In an effort to assist certificants in remaining up-to-date with BACB requirements, the following table summarizes recent and upcoming changes announced by the BACB in newsletters or other resources.
| Effective Date | Area | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2023 | Coursework from VCSs approved under Alternative Pathways | The BACB will no longer accept non-university coursework, including coursework from a Verified Course Sequence approved under an Alternative Pathway in which courses are taught outside of an accredited educational institution. | International Development & Support web page |
| September 29, 2023 | BCBA Pathway 1 Update | Applicants who receive a master’s degree from an APBA-accredited university program can apply under BCBA Pathway 1. | September 2023 Newsletter |
| January 1, 2024 | BCBA and BCaBA Reinstatement Period | The BCBA and BCaBA reinstatement period for recertification will be reduced to 30 days. | September 2023 Newsletter |
| BCBA and BCaBA Coursework Expiration Policy | A rolling 10-year expiration date will be placed on coursework submitted as part of a BCBA or BCaBA certification application. | March 2022 Newsletter | |
| RBT Initial Competency Assessment | The responsible assessor, assistant assessor(s), and RBT applicant must be employed at (or all have a contractual relationship with) the same organization where the client is receiving services. This requirement applies to the entire assessment. | September 2023 Newsletter | |
| July 1, 2024 | RBT and BCaBA Certification in Ontario | Ontario residents will no longer be able to apply for RBT or BCaBA certification. Those holding RBT and BCaBA certification in Ontario will have their certification placed on voluntary inactive status. | Upcoming Changes to BACB Certification in Ontario |
| January 1, 2025 | Multiple Certifications Policy | BACB certificants may only hold one BACB certification at a time. | September 2023 Newsletter |
| BCBA Examinations | The BCBA examination will be based on the BCBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.). | February 2022 Newsletter | |
| BCaBA Examinations | The BCaBA examination will be based on the BCaBA Test Content Outline (6th ed.). | February 2022 Newsletter | |
| December 31, 2025 | BACB certification in the UK | Residents of the United Kingdom (UK) will no longer be able to apply for BACB certification. Those holding BACB certifications in the UK will be able to maintain their certification. | International Development and Support |
| January 1, 2026 | BCBA and BCaBA Verified Coursework | All Pathway 2 certification applications will require that a VCS Coordinator Coursework Attestation is completed by a designated program contact. | January 2023 announcement to VCS Coordinators |
| Noncertified RBT Supervisors | Noncertified RBT Supervisor role eliminated. RBT Supervisors must hold BCaBA or BCBA certification. | September 2023 Newsletter | |
| RBT Eligibility and Maintenance Requirements | Revisions to core RBT eligibility and maintenance requirements, including training, competency assessments, and professional development. Recertification cycles will change from 1 to 2 years. | December 2023 Newsletter | |
| RBT Examination | The RBT examination will be based on the RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.). | December 2023 Newsletter | |
| July 1, 2026 | BCBA Certification in Ontario | Ontario residents will no longer be able to apply for BCBA/BCBA-D certification. Those holding BCBA/BCBA-D certification in Ontario will be able to maintain their certification. | Upcoming Changes to BACB Certification in Ontario |
| January 1, 2027 | BCBA Eligibility and Maintenance Requirements | Revisions to core certification requirements, including degree, coursework, supervised fieldwork, continuing education, and ongoing supervision. Pathways 3 and 4 discontinued. | March 2022 Newsletter |
| BCaBA Eligibility and Maintenance Requirements | Revisions to core certification requirements, including degree, coursework, supervised fieldwork, continuing education, and ongoing supervision. | March 2022 Newsletter | |
| January 1, 2032 | BCBA Eligibility Pathways | Pathway 1, which requires a degree from an accredited university training program, will be the only eligibility pathway for BCBA certification. | March 2022 Newsletter |