Format For Complaint Against a Certificant

We are concerned that all BACB certificants provide quality services in an ethical manner, and we enforce adherence to the BACB Professional Disciplinary Standards toward that end. We realize that matters may arise that may be of concern to the consumer but not fall under our Professional Disciplinary Standards (for example, the consumer may believe that a certificant is not adhering to one or more items in the Guidelines for Responsible Conduct). However, for a number of logistical reasons, the BACB can only enforce adherence to the Professional Disciplinary Standards, and it relies heavily on information from local responsible sources in reviewing allegations against certificants.

Formal complaints to the BACB must document the certificant's violation of one or more of the eight Professional Disciplinary Standards. As specified below, you must indicate which of the Professional Disciplinary Standards you believe were violated and provide any documentation within the specific context of the alleged violation.

Please email any electronic materials via email to the BACB, or send written material to:

Gerald L. Shook, Ph.D., BCBA
Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc
1705 Metropolitan Boulevard, Suite 102
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

If you choose to submit a formal complaint concerning an alleged violation of the Professional Disciplinary Standards, provide the following information:

  1. Written correspondence between you and the certificant directly related to the complaint including, but not limited to, that in which you specify the nature of the complaint with your suggested remedy, and responses of the certificant. You may include descriptions of your vocal interactions specific to the complaint that supplement the written communication. In all documentation, the name(s) of the client(s) should be deleted; instead, you may refer to client X, client Y or insert numbers. If information is submitted to the BACB that includes confidential client information (e.g., information that identifies the clients' names), the complaint will be returned to the complainant for deletion of the confidential patient information.

  2. Written correspondence between you and the agency that employs or provides funding for the certificant's services related to your complaint including, but not limited to, that in which you specify the nature of the complaint and your suggested remedy, and responses of the certificant. You may include descriptions of your vocal interactions specific to the complaint that supplement the written communication. Please include correspondence between the agency and the certificant, and between you and the agency, specifically related to the complaint.

  3. Written correspondence between you and the behavior analyst (Board Certified Behavior Analyst or other behavior analyst) responsible for oversight of the certificant's behavior analytic services related to your complaint including, but not limited to, that in which you specify the nature of the complaint and your suggested remedy, and responses of the certificant. You may include descriptions of your vocal interactions that supplement the written communication. Please include correspondence between the behavior analyst overseeing the behavior analytic services and the certificant, and between you and the person overseeing the certificant, specifically related to the complaint.

  4. Written correspondence between you and any applicable state professional credentialing board related to your complaint to the BACB including, but not limited to, that in which you specify the nature of the complaint and your suggested remedy, and responses of the certificant. You may include descriptions of your vocal interactions specific to the complaint that supplement the written communication. Please include correspondence between the board and the certificant, and between you and the board, specifically related to the complaint.

  5. A complete written description of the alleged violation. The description should specify the Professional Disciplinary Standards or Standards you believe were violated and should include details relevant to that alleged violation.


Please note that the Behavior Analyst Certification Board will not review and decide the complaint until local agencies, including any professional credentialing board, have investigated and ruled on the case. You may wish to wait until these rulings have been made and are available before you send a formal complaint to the BACB.

Once the BACB receives a completed complaint, it will be initially reviewed to determine whether the alleged facts, if true, would constitute a violation of the BACB's Professional Disciplinary Standards. If so, the complaint will be submitted to a Review Committee. If not, the complaint will be returned to the complaining party with a summary of the initial determination not to proceed.