How to Get BCBA Supervision Hours as a Teacher

If you are a teacher who is interested in becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), you may be wondering how you can get the required supervision hours. Here are a few tips:

1. Look for a BCBA supervisor who works in a school setting. This is the most obvious option, as you will already be familiar with the setting and the types of activities that are involved in behavior analysis. You can ask your school district if they have any BCBAs on staff, or you can search online for BCBAs in your area who work in schools.
2. Volunteer at a behavior analysis clinic or organization. This is another great way to get exposure to behavior analysis and to meet BCBAs who can supervise your fieldwork hours. There are many behavior analysis clinics and organizations that offer volunteer opportunities, so you should be able to find one that is a good fit for your schedule and interests.
3. Take a behavior analysis course. Many behavior analysis courses offer fieldwork opportunities as part of the curriculum. This is a great way to get supervised fieldwork hours while also learning about behavior analysis.
4. Connect with other teachers who are interested in becoming BCBAs. There are many online and in-person communities for teachers who are interested in behavior analysis. These communities can be a great resource for finding BCBA supervisors and for getting support as you work towards your BCBA certification.

Here are some additional tips for getting BCBA supervision hours as a teacher:

• Be proactive. Don't wait for a BCBA to come to you. Reach out to BCBAs in your area and let them know that you are interested in getting supervision hours.
• Be flexible. Be willing to work in different settings and with different populations. The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to find a BCBA who is willing to supervise you.
• Be organized. Keep a detailed record of your fieldwork hours and the activities that you completed. This will make it easier for you to track your progress and to submit your paperwork to the BACB.
  
  

• Conducting functional behavior assessments (FBAs): This is a process of identifying the environmental factors that are maintaining a problem behavior. Teachers can conduct FBAs with their students to identify the specific behaviors that are causing problems and the factors that are reinforcing those behaviors.
• Developing and implementing behavior-analytic interventions: This includes developing and implementing interventions that are based on the principles of behavior analysis, such as reinforcement, extinction, and punishment. Teachers can develop and implement behavior-analytic interventions to help their students with a variety of behavioral challenges, such as aggression, self-injury, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Supervising and training staff: This includes supervising and training staff on behavior-analytic techniques, such as data collection, behavior intervention planning, and behavior management. Teachers can supervise and train staff on these techniques to help them provide effective support to students with behavioral challenges.
• Consulting with parents and caregivers: This includes consulting with parents and caregivers about their child's behavior and providing them with support and resources. Teachers can consult with parents and caregivers to help them understand their child's behavior and to develop effective strategies for managing their child's behavior.
• Advocating for individuals with disabilities: This includes advocating for individuals with disabilities in their schools, communities, and workplaces. Teachers can advocate for individuals with disabilities by raising awareness about the challenges that they face and by working to create more inclusive environments.

These are just a few examples of things teachers do that would count as unrestricted activities for BCBA supervision hours. For a more complete list, please refer to the BACB Fieldwork Standards.

It is important to note that not all activities that teachers do will count as unrestricted activities. For example, activities such as grading papers, creating lesson plans, and attending staff meetings will not count as unrestricted activities.

It is also important to note that activities must be supervised by a qualified BCBA in order to count as unrestricted activities. 

Finally, activities must be documented in a fieldwork log in order to count as unrestricted activities. The fieldwork log should include the dates and times of the fieldwork, the activities that were completed, and the supervision that was provided.

I hope these tips help you get the BCBA supervision hours that you need to become a certified behavior analyst. Good luck!