Applying for and Maintaining Certification
Changes to the BACB’s International Focus
In December of 2019, we announced a number of changes to our international focus that went into effect on January 1, 2023 (see Recent Changes to the BACB’s International Focus). As a result, the BACB currently accepts certification applications from individuals who reside in the following authorized countries: the United States (US), Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom (UK).* These changes primarily impact new BACB applicants and current BACB certificants, supervisors, trainers, and faculty members who work and/or reside outside of authorized countries. For more information, please review the following blog post:
Changes to Ontario Certification
New regulations that will affect the BACB’s activities in Ontario will take effect in 2024. For details, please review the Upcoming Changes to BACB Certification in Ontario document and the College of Psychologists of Ontario’s ABA web page.
International Support
The BACB remains committed to supporting the dissemination of behavior analysis standards around the world. It has allocated resources to assist national behavior analysis organizations (or organizations that represent the consensus view of the behavior analysis community within a country) in the development of their professional infrastructure, including the development of new credentialing programs. Support might include in-person or remote consultations, resource development, and small grants, among others. Requests for assistance in developing new credentialing programs involve securing an expert on local professional regulation to help identify a course of action suited to the country’s existing infrastructure. Use the following button to submit a request for country-specific support:
In this episode, Dr. Melissa Nosik hosts a discussion with Drs. Jim Carr and Neil Martin and Board President Dr. Bridget Taylor about the upcoming changes to the BACB's international focus, which includes answers to frequently asked questions.
*Individuals who reside in the UK may continue to apply for BACB certification through 2025. This date may be moved earlier if the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis achieves national recognition for UK behavior analysts, develops its own credentialing system, and transitions current BACB certificants into the new UK system.
**When coursework is no longer acceptable, it may not be used to mark the onset of fieldwork.
***An approvable application is one that contains all of the necessary elements for approval. For example, an approvable BCBA or BCaBA application submitted by June 30, 2023, would include the following:
- payment in full
- complete and accurate documentation showing that all fieldwork and coursework requirements have been met
- proof of an acceptable degree that meets all applicable requirements, including official transcript(s) with conferral dates