The BACB is pleased to share BACB Data and Developments in 2020, a new video with an accompanying infographic. This video recaps 2020 at the BACB, touching on important changes, milestones, and data points. Check it out to see just how much the practice of ABA is growing. And don’t forget to view the infographic for a concise summary of last year’s most important data points.
Happy New Year, and thank you for your dedication to ABA!
By the BACB
The BACB is pleased to share BACB Data and Developments in 2020, a new video with an accompanying infographic. This video recaps 2020 at the BACB, touching on important changes, milestones, and data points. Check it out to see just how much the practice of ABA is growing. And don’t forget to view the infographic for a concise summary of last year’s most important data points.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
Check out this infographic for a brief overview of the BACB’s data and developments in 2020.
Introduction to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts – In this episode of Inside the BACB, join CEO Dr. Jim Carr and Director of Ethics Dr. Tyra Sellers as they discuss the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, an updated ethics Code for BCBAs and BCaBAs. Listen now to get the inside scoop on the revision process, important additions to the Code, and more.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
First things first—congratulations! You met your eligibility requirements, passed your examination, and earned your certification. You just successfully finished what some believe to be the hardest part of becoming an RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA.
But now you’re facing a whole new set of challenges, including maintaining your certification and assuming your new role. To help you start off on the right foot, here are a few tips for your first weeks as a certificant.
When you earn your certification, it’s important to review your BACB account and update any outdated or incorrect information. Although the BACB strongly encourages applicants to review and update their contact information as changes occur, this tip is especially important once you pass your examination and earn your certification.
But why is this review so crucial?
For one, within 4–6 weeks of passing your BCBA or BCaBA examination, your official certificate will arrive at the mailing address listed in your BACB account—however outdated that address may be. So, to prevent a mailing mishap, be sure to update your home address. Also take care to review your name, phone number, and email address, as outdated or incorrect information in any of these fields may create a problem down the line.
The Certificant Registry is a database that includes vital information about all BACB certificants, including their location; certification number, status, and activation/recertification date; disciplinary actions or sanctions, if any; and availability for supervision services. It’s a valuable resource for employers, service recipients, applicants, and certificants alike, so we recommend getting to know it a little bit better.
As a new certificant, you will not appear in the database immediately. Like your certificant number, which may take up to 24 hours to appear in your BACB account, your name may take up to 48 hours to appear in the Certificant Registry. At that point, your certification information will become public.
Once your information is public, potential employers and supervisors can use the Certificant Registry to verify your certification. You can also use the registry to find and contact supervisors in your area if or when necessary. But be careful—as stated earlier, if your address is not updated in your BACB account, the registry may not reflect your current location.
We encourage you to give the Certificant Registry a try—maybe even search your own name to see how you will appear to others!
This tip is as short and sweet as they come, but it’s important nonetheless: Don’t forget to list your new certification on your resume and/or curriculum vitae! Once you enter the working world, you’ll want to ensure that your new title—and all of the hard work that went into getting it—is reflected on paper for potential employers to see.
If you are a BACB certificant who intends to practice in the United States, you must adhere to your state’s licensure requirements before practicing or billing. This tip may be the most crucial in this list, as ABA practitioners who practice without licensure in regulated states may face serious consequences, such as disciplinary actions against their certification or even incarceration.
Follow these steps to learn more:
“There’s no such thing as too early!” – Bird that got the worm
It never hurts to be prepared, which is why it’s a great idea to begin establishing a plan to meet the maintenance requirements for your certification as soon as possible. As an RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA, you must meet specific requirements and complete certain tasks before you are able to recertify. It’s helpful to keep those to-dos in mind and plan ahead to avoid a last-minute panic or, at worst, an expired certification.
To create a maintenance plan, find out the length of your recertification cycle, the continuing education (CE) requirements that you must meet, if any, and the tasks that you must complete within the 45-day period before your recertification date. Then, do your research! Visit the Continuing Education tab in your BACB account to find a summary of the continuing education units needed for your current certification cycle or review the RBT Renewal Competency Assessment Packet—maybe even mark your target milestones on a calendar or planning app.
To get started, check out the following table to see a basic overview of the current BACB maintenance requirements for each certification.
| Overview of Maintenance Requirements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certification | Recertification Date | CE Requirements | Ongoing Requirements | 45 Days Before Recertification Date |
| RBT | 1 year from original certification date | Not applicable |
|
|
| BCaBA | 2 years from original certification date |
|
|
Recertify |
| BCBA/BCBA-D | 2 years from original certification date |
|
Abide by BACB ethics and self-reporting requirements | Recertify |
For more detailed, in-depth information about current BACB maintenance requirements, please visit the RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA Handbook.
As a new BCBA or BCaBA, you have access to multiple behavior-analytic scholarly journals and databases. These journals and databases may be helpful resources for you as you integrate current research into your behavior-analytic practice activities—and the best part is that through your BACB account, they’re free!
