Guided by Ethics: The BACB Ethics Code for Trainees and Supervisors

This blog will familiarize trainees with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts as it applies to the supervision experience. As a trainee starting out my fieldwork experience, it did not occur to me that my Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervisor would be held to a set of ethical standards set forth by their credentialing board. It wasn’t until I started my ethics course in graduate school that I delved into our ethical code rules and how to apply them to everyday practice.

Every trainee starting out should have at least a basic understanding of the way their supervisor should be acting towards them, their clients, and their colleagues. It is my hope that this article’s contents will allow both the BCBA supervisor and the supervisee to maintain a professional and ethical relationship throughout the supervision process.

However, remember that ethical standards are in place for more than just the supervision experience. The BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts protects the integrity of our profession, it ensures the welfare of our clients and stakeholders, and it fosters a positive supervisory relationship. It ensures that BCBAs are practicing competently and with compassion. In short- it should guide you, even as a trainee, throughout your career. I highly encourage all supervisors and their trainees to closely study our ethics code and reflect often on how these standards can be applied to your practice.

Having a understanding of the BACB Ethics Code can allow practitioners to:

• Identify potential ethical dilemmas: If you are informed about ethical practice, you can identify dilemmas before they even occur. This watchfulness may allow for proactive solutions. Knowing the code can also allow you to have a script for when uncomfortable situations arise in the field or office to navigate out of ethically gray areas.
  
  
• Maintain a high standard of practice: Following the code means ensuring that all interventions and decisions are ethically sound. This benefits your clients, and the field as a whole. It ensures that the services you provide are of the highest quality.
  
  
• Foster a culture of ethical mindfulness: Within your workplace- being an ethical behavior change agent can also encourage colleagues to adhere to the highest ethical standards. Your example will impact more people than you think.
  
  
• Contribute to the positive reputation of behavior analysis: Acting as an ethical provider will contribute to the reputation of our field. If you, as a trainee or BCBA, let our ethics code guide you, it will enhance the trust and respect that clients, colleagues, and the public have for behavior analysis.
  
  

Practical Application of the Ethics Code

To effectively integrate the ethics code into your daily practice, consider the following strategies:

• Regularly review the code: Set aside time each month to read through the ethics code, reflecting on how each standard applies to your current work and any situations you may be encountering. As a BCBA or trainee, you are constantly exposed to new situations, clients, environments, and interactions that you can reflect on.
  
  
• Participate in ethics training: Attend workshops, webinars, and other training opportunities focused on ethical practice in behavior analysis. The BACB requires that you take continuing education courses as a BCBA, but you can also start attending these trainings as a trainee.
  
  
• Engage in supervision discussions on ethics: Use your supervision sessions to discuss ethical scenarios and explore how the code guides decision-making. Prepare for common ethical dilemmas and make a plan for how to navigate them.
  
  
• Get help from the experts: Did you know that Dr. Jon Bailey fields an ethics hotline? Here you can directly request guidance from ethical experts in the field of applied behavior analysis.
  
  

How the Code Relates to a BCBA’s responsibility to supervisees and trainees

While this article is not an exhaustive list of how the Ethics Code for Behavior Analyst relates to supervisees and trainees, the following are some areas that should be highlighted.

In the Supervisory relationship BCBAs should:

• Understand supervision requirements: Having a basic understanding of supervision requirements is part of being an ethical supervisor in behavior analysis. The BACB posts updates, sends reminders, and provides a handbook for supervisors to refer to when supervising. Keeping up-to-date and well informed are part of understanding the requirements to supervise trainees.
• Only supervise the number of trainees that allow them to be effective: BCBA supervisors should only take on the number of trainees that will allow them to be a successful supervisor. BCBA supervisors should individualize goals and objectives for their trainees, and work with them one-on-one to become a quality BCBA.
• Only supervise within their scope of competence: Behavior analysts supervise and train others only within their identified scope of competence. They should gain additional training and oversight in areas where they are not competent.
• Ensure documentation for their trainees is accurate and complete: BCBA supervisors must ensure that documentation systems are accurate and complete, and that their documentation for the BACB is accurate. BCBAs should work with their trainees to find a documentation system that works for all parties.
• Engage in ongoing performance monitoring of supervisees or trainees: Supervisors should provide timely feedback to trainees. They should also use evidence-based measurement and monitoring systems to ensure that they can provide accurate feedback.
• Delegate tasks that trainees are able to perform competently: BCBAs supervising trainees should not delegate tasks that the trainee is unable to perform correctly. BCBAs should train their trainees on tasks before assigning them as independent tasks.
• Facilitate Supervision for their trainees in the event of interruptions: In the event of a planned or unplanned interruption of supervision- BCBA supervisors should make appropriate efforts to facilitate supervision and communicate effectively to all parties involved.
• If they must stop supervision, they plan ahead of the termination: If they must stop supervision, they plan ahead of the termination and document their actions.
  
  

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article should allow trainees and supervisors to recognize the importance of the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, its application to practice, and some highlights as it pertains to the supervision relationship. Trainees starting their fieldwork experience with a clear understanding of this code is essential- as it prepares them for both their professional practice and helps ensure that the supervisory relationship is guided by ethical standards. Trainees, supervisors, and anyone considering entering the field- embrace the ethics code. This document is a guide that should be continually referred to throughout your career. As you practice, reflect on the ethical standards and how you can apply them better to your daily life as a behavior analyst. This commitment to ethical practice will serve you well throughout your career, ensuring that you provide quality services to your clients, quality supervision to your trainees, and make a lasting impact on the profession of behavior analysis.

References

Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2022). Ethics code for behavior analysts. bacb.com. https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ethics-Code-for-Behavior-Analysts-230119-a.pdf