2022 Educational Certification Requirements For 4th Edition Students
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) has updated the BCBA® and BCaBA® task list, and the new standards increase coursework requirements and specifications for course structure.
To qualify for the BCaBA® or BCBA® examination after January 1, 2022, applicants must meet new education standards. Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ is ready to help those who have taken Fourth Edition coursework meet the new coursework requirements.
Meeting 2022 Certification Requirements
What Has Changed?
Coursework requirements have increased
|
Hours Added | |
---|---|---|
|
BCaBA |
BCBA |
Supervision & Management |
10 |
20 |
Behavior Assessment |
15 |
15 |
Concepts & Principles/Philosophical Underpinnings |
- |
45 |
BACB Compliance Code & Disciplinary Systems; Professionalism |
15 |
- |
Measurement, Data Display & Interpretation; Experimental Design |
15 |
- |
Behavior-Change Procedures; Selecting and Implementing Interventions |
5 |
- |
Coursework structure specifications have been added
BCaBA level:
- BACB Compliance Code and Disciplinary Systems; Professionalism: 15 hours must be taught in one or more freestanding courses
- Discretionary category (15 hours) has been removed/reassigned
BCBA level:
- Concepts and Principles: 45 hours must be taught in a single, freestanding course
- Measurement: 45 hours must be taught in a single, freestanding course
- Discretionary category (30 hours) has been removed/reassigned
Additional changes
- At the BCBA level, degree field of study is no longer restricted. A master’s degree or higher in any field of study can qualify.
- Supervised experience must meet new supervised fieldwork requirements. Students should confer with their BCBA supervisors and refer to the 2022 Eligibility Requirements for BCBA or BCaBA.
How Do I Meet New Standards?
Most students who have completed a 4th Edition BCBA level VCS will need between six and nine additional credits. The courses needed depend on factors including:
- Whether 4th Edition coursework standards were met, not met, or exceeded
- The structure of courses taken under 4th Edition standards (e.g. what content was covered in a standalone course)
- The type of transition (i.e. BCBA to BCBA, BCaBA to BCaBA, or BCaBA to BCBA)
What Steps Should I Take?
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Determine what coursework hours you have and what hours you need
- Did you take 4th Edition coursework at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾? We've got you covered! Click for more information.
- Did you take 4th Edition courses at a different school?
- If your courses were part of a VCS, contact your VCS coordinator to learn how your courses apply to the 2022 requirement changes. Contact information can be found on the
- If your courses were not part of a VCS,
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If you are unsure about where your courses fit into the VCS grid, you request a formal coursework evaluation from the BACB. Although there is a fee involved, this fee is later applied to your exam application. This is the only way to be certain of what they will accept and what you still need.
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More information about the formal coursework evaluation can be found here: .
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Once you have your coursework evaluation from the BACB, you can send a copy to abaonilne@fit.edu and we can advise you on what courses you need to meet the needed hours based upon that evaluation.
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Determine what courses will provide the hours you need
- You can view our course to see the hours provided by each of our 2022 VCS courses, but we are happy to advise you based on our experience.
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To request advising:
Email the following information to abaonline@fit.edu- The program and school you attended
- The level of certification you are seeking (BCaBA or BCBA)
- The type of degree you currently hold (i.e., bachelor’s or master’s)
- The program and school you attended
- Visit the following link,
- Find your school’s VCS
- Copy the website link of the course grid for your school’s program. (Include this link in your email response)
- List the courses from the grid you completed with a grade of B or better.
- List the years you attended the program (I.e. 2017-2020)
- Content verification grid for that program (available at
More information about coursework commonly needed by students who took 4th Edition courses at other schools is available here.
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Apply for admission
To take 4th to 2022 education requirement courses you must apply to the university and be accepted.
Important: Students who enroll as Non-Degree Seeking Continuing Education – Graduate do not earn a certificate. If you are instead interested in a certificate or degree program at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾, please see How to Apply.
Please follow these instructions to apply:
- Go to . Create an account and select University Application
- In the dropdown selections that follow, select Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ Application then Non-Degree Seeking Students
- Click the Create Application button and enter your personal information.
- Next, you will come to the Application Information section. Please select the following:
- Where would you like to study? Online
- Student type: Non-Degree Seeking Continuing Education – Graduate
- What would you like to study? Continuing Education (ABA 5th Edition – Behavior Analysis Online)
- Under Courses I plan to take at Â鶹´«Ã½ÊÓƵÍøÕ¾ do not list specific courses. Please enter “Edition Transition†in the Course 1 box. This will help expedite processing of your application.
- Academic History: List colleges or universities you have attended and upload an unofficial transcript copies for all colleges listed. Unofficial transcripts are allowed temporarily. You will need to submit your official transcripts.
- Submit your application!
We will review your application at our earliest opportunity and contact you if we have questions. You will receive registration information upon admission.
Additional Info:
Effective: January 1, 2024- A rolling 10-year expiration date will be placed on coursework submitted as part of a BCBA or BCaBA certification application.
Effective: January 1, 2027- Revisions to core certification requirements, including degree, coursework, supervised fieldwork, continuing education, and ongoing supervision. Pathways 3 and 4 discontinued.