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The BACB Board of Directors is pleased to offer a designation for Doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analysts. From its inception the BACB periodically has considered developing a Doctoral-level credential. Survey results along with encouragement from a number of Doctoral-level BCBAs and consumers have all supported this development. After considerable discussion and due consideration, the Directors adopted a multi-stage development process for the Doctoral-level credential.
- The first stage provides eligibility criteria for existing Doctoral-level BCBAs and allows qualifying certificants to register for the credential. The eligibility criteria for this initial stage and a link to register for the Doctoral-level credential are provided at the end of this memo.
- The second stage will provide eligibility criteria for new incoming Doctoral-level BCBAs. Click here to view our February 2013 newsletter outlining Stage 2 of these requirements.
BCBA certification is the basis for the Doctoral-level credential that is designated as BCBA-D. Individuals who wish to become BCBA-Ds must first become certified as BCBAs and then meet any additional requirements.
The Doctoral-level credential is becoming increasingly timely with various legislative and political initiatives that sometimes call for differentiating levels of degrees. However, the Master’s-level BCBA certification is, in numerous ways, the backbone of our field and the BACB is fully committed to ensuring that Master’s-level BCBA practitioners continue to function with the same autonomy and authority that they have currently. By adding the “D” to the existing “BCBA” to form the BCBA-D designation, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board underscores the importance of BCBA certification for BCBAs with all graduate degrees.
Eligibility Requirements for First Stage – Current BCBAs with Doctorates
The BACB recognizes certain Doctoral level BCBAs by permitting use of the credential “BCBA-D” and/or “Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral,” for those BCBA certificants who:
A. Apply to the BACB prior to March 1, 2014; AND
B. Pay the doctoral fee, when assessed ($35 due at the time of annual renewal and recertification in addition to the standard renewal fees); AND
C. Are actively certified as a BCBA; AND
D. Have earned a doctorate degree in applied behavior analysis, other human services, education, science, medicine, or another field approved by the BACB and strongly related to applied behavior analysis, that was conferred by an accredited university; AND
E. Demonstrate they: (i). Have used graduate-level university coursework (taken for graduate academic credit) to qualify for the BCBA; (ii) have taught courses in behavior analysis in a university program with a BACB approved course sequence full-time for at least two years; or (iii) could currently qualify under one of the existing BCBA eligibility options; AND
F. Sign a declaration attesting that they qualified for the BCBA under E(i), E(ii) or E(iIi), above.
Effective May 1, 2014, the BACB will implement additional eligibility standards for new BCBA-D applicants. Click here to view our February 2013 newsletter outlining Stage 2 of these requirements.
There will be no doctoral fee assessed at the initial application point. Fees will be charged at the certificant's next regular time of renewal or recertification. All BCBA-D fees will be in addition to the BCBA renewal and recertification fees. BCBA-Ds may choose to drop the BCBA-D credential and retain the BCBA at any renewal or recertification point.
We encourage eligible Doctoral-level BCBAs to use the link below and apply for the BACB-D. You may use the “BCBA-D” and “Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral,” designations upon approval.
Click Here to Apply - Current BCBAs Only
Click here to view our February 2013 newsletter outlining Stage 2 of these requirements.
