NEWS & UPDATES

Each year, the BACB honors an individual with the Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award to commemorate the life and contributions of Michael Hemingway, who played a central role in the development of behavior analyst certification in Florida before serving as a founding member of the BACB Board of Directors. Michael’s commitment to the ABA profession and to increasing access to services is reflected in the behavior of the individual who receives the award named in his honor.

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 recipient of the Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award is Mike Wasmer, DVM, DACVIM, Chief Operating Officer of the Council of Autism Service Providers (CASP). Mike is the father of a child with autism and has been a leading force in public policy advocacy within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) profession for nearly two decades. During his tenure on the Autism Speaks State Government Affairs team, he played a pivotal role in advancing public policy initiatives that expanded insurance coverage for autism treatment (including ABA) across multiple states. These efforts have substantially increased access to evidence-based care for thousands of individuals with autism and their families.

In addition to his work on insurance reform, Mike has been instrumental in supporting legislative initiatives to establish behavior analyst licensure in numerous states, both during his time at Autism Speaks and later at CASP. In his current role at CASP, Mike continues his public policy advocacy while also leading the organization’s internal operations and strategic initiatives. Through this work, he supports the provider organizations that deliver critical services to consumers and serve as the professional environments in which many behavior analysts carry out their important work. We are grateful to Mike for his many important contributions, which greatly benefit our profession and the clients we serve. Thank you, Mike!

The February 2026 BACB Newsletter is now available. This issue includes important updates to the BCBA Pathway 2 degree and coursework requirements. It provides insights into the role of subject matter experts in shaping BACB certification practices, guidance on voluntary inactive status, and more. Additionally, the BACB Resource Corner offers helpful resources on supervised fieldwork for both trainees and supervisors. Take a moment to read the newsletter and stay informed.

The US Employment Demand for Behavior Analysts: 2010–2025 report is now available. This in-depth analysis shows 16 years of data on the demand for BCBAs and BCaBAs across the US. Explore the latest trends and insights—read the full report now!

You’ve kept us busy! Check out the latest BACB data in our 2025 Data infographic to see how we continued to support the applied behavior analysis profession in 2025.

We are pleased to announce the results of our recent Board of Directors election. Berenice de la Cruz, BCBA-D, was elected to serve a three-year term on the Board. We offer our congratulations to our newly elected Director, and extend our gratitude to all of the candidates for running. Thank you to all of the certificants who participated in this important election.

We also congratulate and thank Sarah Richling, BCBA-D, who was appointed by the Board to serve a second term.

Want to learn more about fieldwork requirements? Two new BACB resources are now available to support supervisors and trainees: Making Sense of Fieldwork, a new Inside the BACB podcast episode, and Fieldwork: Getting It Right, the latest BACB Blog post.

Together, these resources clarify supervised fieldwork requirements, including unrestricted hours, supervision, and why fieldwork is so important. If you’re looking for clear, practical guidance to help you move forward with confidence, this podcast and blog pairing is a great place to start.