Yes. Anyone may become certified by the BACB provided they meet the standards of the BACB. The current BACB standards are based on a job analysis and examination renewal process that assesses the minimum skills necessary for practice primarily in the United States. As a result, the BACB certificates indicate that the certificant has met the U.S. standards for certification.

However, the most recent job analysis and examination renewal process involved surveying behavior analysts in 26 countries, underscoring the BACB's commitment to expand certification for behavior analysts who reside outside of the United States.  The new content from this international survey will be reflected in the examinations administered beginning in fall 2005. 

We believe that behavior analysts have a unique opportunity to create a professional credential, based on a science of behavior, that is recognized world-wide.  This scope of recognition will give BACB certificants the advantage of mobility across the international boarders of a shrinking world, and maintain the basic content of behavior analysis across countries.  The BACB is committed to continue the development of a world-wide credential.

 

Are there special provisions for applicants who received their degree or training from universities outside the United States or Canada, or have transcripts and other required documentation in a language other than English?

 

A:

Possibly. The BACB standards offer several alternatives for acceptable degree programs. The degree requirements for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (“BCBA”) may be found at Board Certified Behavior Analyst™ Standards. The degree requirements for certification as a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst (“BCABA”) may be found at Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst™ Standards.

If you wish to apply for BACB certification and your degree or other credentials were obtained from a university or program outside the United States or Canada, you may be asked to provide an international equivalency assessment.  This assessment may be obtained through the "World Education Services" at http://www.wes.org If your transcripts and supporting documentation is in a language other than English, you must provide a translated version of your transcripts and supporting documentation. The translation must be performed by a certified translator or an agency that provides professional translations.

 

 

Yes. Several universities with BACB approved course sequences offer distance learning options, either online or through other delivery systems. For a list of universities with approved course sequence, see the Approved Courses page on this website.

 

Perhaps. The BACB offers administrations in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Israel, and may be able to offer administrations in other countries should a need to do so be documented. Individuals within a country or region who wish to have an administration, and can document 8-10 qualified candidates, should contact the BACB via email.

 

The BACB certification program accepts a variety of continuing education experiences. See, CEU information in Renewal/Recertification Standards, for further information regarding the BACB’s recertification requirements. Many CE programs are available in distance learning formats readily available to all certificants. Local university courses also may be used for continuing education, and ACE providers are offering continuing education outside of the United States. Certificants may meet the recertification requirement by sitting for and passing the appropriate examination during the third year of their recertification cycle.  Certificants who wish to travel may obtain a large number of "approved" CEUs by attending a single major conference such as that of the California Association for Behavior Analysis (February), the Association for Behavior Analysis (May), or the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis (September).