CERTIFICATION IN
BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
Florida International University
Department of Psychology
ABOUT BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
The field of Behavior Analysis grew out of the
scientific study of principles of learning and
behavior.
 Two branches

Experimental Analysis of Behavior: A natural science
approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter
founded by Skinner.
 Applied Behavior Analysis: This science in which
tactics derived from the principles of behavior are
applied to improve socially significant behavior.

ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR ANALYST
CERTIFICATION BOARD (BACB)
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board is a
nonprofit corporation established in 1998 to meet
professional credentialing needs identified by
behavior analysts, governments, and consumers
of behavior analysis services.
 The BACB adheres to the national standards for
boards that grant professional credentials.
 Certifications from the BACB are national.

WHAT IS A BOARD CERTIFIED ASSISTANT BEHAVIOR
ANALYST AND BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR
ANALYST?
Board Certified assistant Behavior Analyst
(BCaBA) is a certification conferred by the
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
 A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is requried

WHAT DOES A BCaBA DO?
Conducts descriptive behavioral assessments
 Interprets results from assessments
 Designs ethical and effective behavior-analytic
treatment plans for clients
 Oversees implementation of programming in
familiar cases (e.g., similar to those encountered
during their training)
 Teach others to carry out interventions once the
BCBA has trained the BCaBA

BCaBAs must be supervised by a BCBA
SKILLS REQUIRED TO WORK AS A BCABA
 BCaBAs
must be able to work in a variety
of settings comfortably dealing with
people with behavior problems.
 Must be a team player (many times
behavior analysts are part of treatment
teams)
 They must be good observers, detailoriented, compassionate, and possess
excellent written and communication
skills.
WHERE DO BCaBAS WORK?
Most BCaBAs work in settings such as:
 Clinics
 Private family homes
 Group homes
 Foster homes
 Residential facilities
 Assisted living facilities
 Schools
 Hospitals
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
 Board
Certified assistant Behavior
Analysts are in demand
 BCaBAs can work as consultants or
employees
 BCaBA consultants in Miami are typically
paid approximately $25 to $35 an hour.
 BCaBA employees in Miami are typically
paid a salary of approximately $30,000 to
$40,000 a year
HOW DO I BECOME CERTIFIED?
You need to meet three requirements to become
ELIGIBLE to take the BCaBA certification exam.
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited
university
2. 180 hours of coursework in behavior analysis
3. 1000 hours of independent supervised
fieldwork
 Upon completing the requirements for the
certification exam, you must apply to take the
exam, and then pass the exam to become board
certified.

BACB COURSEWORK REQUIREMENT

The applicant must complete a total of 180
classroom hours of instruction in behavior
analysis. These hours must be allocated as per
the BACB requirements in specific content
areas:
A. A. Ethical & Professional Conduct – 15 hours
B. Concepts & Principles of Behavior Analysis – 45
hours
C. Research Methods in Behavior Analysis – 15
hours
D. Applied Behavior Analysis – 90 hours
E. Discretionary – 15 hours
FIU UNDERGRADUATE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
COURSE SEQUENCE
The FIU behavior analysis course sequence is approved by the
BACB as meeting the course content requirements for the
certification:
 EAB 3002: Introduction to Experimental Analysis of Behavior
(3 credits)
 EAB 4794: Theories and Principles of Behavior Modification
(3 credits)
 EAB 3765: Behavior Analysis of Child Behavior Problems
(3 credits)
 EAB 4798: Single Case Methods (3 credits)
 PSY 4931: Senior Seminar in Behavior Analysis (2 credits)*
* Only the “Behavior Analysis” section counts toward certification
For more information visit http://casgroup.fiu.edu/behavior
WHO TEACHES THESE COURSES?
As per BACB requirements, all courses are
taught by Board Certified Behavior Analysts.
 The behavior analysis faculty include:

Dr. Maricel Cigales, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Program Director
 Dr. Anibal Gutierrez, Ph.D., BCBA-D
 Dr. David Lubin, Ph.D., BCBA
 Adam Ventura, M.S., BCBA
 Sara Richardson, M.S., BCBA
 Alejandro Dominguez, M.S., BCBA

BACB FIELDWORK REQUIREMENT




Applicants must complete 1000 hours of Supervised
Independent Fieldwork in behavior analysis.
The distribution of Supervised Independent
Fieldwork hours must be at least 10 hours per week,
but not more than 30 hours per week, for a minimum
of 3 weeks per month.
Applicants must be supervised at least once every 2
weeks for 5% of the total hours they spend in
Supervised Independent Fieldwork. A supervisory
period is two weeks.
Applicants may not start accumulating experience
until they have begun the behavior analysis
coursework.
BACB FIELDWORK REQUIREMENTS
Total hours required
1000
% of supervision of total
hours
5%
Total number of
supervision hours
50
Frequency of supervisor
contact
Once every two weeks
BACB FIELDWORK REQUIREMENT
 How
do I find a site to accumulate my
fieldwork hours?

There are several agencies in Miami that
have created paid internships to meet the
BACB fieldwork requirements.
 Can
I have multiple supervisor?
 The BACB encourages applicants to
have experiences in multiple sites and
with multiple supervisors.
BACB FIELDWORK REQUIREMENT

What activities are appropriate for Independent
Supervised Fieldwork?
Conducting assessment activities related to the
development of behavioral interventions
 Designing, implementing, and monitoring behavior
analysis programs for clients
 Overseeing the implementation of behavior analysis
programs by others
 Other activities normally performed by a behavior
analyst that are directly related to behavior analysis
(e.g., researching the literature related to the
program)

BACB FIELDWORK REQUIREMENT

Where does supervision occur, and does it need to
be documented?
The supervisor (i.e., BCBA) must observe the
applicant engaging in behavior-analytic activities in
the natural environment at least once every two
weeks. The supervisor must provide specific
feedback to applicant on his/her performance. Half of
the supervision meetings can be via webcam or in
small groups.
 Supervisors are responsible for providing
documentation for each supervisory period on a
feedback form provided by the BACB.

WHEN CAN I TAKE THE EXAM?
 Exams
are administered four times per
year. Go to http://www.bacb.com/index.php?page=64 for
details.
 Exams
are computer-based and offered
at various testing sites.
 Upon
meeting all of the requirements for
the certification exam, you need to
schedule your preferred exam
administration
BACB INFORMATION
For more information regarding
behavior analyst certification, visit:
www.BACB.com