Board Certified Behavior Analyst-D<br>Application

Board Certified Behavior Analyst-D
Application

The BACB Board of Directors is pleased to announce the development of a new credential 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 have adopted a multi-stage development process for the Doctoral-level credential.

The first stage will provide eligibility criteria for existing Doctoral-level BCBAs and allow 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. The BACB will use information from its upcoming (and future) Job Analysis project, information gained from implementation of the first stage, and possible additional survey work to develop the second-stage eligibility criteria.

BCBA certification will be the basis for the Doctoral-level credential that will be 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.

More information will follow as the first phase is implemented. The BACB welcomes input and feedback in this process, as together we advance the ethical and effective practice of applied behavior analysis.

Eligibility Requirements for First Stage – Current BCBAs with Doctorates

The BACB will recognize 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 December 31, 2010; AND

B. Pay the doctoral fee, when assessed (currently anticipated to be between $25.00 and $50.00 – no fee is due at application, fees are not due until the individual’s next annual renewal or recertification point); 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 other 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; or (ii) have taught courses in behavior analysis in a university program with a BACB approved course sequence full-time for at least two years; AND

F. Sign a declaration attesting that they qualified for the BCBA under E(i) or E(ii), above.

The BACB will be conducting a Job Analysis survey update in the beginning of 2010 and, following December 31, 2010, may implement additional eligibility standards for new BCBA-D applicants. The BACB may specify requirements to maintain the BCBA-D, much as it did with the recent requirement for continuing education content in “ethics and professional behavior” for BCBA and BCaBA certificants.

There will be no doctoral fee assessed at the initial application point. Fees will be charged at the certificants 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 go the link below and apply for the BACB-D. There is no charge to apply. No fees are due until your next renewal or recertification point. You may choose to drop the BCBA-D and retain the BCBA at any renewal or recertification point. You may use the “BCBA-D” and “Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral,” designations upon approval.

Click here to apply

The trademarks "Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.," "BACB®," "Board Certified Behavior Analyst®," "BCBA®," "Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst™," and "BCaBA®" are owned by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. Unauthorized use or misrepresentation is strictly prohibited.