Maintaining Your
Certification in 2005
August, 2005
Page 6
As a BCBA or BCABA, you may already know that you must maintain your certification annually. BACB certificants renew and recertify in June or December, depending on when their certificate expires. In each of the first two years, you must renew your certification. This process ensures that you are still in compliance with BACB rules and that we have your current contact information. Every third year, you must recertify. Recertification serves the same purposes as renewal and also helps to ensure that BACB certificants keep up with current developments in the field by obtaining continuing education (CE).

This year marks the first recertification cycle for most BACB certificants. We are proud to say that over 700 people have already successfully recertified! If your certificate will expire and is up for recertification this year, you should review the following 2005 Recertification Extension Policies:

Deadline Extensions:
According to BACB rules, renewal and recertification applications must be mailed 45 days prior to the expiration date found on your certificate. For this year only, the BACB has extended this due date to 15 days prior to the certificate expiration date. This extension allowed many people with June certification expiration dates to submit CE earned at the 2005 ABA convention without incurring a late fee. This extension will hold true for those who recertify in December 2005, as well.

Application for Recertification Extension:
If you know that you will not have the required amount of CE 15 days before your recertification expiration date, you may file

Application for Recertification Extension:
If you know that you will not have the required amount of CE 15 days before your recertification expiration date, you may file an application for

an application for recertification extension, instead. Recertification extension gives you an additional six months from your certificate expiration date to obtain the CE required to recertify. A $50 fee is required. You will be required to submit CE documentation when you submit your recertification at the end of the six-month extension period. You cannot use CE earned during the extension period toward your next recertification cycle.

We hope that certificants who recertify in 2005 will find these extensions helpful. The BACB will review the effects of the 2005 Recertification Extension Policy and may consider similar changes to recertification policies in the future. Bear in mind, however, that these changes to the regular recertification policies are for 2005 only. BCBAs and BCABAs who recertify in 2006 and later should plan to follow the standard 45-day rule. As always, you should visit the Maintain Certification page of www.bacb.com often to make sure you have the latest information on all BACB policies.

Finally, don’t forget this recertification policy that applies to every recertification:

CE Documentation Audit: When you submit your recertification application, you should not send in any documentation of your CE hours earned. The BACB will audit a sample of recertifying certificants. Individuals included in the audit will be notified and will have 60 days from their certificate expiration date to send in documentation of CE earned.

Gerald L. Shook, Ph.D., BCBA
BACB Executive Director
  Playing Nicely
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  Did you know?
Page 2
  News and Notes
Page 2
  It's Recertification Time
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  Maintaining Your Certification in 2005
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