| The BACB: The Best Stimulant for Behavior Analysis Training Programs Jose Martinez-Diaz, PhD, BCBA Florida Institute of Technology, BACB Board of Directors Member and Treasurer |
Before I began my current position as associate professor and department head of the Behavior Analysis Program at the Florida Institute of Technology, I was in various administrative positions in both the public and private sector for more than a decade. During that time I had the privilege of recruiting and hiring behavior analysts. Unfortunately, the supply was small as there were only a few universities in the country producing well-trained behavior analysts. In the mid-1990’s, while I was running my own agency, I developed a proposal for a Masters program in ABA that would help others, as well as I, increase the number of potential qualified applicants for our positions. Even though at the time there was a Florida-based certification program, and I had data from employer and potential student surveys I had conducted, I mostly hit brick walls with all the university administrators I solicited. Finally one university, Florida Tech, liked my idea enough to support the creation of our program in 1998; however, I was funded as a ¼-time faculty member and not given much in the way of resources to start the program. However, I had great hopes that all my hard work would pay off. |
Fortunately, the BACB was formed in 1998, the same year our Behavior Analysis Program was founded. Since then the BACB has proven to be a great ally in obtaining resources for our program. In addition, there is strong evidence that the BACB has been a great stimulant for creating Behavior Analysis Programs and in helping existing programs grow.
Even though the program I started had more qualified applicants than we could admit, my university’s administration was not very supportive during the first two years of the program. However, a significant event occurred in 2000: the BACB began to approve course sequences. My university was one of the first 13 universities that submitted an application and was granted approval of our course sequence. I believe that this was the first event that helped me obtain more resources when I asked for them. Shortly thereafter, I was able to point out to our administration that coursework requirements were increasing and that we needed additional faculty in order to meet the new requirements. Then in 2004 I was able to present the new intensive practicum requirements that were coming into effect in 2005 and, as a result, get additional faculty lines. |
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