams: Simulate the test environment and identify areas for improvement.

FAQs

How much does the BCBA exam cost?

The exam fee is approximately $245, excluding additional application fees.

What score do I need to pass?

scaled score of 400 out of 500 is required to pass the BCBA exam.

How often must BCBAs recertify?

BCBAs must recertify every two years by completing CEUs and adhering to BACB ethical guidelines.

What are the best resources for studying?

Recommended resources include the BCBA Study Guideflashcards, and practice exams focused on the 6th Edition TCO.

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