How many supervision hours do I need to become a BCBA?

Becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a rigorous process that requires a master's or doctorate degree, coursework in behavior analysis, Supervised Fieldwork experience working in a behavior-analytic setting, and the successful completion of a comprehensive exam. One of the most important requirements for becoming a BCBA is completing supervised fieldwork.

In this blog post, we will discuss the fieldwork requirements for becoming a BCBA, including the different types of fieldwork that can be completed, the settings in which fieldwork can be completed, and the supervision requirements. We will also provide a link to the fieldwork standards on the BACB website.

If you are interested in becoming a BCBA, I encourage you to read this blog post to learn more about the fieldwork requirements. There are two ways to accrue fieldwork hours, which are:

• Supervised Fieldwork: You must complete 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork under the supervision of a qualified BCBA.
  • The time frame of the fieldwork may not exceed five continuous years (e.g., May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2025).

• • At least 60% of the fieldwork hours must be spent engaged in unrestricted activities, such as conducting assessments, developing and implementing behavior-analytic interventions, and conducting research.
  • At least 50% of supervised hours must be individual- meaning they are not acquired in a group supervision meeting.
• Concentrated Supervised Fieldwork: You may also complete 1,500 hours of concentrated supervised fieldwork under the supervision of a qualified BCBA.
  • The time frame of the fieldwork may not exceed five continuous years (e.g., May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2025).
  • At least 60% of the fieldwork hours must be spent engaged in unrestricted activities.
  • At least 10% of the fieldwork hours must be supervised individually by a qualified BCBA.

Link to the fieldwork standards on the BACB website: https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BCBAHandbook_230623-a.pdf

In addition to the fieldwork requirements, you must also meet the following eligibility requirements to become a BCBA:

• Education: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree: You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. This is the prerequisite for entering a graduate program in behavior analysis or a related field.

  • Graduate Degree: You need a graduate degree (master's or doctoral) from an accredited university. The degree must include behavior-analytic coursework or be accredited through APBA or ABAI.

• Ethics: You must agree to abide by the BACB Code of Ethics.

• Examination: You must pass the BCBA exam.

If you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can apply to become a BCBA. The BACB will review your application and determine if you are qualified to be certified. If you are approved, you will be issued a BCBA certificate.

The fieldwork requirements to become a BCBA are rigorous, but they are essential for ensuring that BCBAs are competent and ethical practitioners. The fieldwork experience provides BCBAs with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings, with a variety of clients, and under the supervision of experienced professionals. This experience helps BCBAs develop the skills and knowledge they need to provide high-quality behavior-analytic services.