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General Frequently Asked Questions
Q: |
Is
there a difference between certification and licensure? |
A: |
In some ways, yes. Professional certification usually is a voluntary non-governmental process of regulation
of a profession or occupation that is based on select eligibility
requirements and an professional examination. Licensure is a process by which
a government agency authorizes an individual to use a
professional title and/or to engage in a
profession or occupation in that particular state. Often licensure is mandatory and it
is usually state-based. Licensure programs for some professions
require certification as a prerequisite to licensure.
However professional certification and licensure share
before-test eligibility criteria requirements (usually degree,
coursework, and supervised experience) and both require
applicants to pass a professionally developed credentialing
examination constructed to accepted psychometric standards.
The BACB's program maintains program standards equivalent to
those found in state licensing programs and is International in
scope.
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Will
the establishment of the BACB® mean that all practitioners
will need to be Board Certified in order to practice behavior
analysis? |
A: |
No.
BACB Board Certification that will help
employers, professionals and consumers identify individuals who
meet the current requirements established by the BACB. Some employers
could specify Board Certification as a condition of employment
just as some states could require Board Certification as a part
of a licensure program or to perform certain tasks, but these
are all local issues that are not determined by the BACB.
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Q: |
Will
all behavior analysts need to be Board Certified? |
A: |
No. The BACB was established to provide uniform credentialing
standards for practitioners. Many behavior analytic academics,
researchers, and theoreticians or behavior analysts working in
business will choose not to become Board Certified however they
may be well-qualified behavior analysts in their own areas. On
the other hand, many of these individuals have felt that it is
important to become Board Certified, and have done so.
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Q: |
Are
there any provisions for “grandfathering” practitioners? |
A: |
No.
Individuals meet the eligibility requirements and pass the examination.
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Q: |
Does
Board Certification guarantee that the certificant is an expert
practitioner in all aspects of applying behavior analysis with
all kinds of clients?
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A: |
Board
Certification indicates that the person has met the eligibility
standards and passed the certification examination thus demonstrating
that they have at least minimal competence in behavior analysis.
As with any other credentialed profession, there is variability
between individuals in competence and areas of expertise. Consumers
should use the same selection procedures as they would for other
credentialed professionals in selecting a BCBA.
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Q: |
Once
I have BACB Board Certification, is there anything I need to do
to keep it? Must I re-take the examination periodically? |
A: |
Certificants
must obtain a specified number of Continuing Education Units (depending
on their certification type) within a three-year Renewal/Recertification
cycle to recertify at the end of the three-year cycle. Currently,
certificants do not have to re-take the examination periodically
to maintain BACB Certification, although they may choose to do
so in lieu of accumulating CEUs over the three-year cycle. All
certificants must pay an annual renewal fee and adhere to Conduct
and other standards established by the BACB. See the Maintaining
Certification pages on this site for additional information.
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Q: |
Can
I use any of the CEUs that I obtained prior to transfer toward
my first-cycle recertification requirements? |
A: |
Yes.
As stated on the transfer application, state certificants who
transfer during the 6/30/99-6/30/00 period can apply unused state
certification approved CEUs earned after 1/1/99 toward their first-cycle
BACB recertification. Individuals who transfer during the 7/1/00-6/30/01
period can apply unused state certification approved CEUs earned
after 1/1/00 toward their first-cycle BACB recertification.
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The trademarks "Behavior Analyst Certification
Board, Inc.," "BACB," "Board Certified Behavior
Analyst," "BCBA," "Board Certified Assistant Behavior
Analyst," "BCaBA," "Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctoral", and "BCBA-D" are owned by the Behavior Analyst
Certification Board. All rights reserved. Copyright © 1998-2009
by BACB® All rights reserved.
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