We encourage you to take some time to explore the Resources tab, as spending time in behavior-analytic literature is one of the best ways to stay in the know about advancements in the field. In fact, in a profession that is rapidly advancing, your education will continue long after you pass your examination.
These six tips are not the end-all, be-all of your first weeks as a BACB certificant. No matter how thoroughly you plan and prepare, you will surely run into hiccups and roadblocks at one point or another. That’s simply the nature of doing something new. Even so, we hope that these tips help you more confidently assume your new role.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to applied behavior analysis. We are so happy to have you as a certificant. Best of luck!
By the BACB
This educational resource breaks down the different elements of the applied behavior analysis profession—and how the BACB and other organizations operate within it.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our BACB Videos web page or our YouTube channel.
By the BACB
This video outlines the purpose of the BACB Certificant Registry and offers guidance on how to use it. Please watch at your convenience.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our BACB Videos web page or our YouTube channel.
Introducing the BCBA and BCaBA Handbooks – In this episode of Inside the BACB, join Dr. Melissa Nosik and Director of Certificant Services Dr. Molli Luke as they introduce the new BCBA and BCaBA Handbooks and 2022 Eligibility Requirements. Listen now to learn about the makeup of these resources, the 2022 requirements changes, and more.
You can find all of the BACB’s videos on our YouTube channel.
In this episode of Inside the BACB, join Dr. Melissa Nosik and Director of Certificant Services Dr. Molli Luke as they introduce the new BCBA and BCaBA Handbooks and 2022 Eligibility Requirements. Listen now to learn about the makeup of these resources, the 2022 requirements changes, and more.
Note: The information in this blog may be outdated.
To better understand how the BACB develops and maintains examinations, it’s helpful to know these terms:
There are many myths surrounding the way examinations are developed and maintained at the BACB. So, in the list below, we break down and debunk some of the most common myths about BACB examinations.
Bonus question: Why don’t we provide scores to individuals who pass the examination?
Many certificants who pass the RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA examination ask to see their raw score afterwards; however, the BACB does not provide raw scores. This is because our examinations are designed to put candidates in two categories: those who have learned enough to safely practice ABA and those who haven’t. Anyone who passes an RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA examination is qualified to practice at their relevant level of certification. So, while we don’t provide your numeric, raw scores after you pass a BACB examination, rest easy knowing that you have met the minimum requirements to practice as a certified RBT, BCaBA, or BCBA.
For more information about BACB examinations, listen to Episode 12 of the Inside the BACB podcast. Happy testing!
Note: The information in this blog may be outdated. Please see the 5 Must-Know RBT Application Tips blog post for up-to-date information.
So, you’ve decided to take your career to the next level and pursue certification as a Registered Behavior Technician, or RBT.
Congratulations! We’re rooting for your success, so we’ve put together some tips that will make the RBT application process as quick and simple as possible.
Before completing your RBT application, it’s important to carefully review the RBT Handbook in full. In fact, we suggest that you review the handbook with the person who will become your RBT Supervisor or RBT Requirements Coordinator, as they will also be involved in the application process.
The RBT Handbook is a vital resource for potential RBT applicants because, among other relevant information, it includes:
The RBT Handbook should be your go-to resource when applying to sit for the RBT certification examination. If you take the time to review it in advance, you’ll become familiar with each requirement and every nitty-gritty detail, which can only mean one thing: smooth sailing ahead!
Be sure to create your BACB account yourself with your personal email address. Do not have anyone, including your future RBT Supervisor or employer, create your account on your behalf. Also refrain from using your work or school email address when signing up, as you may lose access to your BACB account if you lose access to that email address.
When you create your own BACB account with a personal email address, you will have full access to and control over your account when it’s time to renew your certification down the road. Your BACB account is the doorway to your certification, and that certification belongs to you and you alone!
Before you click submit, it’s important to double check that your application meets all the documentation requirements expected of RBT candidates. As stated earlier, it’s a good idea to review your application with your future RBT Supervisor. Another set of eyes will help ensure that all the documentation requirements are properly met.
Unfortunately, the BACB has been receiving a high volume of applications with documentation that fails to meet the proper requirements. Here are a few reminders based on the most frequent issues we’re seeing:
Here are a few reminders that only apply in certain circumstances:
In the mad dash to submit your application, it’s easy to accidentally forget a document, statement, or signature. But, if information is missing from your application or if the provided documentation doesn’t indicate that you meet the necessary requirements, you may experience delays beyond the standard two-week processing time.
We recognize how important it is to move through the application process quickly so that you can become certified and move forward in your career. That’s why it’s vital to double check that your documentation is complete and meets the appropriate requirements for RBT candidates. That way, we can send you off to sit for the RBT examination as soon as possible!
To view current application processing times, please visit the Customer Service Updates page on the BACB’s website.
The path to certification can be stressful and difficult at times, but being fully prepared can ease the pressure. If you take this advice and reach out to your supervisor for additional support when you need it, the application process will feel relatively painless and far less daunting. We sincerely hope that these tips improve your RBT certification application experience. Best of luck, future RBT!